Over the past couple of years, my family and I have ventured into skiing a few times, and it’s safe to say my kids are absolutely in love with it. Following an amazing trip to Utah, their enthusiasm skyrocketed, driving me to seek out the best beginner skis.
Though we’re relatively new to the sport, I understand the importance of proper equipment. Skiing, while exhilarating, can be daunting and costly, especially for beginners. Therefore, I’ve dedicated time to researching the best beginner skis. My findings are aimed at helping you skip the lengthy online searches and get straight to enjoying your time on the slopes. Below, I share five essential tips for selecting beginner skis and some affordable recommendations!
Ski Basics for Newbies
Before we dive in, let’s go over some of the basic terms you will need to know! This includes basic ski terms, safety, and why I would recommend renting before buying. If you already feel confident about these things, skip to how to choose the best skis below!
10 Basic Ski Terms Every New Skier Should Know
- Camber and Rocker: Refers to the curvature of the ski. Camber aids in stability, while rocker helps in turn initiation.
- Sidecut Radius: The measure of how deeply or shallowly the ski’s edges curve inward, affecting turn radius.
- Flex: The stiffness or flexibility of the ski, which impacts control and responsiveness.
- Base: The bottom part of the ski that glides on the snow.
- Edges: Metal sides of the ski which aid in turning and stopping.
- Bindings: The mechanism that connects the ski boot to the ski, crucial for safety.
- Groomed/Ungroomed Trails: Refers to the condition of the ski slopes; groomed trails are smoothed by machines, while ungroomed are left in a natural state.
- Piste: A marked ski run or path down a mountain.
- Powder: Fresh, soft, and fluffy snow, preferred by many skiers.
- Ski Poles: Used for balance and propulsion, especially important for beginners.
Safety Tips for New Skiers
- Gear Up Properly: Wear a helmet, goggles, and appropriate ski clothing for protection against falls and weather conditions.
- Learn the Basics: Take lessons to understand the fundamentals of skiing, including stopping, turning, and controlling speed.
- Understand Slope Etiquette: Familiarize yourself with the rules of the slope, like yielding to skiers downhill and maintaining a safe distance from others.
- Stay on Marked Trails: Stick to trails that match your skill level and avoid areas that are closed.
Why I Recommend Renting Before Buying
When venturing into skiing, it’s crucial to find skis that suit your unique build and learning style, as not all skis work equally well for everyone. If you’re new to skiing and a particular pair doesn’t feel right, it’s beneficial to try different brands or models. This flexibility is one of the main reasons why renting skis, especially initially, is advisable.
Many ski rental shops offer rental or demo packages, so always be sure to ask. Some even offer demo packages that allow beginner skiers to try different types of skis and then apply what they paid for the demo package to whichever pair of skis they decide to buy.
Plus, if you rent skis it is one less thing to put on your ski packing list!
How to Choose the Best Beginner Skis
Size Matters: How to Choose the Best Ski Size for a Beginner
These ski size recommendations assume that the beginner skier is starting on a groomed mountain and a beginner run, which is a great place for a new skier to start. Our instructor Helen at Solitude Mountain let us know that if the beginner is starting in the backcountry or in deep powder (which is not recommended but perhaps your only option), then longer and wider skis are the way to go.
Skiing in deep snow, however, takes more skill and endurance than skiing on a groomed mountain, so although crushing waist-deep powder looks amazing and is the ultimate goal, it’s not an ideal starting point for a beginner skier.
As you shop for beginner skis, keep in mind that skis come in women’s and men’s models. Gender-specific skis are designed to not only accommodate a person’s size but to also account for how a person moves and carries his or her weight. Although these design differences are subtle, for most beginner skiers, they make a big difference.
The Best Ski Length for Beginners
In general, beginner skiers should start on skis that are a bit shorter than the skis an expert would use. Shorter skis are easier to control because they are more responsive when turning and stopping, which are the two main skills beginner skiers learn.
Choose skis that, when placed vertically on the ground at the tip of your toes, come to somewhere between your chin and your forehead. This doesn’t have to be perfect, but as close to the tip of your nose as possible is a common rule. Ella had her beginner skis at first below her chin and she really enjoyed it as it gave her more control.
The Best Ski Width for Beginners
A pair of skis’ width is usually determined with three measurements: tip width, waist width, and tail width. The tip width is usually the widest part of the front, or shovel, of the ski. The waist is the width of the middle of the ski, which is usually the narrowest part. And, the tail width is the widest part of the back of the ski. These measurements are typically given in millimeters.
Beginners really only need to pay attention to the waist width. Narrower-waisted skis are easier to turn and handle on groomed runs, so they are generally recommended for beginners. A common recommendation is 70-90mm for groomed runs and all-mountain skis, which are skis that are designed to do well in a variety of conditions.
Be Flexible: Choose Beginner Skis That Are More Flexible
More flexible skis are easier to turn, and they respond better to adjustments on the mountain. They also allow the skier to feel more of the terrain, and they are more forgiving when a skier suddenly stops or falls.
Rockers, Cambers, and Hybrids, Oh My!
With so many advancements and innovations hitting the market each season, skis come with a variety of features that are meant to make navigating certain types of terrain at certain speeds under certain conditions as easy and enjoyable as possible. Many advanced skiers have more than one pair of skis.
As a beginner, you’re going to want to invest in one pair, and you’re likely most concerned with controlling your turns and stops on groomed runs. For these reasons, choosing a pair of skis with basic camber and rocker features will enable you to manage your turns while feeling more stable and able to advance in one pair of skis.
In general, a beginner skier will benefit from hybrid skis and will also do well with skis that are only cambered. A beginner should not use fully rockered skis that are not also cambered. Don’t worry, if you’re wondering what the heck all of that means, we’re here to help you out.
Camber:
If you lay a cambered ski on a flat surface, you will notice that it rests on points near the tip and the tail, and there is a slight gap or arch at the middle, or waist, of the ski. That arch or bend is known as the camber. Most skis have it, and as a beginner, you want it. Camber enhances flexibility, turning responsiveness, and overall stability. It’s especially helpful on groomed runs.
You want to make sure you get skis that have positive camber, which is also sometimes called standard alpine camber.
Rocker:
Rocker is when the skis contact the snow like the rails of a rocking chair, so they bend or arch upward like the letter “U”. A Rocker is basically the opposite of camber, and it is also sometimes called reverse or negative camber.
Rocker enhances performance on powder and when freestyling in parks or halfpipes. Powder, parks, and pipes are not things a beginner skier should tackle, so fully rockered skis are not a good choice for someone learning how to ski.
Hybrid:
Some great hybrid skis come with rockered tips and a cambered center. This is a great option for a beginner because it will allow the skier to easily graduate into more difficult terrain while also gaining the stability and maneuverability benefits of both features.
Shop Smart: Where to Buy and What to Spend on Beginner Skis
Keeping everything in this beginner skis buying guide in mind, it’s always a good idea to go to a ski shop to consult an expert in person. This doesn’t mean that you have to buy your skis from that shop. A good shop will have experts on staff who can measure you and provide some options.
In an age when online shopping usually saves you the most cash, there’s nothing wrong with consulting a ski shop, noting good options, and then looking for deals online. To stay competitive, many brick-and-mortar shops offer price-matching options, so always ask.
Buying something shiny and new is always fun, but you’ll likely find the best deals on beginner skis if you buy used. Many ski shops offer used options and host ski swaps and sales at the beginning and end of the ski season. Buying used from a shop in person is the best idea because you can consult an expert, see and try the skis, and they may even come with a limited return policy.
If you buy used from a private party, like from someone off of Craigslist, then bring someone with you who knows skis, or ask if you can bring the skis to a shop for an inspection before you buy them.
You can get a great pair of beginner skis with bindings for under $500. Be leery of anything less than $200. If you want something shiny and new, another great way to save is to try stuff on in a ski store and then order online at stores like Amazon.
Shop the Best Skis for Beginners
By taking the time now to find the right pair of beginner skis, you can enjoy more of your time while you’re on the slopes. With the right size, flexibility, and features, a great pair of beginner skis can get you properly prepared to ski down the mountain.
That being said, I highly recommend ski lessons for anyone learning to ski. You will have so much more fun if you take the time to have a couple of lessons. Fun fact: We tried without lessons once and it was a terrible mistake!
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