ski reviews you can trust  •  ski instruction that gets results  •  ski advice available only here

home

Ski Reviews and How to Use Them

Ski reviews can be useful in finding the right ski, but we urge they not be the only consideration before buying . . . more

The "30-Second Ski Reviews" presented here are distillations of our respected 12-Point Ski Reviews from the subscription site, which has expanded ski reviews of hundreds of new and continued skis and more than 1200 past models.

Ski Reviews: 85 07/08 models from 16 brands
complete 07/08 lines are reviewed in 12-point detail on our subscription site

How we test and review skis

First—most important—we accept no ski company advertising; realskiers sites are supported entirely by subscription. We are not susceptible to manufacturer influence.

Test skiers include a large number of shop employees—we don't rely exclusively on ex-racers, elite instructors and the like (most of whom endorse some brand).

Because we use skiers who ski an average number of days (20+/-), our crew provides a "snap shot" of the universe of recreational skiers (real skiers) and the reports are, in effect, peer reviews. We ask these skiers what they like.

We do use elite skiers to study design characteristics, but avoid relying on their likes and dislikes. Pro level skiers use technique honed to a level of precision difficult to maintain by anyone who doesn't ski full time professionally, that is 100+ days per season coaching, etc.

Our professional level list includes Steve Bagley, John Clendenin, Peter Keelty, Harald Harb, Corty Lawrence, Diana Rogers and the crew of certified coaches and instructors at Snowcrest Ski Center. We don't ask these skiers what they like so much we ask for graded input on how the ski performs in a large number of critical performance areas.

test card

Results are collected at venues across the country from January to April, with additional testing at Alta, Snowbird and Deer Valley. Our tests reflect national and seasonal terrain and snow conditions. Still—we emphasize—while we attempt to test each ski in every condition, it's impossible to replicate the hundreds of combinations of tune, surface condition, available lengths and so on.

In the end, the test that really counts is your own.

Length suggestions

Shaped skis are meant to be skied in shorter lengths than were "straight" skis. This is as true on the World Cup as more . . .

Do better at early sales

You can find great deals at sales but it's also easy to go awry. Here are thoughts on how to get the most out of sales without . . . more

What about bindings?

Stuck

compare!Too many skiers find themselves permanently stuck in the "back seat," with little idea why. Of course boots, technique and anatomy play central roles in stance and balance, but there is another, influential—though subtle—factor at work. Most skiers seem unaware that bindings in the wrong fore/aft position degrade performance of even the best skis and compromise balance.

The skis on the right are virtually the same length (175 vs. 176) yet the manufacturer of ski B places the binding center-mount mark nearly a full inch behind that of ski A.

In the old days, and to this very day for racers and top-tier pros, the binding location method of choice was, and remains, ball-of-foot at the center of the running surface; we'll call it BOF.

In the old days—and to this very day for top-tier pros—the binding location method of choice . . . more

 

Read thisNot Your Average Ski Gear Buyer's Guide

 

ski utah abb