Which skis are right for me? Which snowboard is right for me? Which skis are perfect for beginners? A few things need to be considered when choosing the correct winter sports equipment. It’s not just important to get the right ski length or the ideal snowboard flex. Good equipment also reflects the preferences and skill level of the user. Do you spend a lot of time at the terrain park and are you looking for snowboard equipment for advanced boarders? Or are you planning to hit the slopes for the first time as a novice skier? Find out here which winter sport is the one for you. And if you would like further professional advice when you arrive, you can find a list of all our rental shops here.
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All-mountain skis
As the name suggests, you can use this type of ski on all terrain. It is suitable for all-round skiers who spend most of their time on the pistes, but who occasionally perform the odd manoeuvre off-piste. The hallmarks of all-mountain skis are straightforward turn initiation, high stability and excellent edge grip, making it a reliable choice on all terrain.
On-piste skis
On-piste skis offer boundless enjoyment for experienced skiers. Thanks to their strong edge grip and fast reaction times, they offer the ultimate carving experience. At the same time, however, they require more strength and are less forgiving of errors. On-piste skis are available either as slalom skis with a deeper sidecut for tighter radii or as giant slalom skis with a shallower sidecut for wider turns.
Freestyle skis/twin-tip skis
Freestyle skis are the perfect item of winter sports equipment for terrain parks. As they curve upwards at both the front and rear, you can use them to ski both forwards and backwards, which enables a wide array of tricks and jumps at terrain parks. Thanks to their sturdy construction, they can also easily withstand tougher challenges such as sliding on rails/boxes and hard landings.
Freeride skis
If you spend a lot of time off-piste, this item of winter sports equipment will help you power through deep snow. Thanks to its wide shape, it offers greater thrust than a conventional ski, making it ideal for untouched powder slopes. Freeride skis feature an elongated design for additional thrust.
Freeride boards
People who like going off-piste in search of deep snow should opt for a freeride board. Thanks to a wider nose and the rear positioning of the binding, these snowboards deliver considerable thrust when negotiating powder and ease the pressure on the calves during longer rides. ddddddddddddddddddddddd
All-mountain snowboards
These are ideal for anyone who likes variety. If you don’t want to restrict yourself to a single style, but instead prefer to switch between the piste, the park and the occasional deep snow, then this is just the ticket. This kind of snowboard is simple and straightforward to ride and therefore perfect for beginners.
Jib snowboards
Jib boards are specially designed for riding on boxes and rails. They feature special edges that curve upwards to prevent you from getting caught on the obstacles. The edges are also sturdier and therefore more durable. You should be fairly proficient before you start using a jib board. They are not suitable for beginners.
Freestyle snowboards
These snowboards put a smile on the face of park rats and halfpipe fans alike. Freestyle boards curve upwards at the front and back, meaning that they can be ridden in both directions. Their increased flex offers softer riding characteristics and makes them perfect for tricks on boxes and rails. As they are so agile, these boards are also well suited to beginners, making turns easy to execute with little strength.
As a beginner, it is important to select skis that are easy to steer, that help conserve energy and that iron out the odd error in technique. We recommend all-mountain skis with a shallower sidecut. With these skis, you can easily shift your weight; the skis react immediately and turns are easier in both directions. Select short skis (albeit ones that come up to at least your chin) for increased agility.
The correct ski length depends on the height, body weight, age, fitness level and skiing style of the skier concerned. The shorter the ski, the tighter the turns you can execute and the more often you can change direction. Longer skis are used to perform larger and wider turns. What’s more, longer skis are steadier than shorter skis at high speeds.
The following rules of thumb apply when looking for the perfect winter sports equipment:
It goes almost without saying that you need more than just the correct winter sports equipment for a good day on the slopes. A full set of skiing gear includes ski poles, ski boots, a ski suit, ski goggles and gloves. We also recommend that you wear a ski helmet at all times. Warm clothing beneath your ski suit keeps you nice and comfy when out on the mountainside. You can find a selection of winter sports retailers here.
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