Today, if there is something for all tastes and all colors, there is especially something for all levels and all practices! To make the most of the area of Val Thorens and 3 Valleys discover, in 3 steps, how to choose your skis:
Step 1: Define your level:
We will define here 4 main categories of skier level, it's up to you to determine which one you find yourself in the most:
- Beginner : Your skiing experience is limited to a few descents several years ago, or you have never set foot on skis in your life.
- Type of ski: An easy and tolerant ski to enjoy quickly.
- Intermediate : You are an occasional skier, for one or two weeks per year, and you are capable of going down all the slopes in the area at your own pace.
- Type of ski: A comfortable ski, which allows you to progress and gain confidence.
- Experienced skiers: Black slopes don't scare you, and you are quite comfortable in all types of snow: hard, transformed, trafole...
- Type of ski: A high-performance ski, without being too technically and physically demanding to make the most of every day.
- Expert : Do you live with your spatulas on your feet all winter, and carving or switching have no secrets for you?
- Type of ski: You will probably need several pairs of skis to allow you to fully express yourself in each practice.
Step 2: Define your practice:
Technology has greatly evolved skis: now, manufacturers offer products dedicated to different styles of practice. From off-piste to ski-cross, including leisure skiing, slalom competition, freestyle or freeride skiing, each discipline has its own type of ski! Among the many possibilities, here are the main ones:
Trail: Groomed trails accessible for all levels.
From the leisure day to the quest for thrills on groomed slopes, the type of ski sought after will be rather short, with a narrow waist (the width of the ski under the boot will be less than 80 mm), which will provide more responsiveness and precision in turns.
These are skis that adapt to all levels, the main difference being rigidity: the higher the level, the more rigid the ski needs to be to handle committed turns. If for you, ski holidays rhyme with tranquility and fun skiing, choose a more flexible and lightweight downhill ski, which will please you with ease.
All Mountain: The “do-it-all” ski for explorers.
Are you a “jack of all trades” and don’t want to limit yourself to well-groomed slopes and fresh January snow? Taste the pleasures of powder, enjoy the spring sun, or the cold days of February, all with the same skis? With their waist of around 80 mm and equipped with a fairly large tip, the all-mountain will allow you to be comfortable whatever the snow or terrain, and to have correct lift to go out off-road. -piste or ski on spring snow.
These are all-purpose skis, perfect for intermediate and advanced technical levels wishing to experience the varied pleasures of an area whatever the conditions.
Freeride: The pleasures of freedom
This range of skis is aimed at already experienced skiers, who will be able to adapt to all powder situations. In order to promote lift in fresh, ungroomed snow, the skis must be large enough, with a waist width at least greater than 90mm to have fun in this type of snow. As with downhill skis, you will need to choose a more or less rigid ski depending on your level of practice, your physical condition and your desires. Manufacturers compete with each other in their imagination to offer varied products, almost tailor-made for each type of skier. Rigid freeride skis, with normal camber and flat heels, are intended for expert skiers, ready to pick up speed and go “dré dans l'pentu” (straight down the slope in Savoyard dialect). Softer skis, or skis with reverse camber, are more fun, and perfectly suited to those who want to have fun with beautiful curves in untouched spaces.
Touring skis
If your thing is being able to go just about anywhere and being able to get away from the crowds whenever you want, then touring skis are a good option. Here again, there are many models: from racing skis with a ski + bindings set with very light inserts for climbing quickly without looking for great sensations on the descent to wide skis with almost alpine and heavier bindings (like the Shifts from Salomon) to be able to send as with alpine skis, there is something for everyone and it is up to you to adapt the equipment to your practice!
Step 3: Adapt your equipment to your body shape.
Now that you know your level, and that you have targeted your skiing practice, it is time to choose your precise pair of skis according to your body type.
The size of the ski:
You choose the size of your ski according to your own size, but also your level.
A beginner skier will take a rather short ski, about 10 to 15cm shorter than the person's height for a piste ski. To give yourself a guide, hold your skis straight in front of you: the top of the tip should reach your nose level.
Conversely, a skier who is already comfortable will find what he is looking for in a ski equivalent to his size, or even slightly larger if he is moving towards freeride practice.
The rigidity of the ski:
This characteristic is directly linked to the weight of the skier: the lighter it is, the more difficult it will be to turn a ski that is too stiff, and it will not take advantage of the ski's relaunch qualities.
Likewise, a heavier skier will quickly get bored of a ski that is too soft.
Rigidity is also linked to the level of skiing: very good skiers, with a strong physical condition, can afford to choose skis that are much stiffer than what their weight would recommend in order to enjoy a more committed practice.
To fully appreciate the sensations that a ski can give you, the ideal is to test them! HAS Val Thorens, we offer you two opportunities to try, for a few slopes, what is best on the ski market:
- Every year during the Grand Premiere weekend, around sixty brands are present for you to test the latest new products! And if your curiosity pushes you to try new snow sports, know that almost all disciplines are available: alpine, telemark, snowboard, hiking, snowscoot...
Now that you know (almost) everything about choosing skis based on your skier profile, you are ready to come and hit the slopes of Val Thorens ! But… minute! And your bindings, have you checked that they are properly adjusted?
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