Finding the right skis for yourself can be a really difficult task, luckily we are always ready to help you. We have therefore created this step by step guide, which takes you through the entire process, from just what type of ski you should be looking for to how long they should be.
If you don't want to read this entire article, we have also created a ski finder quiz that gives you all the answers at once.
Try the ski finder quiz here and find out which ski you are!
5 points to find the right ski
How do I find the skis on the website?
1. Sex
Then you probably think first, "I know what gender I am". And yes, you definitely do. But when we talk about skiing and gender, it's not just that men should have men's skis and women should have women's skis.
Men can easily ride women's skis and vice versa. The difference between the skis is that women's skis are made of softer materials than men's skis, which makes them easier to turn. This is due, among other things, to the fact that men are naturally heavier than women, which would make it difficult for women to properly press a men's ski in the turns.
Therefore, if you are a man with not so much weight to push with, it will be advantageous to look for women's skis, for example, and if you are a very experienced women's skier, then it will be best to choose a men's ski, as you want could get a more powerful ski on a stiffer ski.
Basically, most skis are unisex, and when it comes to choosing a ski, this is not the most important factor to prioritize.
2. Level
The level of the ski is incredibly important to hit correctly, as this will have a huge impact on how you stand on it.
There are 3 different levels: Beginner, Advanced & Expert.
Beginner skis are soft and easy to stand on. They are, as the word suggests, made for beginners who need as much help on the slopes as possible. Beginner skiing is for those who feel best on the blue/green slopes (easiest slopes) and who are looking for safe skiing where they have the opportunity to improve their skiing skills
Experienced skiing is for those who are looking for a little more speed and delicious skiing on the slopes, and who feel good on the red slopes (medium difficulty slopes). An experienced ski is stiffer and requires you to know what you are doing. However, an experienced ski is still forgiving enough so that you can easily make mistakes without it affecting your skiing, and does not require you to ski fast to be able to control them.
Expert skis are for those who have complete control over their skiing and who want the best of the best. Here you have to be 100% familiar with a black piste (difficult piste), and feel it is a breeze to stand down on. With expert skiing, you will be able to feel when you make foot mistakes, and this can affect your skiing. Here it is also important that you stand at a generally high speed in order to get the full potential out of the ski
Which level should I choose?
Here you have to use your gut feeling and feel what suits you best. It's a stupid idea to pick a set of skis too high, and think you'll be able to learn it soon enough. If you choose too difficult skis, you will use all your energy to control the skis, and thus not be able to use the energy to become a better skier.
If, on the other hand, you want to have a higher level ski, then you should consider finding skis that are a little lower than what you would otherwise be looking for, and with a smaller radius. Lower skis and lower radius make it easier for you to control the skis, and conversely, longer skis and larger radius skis make it difficult to control.
3. Type
Ski type is used to find out what kind of alpine ski you are looking for.
There are 4 basic types: Piste ski, All mountain, Off-piste (Freeride) & Twintip/part (Freestyle).
Piste skis are properly designed to be used on the prepared prices that the majority of all skiers stand on. Here you get a set of skis that are good for making turns and have plenty of bite and stability on the hard slopes. The safe choice for most people, and something you can't go wrong with in the city.
All mountain skiing is the all-in-one ski, which is a mixture of piste, off-piste and park skiing. These skis are not really good for anything, but work well everywhere. They are for you who want a versatile ski, to be able to stand on the slopes but also to take them out in the soft snow next to the slopes.
Off-piste skis, also called freeride skis, are properly made for off-piste. They are wider and softer, which gives them more buoyancy in the soft snow and more forgiving in the uneven terrain.
Twintip/park skis are for the playful, who either loves spending time in the fun park or jumping around on the piste or in the off-piste. These skis are often softer and more square in it, so they are good on rails and jumps. Often these skis also have a twin tip, which means that the skis curve up at both ends and make them suitable for buying backwards.
How do I find the right type of ski for me?
When you have to choose which type of ski you are looking for, you have to consider how much time you actually spend in the different places on the mountain. That is, if you are considering some all mountain skis because you want to stand in the off-piste as well, but real spend 90% of the time on the piste. Here you will probably be better off with a set of piste skis. Piste skis will easily be able to be used off-piste and everywhere else.
So when you have to find your ski type, you either have to consider where you spend most of your time, or whether you have to invest in two different sets of skis;)
4. Radius
Radius is most relevant to sort by when you are out for piste skis, as the other types of skis often have a higher radius by nature due to their structure.
If you are not quite sure what radius means, you can read our ski guide here!
You will know the radius in 3 groups: Small, Medium & Large
Small turning radius are skis that are designed to make the small sharp turns quickly. Here you get a ski that helps you make the turns and is easier to control than skis with a larger turning radius.
Medium turning radius is the most common turning radius, and here you get a pair of skis that will be able to make all kinds of turns. With these skis, you control the size of your turns yourself, and are neither easy nor difficult to stand on.
Large turning radius are the most difficult skis to stand. These skis require a lot of technique to steer and control. Furthermore, skis with a large turning radius require more speed to get the most out of them, as they are designed for the really big fast turns down the piste.
5. Ski length
Finding the right ski length can be difficult if you have nothing to start from. The best way to find your ideal length is to try it out on the slopes. Unfortunately, this is not always an option in Denmark, and therefore we have to do it based on the best knowledge we have!
Below you will see a chart which takes into account your level, type, swing radius, weight, height and level of ambition to find the ideal length. This is the most accurate way to do it, as the length of the skis depends on the type of ski you want to be on.
This means that you must know what level, type and turning radius you are looking for in order to find out exactly how long the skis should be. In addition, the calculated length is subtracted 3 and added 3, so you have a larger range to look for skis in. Whether a ski is 3 cm shorter or longer does not mean much, and not something you will be able to notice as such.
How do I find the skis on the website?
When you know your gender, level, type, radius and ski length, it is super easy to find the skis on the website. We have set up a filter system, which you access via a button at the bottom of the screen on mobile or on the left side of the screen on PC.
Open the filter system and enter your respective values under each of the fields, and then the website will show all the skis that match your criteria.
If no skis come up, try adding a few more lengths and adjust the criteria so that you search more broadly. It is not always that what you think you need is what you actually end up with. There is a huge difference between the skis, and it is difficult to put them in a box.
See all our men's and women's skis here!
