Equipment   New for 2020

When starting out in skiing the massive amount of options in the ski shop can seem overwhelming.  The good news is that most quality ski shops have knowledgeable staff who can help you select skis, boots and bindings that fit your current level of experience and ability. Just be sure to describe your abilities accurately!

However, skiing is an expensive sport, so it is logical that people want to keep costs under control.  One excellent way to do that is to buy used equipment.  Modern skis are durable, and since most experienced skiers purchase new equipment as their skills increase, that means that a lot of used equipment in good condition is still around.

There are a number of places to find good used equipment.  Ski rental shops sell off their equipment every few years and usually make it available for purchase at greatly reduced rates at the end of the season.  If you want their gear mid-season, just ask.  Sometimes they will even have old gear available then.  Ski shops and rental shops often also have demonstration gear.  This is usually higher end performance gear, and these are also made available.  This can be an excellent way to upgrade to higher performance skis.

Ski shops usually try to sell off gear at the end of the season to make room for the new inventory next season.  They often don’t want to store it over the summer and offer good discounts on new gear.   Be sure to ask for a lower price than marked!  If the sales person on the floor doesn’t want to deal, as to speak with a supervisor or manager.   If you don’t get a discount, just walk out.  That may spur a sudden change of mind.  If it doesn’t and you still want the gear, just come back later.  Bargaining frequently works, even in larger stores.  Give it a try - nothing lost if it doesn’t work.

Ski swaps are also a good place to pick up used gear.  Many ski swaps are run by experienced skiers in race programs or ski clubs.  That often means that there are experienced skiers around who can advise on what gear is good for your level of skiing.  These are usually held only once a year in the fall.

Lastly, you can buy used gear directly from the previous owner.  Check out newspaper want ads (remember those?) or swap sites on the Internet.  Definitely bargain for a good price!  I once got a great deal from an instructor who lived down the street who was trading up to higher performance skis.  I also have sold old skis and was always disappointed in how little I could get – bad for me but great for the buyer!

The downside to buying used gear is that you may be on your own when trying to find equipment appropriate to your level of skiing.  That is most difficult for beginning or early intermediate skiers who simply don’t have too much experience yet.  Here are a few thoughts that might help beginners with selecting gear.

Generally speaking, beginners start on shorter flexible skis and move to stiffer skis as their skills and experience increase.  Soft, flexible skis turn more easily making learning easier, but they become unstable at high speeds and may not hold well on ice.  Stiffer skis are stable at higher speeds and hold better on ice, but require more force to turn.  Beginners should start with soft skis to learn on.  Trying to buy higher performance skis and ‘grow into them’ to save money is a bad idea, since this will make learning much more difficult.  To determine flexibility simply stand a ski on its tail, hold the tip and press in the middle.  Do this on multiple skis and you will be able to easily compare them.

Skis for a beginner should come up to about the chin.  Short skies turn more easily.  More experienced skiers will want slightly longer skis, which tend to be more stable at speed.

There are advanced specialized skis appropriate for specific situations and conditions.  These include racing skis and powder skis.  Racers will get better advice on ski selection from their coaches than from me!  In general race skis are stiffer and straighter (less side cut) than recreational skis.  There are different models for different kinds of races, such as slalom v. giant slalom v. downhill.

Powder skis, on the other hand, can be appropriate for any intermediate and higher-level skier who wants to enjoy all the fun powder can offer.  Powder skis are longer and wider than those you would use on hardpack.  This provides more ‘floatation’ so that they ride higher up in the snow.  They also tend to be more flexible and the newer ones have ‘rocker’ built into the tips and tails.  That is, they bend upwards somewhat at the front and back.  This also helps increase floatation.  Note that they may not hold as well on hardpack, though.

It is not absolutely necessary to have a special pair of skis to enjoy skiing powder, since newer skis tend to be wider than the old straight skis I learned on.  But, narrower skis require more effort to turn in powder since they ride lower in the snow.  This was illustrated to me during the Club ski day at Sky Tavern in 2019.  We had new powder and I was having fun on my regular skis.  However, by mid-morning I was already getting tired when I borrowed a pair of powder skis from club member Joe.  What a difference!  So, it really may be worth it to buy a pair of skis just for powder.  They really do make it easier, and easier means you can do more of it!

As for boots, look for boots that are stiff and don’t have worn down soles at the toe and/or heel.  Wear the same socks you will wear on the hill, preferably knee length.  Wear only a single pair.  The boots should be very snug, but comfortable.  It is OK if your toes touch the front of the boots when standing upright as long as they pull back from the front of the boot when they are fully buckled and you flex your knees forward pushing your shins against the tongue.  Especially for beginners, boots must feel comfortable.  You will not like your first experience in skiing if your feet hurt!

Poles are simple.  When standing in your ski boots holding the pole grip and with the tip stuck in the snow up to the basket your forearm should be perfectly horizontal.  Since it is hard to stick the pole into the floor of a ski shop, simply turn the pole upside down and grasp it just below the basket.  You have the right length when your forearm is horizontal.

Lastly, beginners can learn a lot by talking with more experienced skiers.  That is why joining a club like Reno Ski and Recreation can be a great idea.  We have lots of friendly skiers who will be happy to help!