What type of ski is best for most skiers?

An all-mountain ski around 85–100 mm underfoot. It grips on groomed runs and still handles fresh snow, so it suits most intermediate skiers in the Alps.

How do I know my ski level?

Beginner: you ski green and blue runs with a snowplough or first parallel turns. Intermediate: you link parallel turns on red runs. Advanced: you ski black runs and off-piste confidently.

Do I need special skis for powder?

Not for the odd fresh day: a 95–100 mm all-mountain ski copes well. If you ski powder often, a freeride ski of 105 mm or more is much more fun.

How to Choose Skis: Type, Width, Length & Level

Quick answer

Choose by level and terrain: beginners do best with soft all-mountain skis under 90 mm wide underfoot, intermediates with 85–100 mm all-mountain skis, and confident off-piste skiers with freeride skis of 100 mm and wider. Then pick a length between your chin (beginner) and your own height (expert).

1. Where do you ski?

Mostly groomed runs: all-mountain or piste skis under 90 mm. The whole resort: all-mountain skis between 85 and 100 mm. Powder, trees and steeps: freeride skis of 100 mm and wider. Climbing as well as descending: touring skis.

2. Width underfoot

Wider skis float better in soft snow; narrower skis switch edges faster on hard snow. For the Alps, 88–100 mm is a versatile all-mountain range.

3. Length

Beginners: chin height. Intermediates: nose height. Experts and freeriders: forehead height or longer. See the ski size chart.

4. Profile

Camber gives grip and pop, rocker in the tip helps float and turn initiation, full rocker is for deep snow.

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Skis for beginners · Skis for intermediate skiers · Skis for advanced skiers · Ski + binding sets

How to choose skis