How to Choose Alpine Skis Based on Height, Weight, for Kids, Beginners, and Experienced Skiers

How to choose alpine skis correctly The opportunity to immerse yourself in skiing is a great reason to do so.

Of course, all of us want to look confident and experienced, or, at the very least, like well-prepared beginners.

It’s really worth getting “well-prepared” in the topic of alpine skiing; and after that – arming yourself with patience and time to choose the perfect gear.

It’s best to start with skis – they will serve as the foundation for the rest of your equipment.

Alpine skis are classified by many characteristics, so you can choose a pair that matches your individual needs with precision “to the millimeter.”

Constructions

Alpine ski construction Let’s begin with the basic structure of alpine skis.

Today’s constructions are divided into three types:

“Cap” – the top layer is the supporting rigid layer, to which the rest of the materials are attached.

“Sandwich” – the materials are interlinked in functional layers, similar to a sandwich. The upper and lower layers regulate the level of stiffness.

“Box” – the opposite of the previous two constructions: the core is enclosed in a synthetic or metal box that provides the ski’s torsional stiffness. Such alpine skis smoothly follow curves, are more stable in turns, respond less to bumps, and don’t twist.

Internally, the ski consists of synthetic materials or wood.

Parameters

Now let’s move on to the functional aspects of the construction so you understand the advantages each ski parameter provides.

Parameter	Advantages
Narrow ski	Agile, lightweight, performs well on icy, bumpy slopes, and is suitable for universal ski models.
Wide ski	Doesn't sink in deep snow, holds direction excellently, suitable for freeriding.
Soft ski	Flexes under beginners, performs properly at low speeds, absorbs terrain better, models are ideal for beginners and off-piste freeriding.
Stiff ski	Enables precise curve driving, performs beautiful complex turns, ideal for hard slopes, carving on groomed trails, and sports use.
Long ski	Behaves steadily at high speeds, ideal for off-piste conditions, long and wide trails.
Short ski	Makes quick turns with ease, suitable for uneven or icy slopes.
Narrow waist	Makes it easier to perform tight turns.
Wide waist	Handles well on various surfaces, suitable for ungroomed slopes.
Narrow tip	Ideal for simple, even slopes.
Wide tip	Allows for smooth handling of sharp curves, suitable for maneuvering and carving.
Flat tip	Perfect for groomed slopes and sports tracks.
Uplifted tip	Designed for off-piste skiing.
Narrow tail	Adapted for sharp, extreme turns.
Wide tail	Resists skidding, enables wide arcing turns, ideal for carving.
Deep sidecut	Reduces the allowable radius of turns, suitable for tight slopes, models designed for carving and slalom.

There’s another parameter to consider – vibration damping. A high level of vibration damping allows the skis to follow curves more accurately, grip better on uneven or icy trails, and avoid vibrating at medium to high speeds.

Classes

Class of alpine skis All alpine skis belong to one of three classes, depending on their manufacturing quality, and therefore their price:

Class A – sports skis for professionals;

Classes B and C – high-quality alpine skis for general consumers;

Class D – alpine skis for beginners and simpler slopes + moderate speeds.

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Alpine skis can be divided by their purpose: skis for professional athletes and those for amateurs of various skill levels.

Racing Skis (Racing)

Racing Alpine Skis
This category is characterized by high stiffness, stability, and demands on the skier – steep, competitive tracks set their conditions.

They are subdivided into:

Slalom skis (slalom) – flexible, with a sidecut radius of 7-15 m, typically chosen 10-15 cm shorter than the skier’s height;
Giant slalom (gigant slalom) and ski cross (ski cross) – stiff, with a sidecut radius of 17-21 m, chosen based on the skier’s height or up to 10 cm shorter;
Freestyle skis (freestyle) – featuring raised tails to ensure smoother landings. Designed for acrobatics, jumps, riding in specialized parks, and suitable for various slopes.

Recreational Skis

Recreational Alpine Skis
These can be chosen based on the skier’s skill level:

For kids and juniors;
For beginners – all three types of recreational skis are highly manageable at low speeds and easy to turn;
For those improving their skills – suited for active skiers looking to refine their technique;
For experts – offer high responsiveness and confidence in turns, suitable for various tracks and surfaces;
For advanced enthusiasts – close to sports skis. Their grip on icy surfaces at high speeds isn’t as strong, but they delight amateurs with excellent control, forgiveness, and the ability to navigate bumpy slopes (moguls).

The softest skis are children’s skis and those for beginners in the sport.

Skiing Style

Skiing Style
Non-professional alpine skis can be chosen based on the desired skiing style.

Carving (carving). Designed for maintained slopes; these allow skiers to carve deep curves and enter turns smoothly.

They are suitable for moderate speeds, soft or hard surfaces, but not for deep snow.

Fan carving – a subtype of carving skis designed for “radical” skiing, where the skier leans almost horizontally into turns.
Auto carving – skis with a “power steering” design: deep sidecuts that allow effortless turning.

Freeride (freeride / big-mountain / freeskiing / fat). These skis are for adventure seekers outside groomed trails, in different snow conditions. They require some expertise, making them suitable for advanced skiers. Such skis (except the widest ones) are also appropriate for prepared slopes. The widest skis are designed for deep snow and powder conditions.

All-mountain (allround). A great option for non-professionals, offering numerous opportunities: skiing on prepared slopes, off-piste, in powder snow, at speed, or on bumpy terrain.

There are also “exotic” options:

Ski boards – shortened carving skis;
Ski touring – lightweight, for ski trekking;
Ski extreme – for extreme descents;
For telemark skiing – designed for jumping with an unattached heel.

By Categories

Children’s alpine skis are characterized by their light weight and size.

On the other hand, women’s skis are akin to “women’s cucumbers.”

They differ from men’s skis only in design—color schemes, patterns, and sometimes even decorative elements like gemstones.

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Ski Length

You can select the length of alpine skis according to their purpose:

Freeride – (your height + 10 cm);
Carving – (your height – 10 cm);
All-mountain – (your height – 5-20 cm, depending on the terrain).

…Or based on your characteristics:

For beginners – (height – 20 cm) – for easy handling;
For athletes and advanced skiers – (height – 10 cm);
For women – (height – 12 cm) – for comfortable, leisurely skiing;
For overweight skiers – (height + 5-10 cm), preferably stiff models;
For petite individuals – (height – 5-10 cm).

To select alpine skis based on weight, use the following chart:

Ski Length by Height and Weight Chart

There’s also a “folk” method of measuring skis: when you place them upright in front of you, the tips should approximately reach your nose. If your weight is below the norm, choose slightly shorter skis.

How to Choose Skis for a Child

Choosing Skis for a Child
Children’s skis can also be selected based on various parameters.

For a preschool child, skis are chosen according to height and weight. For weights up to 20 kg, a ski length of 70 cm is recommended; up to 30 kg – 90 cm; up to 40 kg – around 1 meter.

For weights over 40 kg, skis are selected similarly to adult skis. For beginner children, it’s better to choose skis that are 5-10 cm shorter than their height.

For an experienced child, skis that match their height or are 5-10 cm longer will work well.

Don’t confuse children’s alpine skis with shortened adult ones – the latter are much stiffer and will become a real ordeal for the child.

How to choose used alpine skis

Choose used skis It’s better to do this with a specialist who can immediately spot defects, determine the age of the skis, and estimate their approximate value.

If you decide to shop for used skis on your own, keep in mind:

There should not be even a hint of delamination on the skis.
The profile edges should be square-shaped, and any gap between the ski and the edge, if present, should be uniform.
Place a ruler vertically against the base – it should show a straight or slightly curved line, but it must not be overly convex or concave.
If you place the skis together with their sliding surfaces facing each other, they should form a symmetrical figure. When squeezed together, the skis should produce a slight popping sound.

A couple of tips for beginners

Tips for beginner skiers

Buy equipment only at official dealer stores and don’t forget to ask about the warranty.
Your key to success is perfectly selected skis. So, decide on your skiing style as early as possible and purchase the proper equipment.

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