Buying Skis for Intermediates

If you've been skiing for some time and are looking for skis that match your skill level, this guide can point you in the right direction. As you're no longer a beginner and ski with confidence, you'll need more responsive skis to continue progressing.

There is a wide range of skis at the advanced level, so it's best to focus on where you want to spend most of your time skiing and choose skis that are ideal for that terrain or style.
Additional details like width, turning radius, and different ski profiles will help you better personalize your choices. Our goal is to help you find the perfect skis for your skiing style so you can make the most of your ski vacation.

If you're new to skiing or still at the beginner level, we have a guide for that as well. Check out Ski Buying Guide for Beginners for more information.

ALL MOUNTAIN SKIS - The best all-round skis

All Mountain skis are perfect for those who enjoy a mix of on and off-piste skiing. They are primarily suited for on-piste skiing but can handle softer snow off-piste as well. You can ski all day without worrying about changing snow conditions. While they perform well in various snow conditions, they're not necessarily masters of any one terrain. Another feature of All Mountain skis is the rocker tip, where the front of the ski rises off the snow. This enables easy turning and handling of bumpy conditions. If you're looking for one pair of skis that can do it all, these are what you want.

Choosing All Mountain skis:
There is a wide range of All Mountain skis, and their performance in different snow conditions can vary. One main characteristic to consider is the waist width of the ski. The waist width for All Mountain skis typically ranges from 80-100 mm. Skis with a narrower width favor on-piste, while wider widths increase off-piste performance. If you primarily ski on-piste and occasionally venture off-piste, opt for skis with a waist width closer to 80 mm. If you also enjoy exploring soft snow next to the slopes, choose skis with widths closer to 100 mm.

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PISTE SKIS - The best skis for carving on groomed pistes

If you prefer spending most of your time on groomed slopes and focusing on your technique, a pair of Piste skis will be ideal. These skis are designed with a narrow waist ranging from 68-80 mm and a camber profile, allowing them to grip the firm snow surface and give you great control.

Choosing Piste skis:
Skiers who spend most of their time on-piste usually develop a skiing style that favors a particular size of turn. Choosing skis with a turning radius that matches your style will help you get the most out of them. Piste skis typically have a turning radius of 13-17 m, with smaller numbers producing shorter turns and larger numbers producing bigger turns. Remember, there's a wide range of Piste skis, so search for skis appropriate to your level. Beginner skis are softer and more forgiving, while expert skis are stiffer and heavier.

Within the Piste skis category, you can also find high-end Race skis, which are typically very stiff and performance-oriented. Slalom Race Skis (SL) have a very small turning radius around 10-13 m, while Giant Slalom Race Skis (GS) have a very large turning radius of 22 m or more, providing better stability.

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PARK SKIS/TWIN TIP SKIS - The best skis for performing tricks

Park skis are perfect for those who want to spend time in the snowpark practicing jumps, boxes, and half pipes. The main feature is the twin tip profile, where the skis rise sharply at both ends. This allows skiers to take off or land switch (backward) without the tails catching the snow. Bindings are generally mounted closer to the middle of the ski to help weight distribution when spinning and jumping.

Choosing Park skis:
When choosing the perfect park skis, consider the tricks you want to perform. If you enjoy having lots of fun and mainly focus on performing tricks on boxes and rails, opt for Park skis with a wider waist width, around 85-105 mm, for better stability. These skis are usually quite soft and flexible. If you prefer more speed and bigger jumps, choose narrower Park skis with a waist width of 80-95 mm. These will be stiffer for better stability when going fast or landing a jump.

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FREERIDE SKIS / Powder SKIS - The best skis for powder snow

Freeride skis are for those who spend most of their time off-piste and in powder conditions. The wide width, generally between 90-120 mm, combined with the early-rising tip (tip rocker) helps them float on top of the snow and makes turning easier. Although skiing technique in deep snow is very different from skiing on groomed slopes, it's a good idea to have plenty of experience on groomed snow before getting your Freeride skis. To enjoy your adventures and stay safe, avalanche safety gear is always strongly recommended.

Choosing Freeride skis:
When choosing Freeride skis, selecting the optimal waist width for your skiing style will help narrow your options. Freeride skis with a larger waist width (100 mm and above) will help you stay on top of the snow, keep you floating, and save your energy. These wide skis are perfect for deep snow but are not suitable for piste skiing as they are hard to control on hard-packed snow due to their lack of grip. If you prefer more versatile skis that are great for softer snow but still offer maneuverability, opt for skis with a waist width around 90-100 mm. You'll especially enjoy these skis if you love skiing in the forest next to the slopes.
In short, the wider the skis, the better they float on powder snow, but the less they can carve on firm snow.

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TOURING SKIS / Backcountry SKIS - The best skis for climbing adventures outside of resorts

Touring skis are for adventurers who want to explore off-piste areas outside of resorts. This involves having the right equipment, such as touring bindings and skins, to ascend the mountain before descending. The width of these skis can range from medium to wide (80-120 mm), and they are lighter in design to make climbing easier. This is a niche type of ski that requires lots of experience, making it suitable mostly for experts. Avalanche safety gear is necessary for your adventures.

Choosing touring skis:
When choosing touring/backcountry skis, consider whether you are more uphill or downhill oriented.
Touring skis oriented more for downhill and used in powder conditions are generally longer (not more than 10 cm above body length) and have a wider waist (95 mm and up) to float better on top of the snow. In contrast, skiers oriented more for uphill prefer shorter skis to reduce weight, typically around chin height, and narrower skis (width 95 mm and below).

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Choose the right Ski Length

The length of your skis should primarily reflect your height, skill level, and the type of skiing you plan to do.

Most skis come in 4 or 5 sizes, so you can pick the size closest to your recommended length from the size chart (3 cm longer or shorter than the number is not a problem).

Weight and skiing style can be secondary factors in determining the best ski length. If your weight is considerably lighter or heavier than average, choose shorter or longer skis accordingly. Shorter skis for lighter people and longer skis for heavier people. Skiing style relates to speed—more aggressive/fast skiers benefit from longer skis for stability, while steady and cautious skiers can maximize maneuverability with shorter skis.

The picture illustrates the ski length for an intermediate skier

	All Mountain/ Piste skis	Twintip/ Park skis	Freeride/ Backcountry
First-timer	your height -20 cm	-10 cm	-5 cm
Beginner	your height -15 cm	-10 cm	-5 cm
Intermediate	your height -10 cm	-5 cm	your height
Advanced	your height -5 cm	your height	your height
Expert	your height	your height	+5 cm

Skis with or without Bindings

Bindings are an important part of your skis. Not only do they keep you attached to the skis, but they also ensure your safety. Conveniently, all Piste skis and most All Mountain skis come with bindings. This way, you don't need to worry about choosing the right bindings as they match the level of experience of the chosen skis. Skis that come with bindings are easily size-adjustable, which can be very convenient if you're renting ski boots or sharing skis within your family.

Skis that come without bindings require purchasing bindings separately, allowing you to customize your choice and select their placement on the skis. This is particularly convenient if you are an experienced Freeride or Park skier. Mounting service can be quite pricey; however, if you order skis with bindings from SkatePro, we mount and adjust the bindings at a competitive price. More information on bindings can be found in the Buying alpine ski bindings guide.

Waist Width

Along with length, ski width significantly influences performance, with the waist width measurement being the most crucial. The waist of the ski is located at the narrowest part, measured from edge to edge in millimeters.

The width measurement is always listed in the ski specifications and written alongside the tip and tail measurements: Tip - Waist - Tail. Therefore, the waist width is always in the middle. Example: (i.e. 141/108/124mm)

Skis with narrow waists are generally easier to turn as it takes little time to switch from one edge to another. The skier’s pressure and weight are more concentrated over a smaller area, increasing grip on the snow. Wider waisted skis have a larger surface area, enhancing their ability to float on powder snow and providing good stability over choppy or rough terrain.

Turning Radius

Simply put, the ski radius determines how easily the skis turn. This information is usually shown in the ski model specifications.

There is no universal answer to which turning radius is best, as it depends on the preferred style and type of skiing. The turning radius can be divided into three categories - small, medium, and large.

A small turning radius is found on-piste skis with a radius of 14 meters or less. They are ideal for skiing on groomed snow and for skiers who prefer making short, quick turns.

Medium turning radius is mostly found on All Mountain skis with a radius between 15 - 18 meters, suitable for those who enjoy a mix of on-piste and off-piste skiing.

Large turning radius is found on Freeride skis, ranging from 19 meters and more. Skis with a large radius are very stable when skiing in deep snow or at high speeds, making them suitable for fast, aggressive skiers.

Ski Profiles - Rocker and Camber

CAMBER

Skis with camber have an arcing curve that runs along most of the ski, causing the middle part to rise off the snow. This shape increases pressure at the tip and tail, improving edging ability. Camber is found in nearly all Piste skis, as well as many All Mountain and Freeride skis.

ROCKER/REVERSE CAMBER

Skis with rocker are characterized by an upward curve at the tip or both the tip and tail. Rocker increases the ability to float on deep snow and makes it very easy to enter and exit turns. It is found in nearly all types of skis, with some exceptions within Piste Skis.

FULL ROCKER

This profile aims to excel in powder snow and makes turning easier. It is very forgiving and generally feels shorter in length than it actually is due to both the tip and tail not being in contact with the snow.

TIP ROCKER

Provides a nice balance between maneuverability and effective edging. The camber shapes along most of the ski length to provide great edge grip and control, while the tip rocker adds playfulness and improves performance in powder snow.

TIP AND TAIL ROCKER

This mix of rocker with camber is a very popular profile due to its versatility. The tip and tail rocker enhance powder snow performance, while camber improves All Mountain capability. On-piste, it feels a bit shorter due to the rockered tips and tails.

TWINTIP

The raised tip and tail allow you to ski backwards easily, take off or land a jump backward, and generally make the skis very playful. The bindings are usually mounted close to the center of the skis for better balance when performing tricks.