Gliding downhill on a pair of skis can be a whole lot of fun. While skiing seems in many ways a simple sport, though, that appearance can be deceptive. The fact is that relatively minor deviations from the ideal can result in real problems. Many beginning skiers discover this every winter as the tips of their skis cross, a mistake that almost inevitably results in a fall.
The same basic idea holds with regard to equipment selection, as well. A pair of hard-shelled ski boots that fit poorly can cause blisters and worse, possibly ruining a day on the slopes. While many skiers therefore take great pains to make sure of wearing the right size of boot, fewer are so diligent with regard to their skis. Failing to step into the skis of the correct length, though, can be just as counterproductive as doing the same with boots.
Mistakes of this kind are generally easy to avoid, however. Making use of a simple snow ski size chart will typically be enough to put any skier on the right track, with only some adjustments to be made thereafter. In fact, beginners and even intermediates will often be able to take what a well-made ski size calculator at face value. Just a few seconds spent looking up a recommendation based on a person’s height and weight will be all that is needed, in most such cases.
Ski size chart makers are also able to offer useful advice to more advanced skiers. In this case, height and weight will be used as a starting point, with some modifications to be made to the range that is initially offered. Once again, though, it will typically take very little to settle on the right number.
What skiers of a certain skill level will need to add will be fairly obvious and already well-known. In most cases, they will want to supplement the recommendations of a ski length calculator with information about capabilities and preferences when on the mountain. This can be enough to make sure that a given skier will take to the slopes with skis of more or less the right size.
A skier who prefers to move faster than most, for instance, will typically want some longer skis to make that easier. Likewise will a skier who enjoys heading into the aspens do well to make the trip with skis that boast more surface area. Simple adjustments like these, when applied to the recommendations that even basic size charts will offer, can be all that it takes to find the right answer.