Reference size
The size indicated in red is not necessarily the lead test size, although that often works out to be the case (each ski is tested in a couple of lengths, if possible). Instead, the red size is what each company designates as "reference size," and it is the length for which side cut and turn radius are given. In almost every case, the so-called reference size is the principal length—the length appropriate for a"target" skier.
Terrain/condition symbols
"almost" ice, very hard snow, frozen crust, etc. * "real" ice, of the Eastern variety: marble or actual see-through groomed/hard snow 50%+ on groomed 50%+ off groomed bumps* competition moguls deep snow* big mountain freeride* race* masters race park and pipe* skier cross Skill level ** symbols
powerful technical skill, skis 100+ days per year Pro level 9 honing technical skill Expert levels 7/8 gaining technical skill Sport levels 8/9 traditional technique*** Strong level 6/7 traditional technique Leisure level 5 > few technical concerns Casual Speed range
exremely unstable at speed versatile, can become unstable above 25mph ± very stable at speed, may be sluggish below 15 or so best kept in gates or on closed courses responsive at low speed, stable at high speeds Pro: Name is a bit limiting, although professional skiers make up a large percentage of this group. Includes: top level club, NCAA, development team and second-tier World Cup athletes, many coaches, some instructors, some patrollers, many professional freeriders, most ski film stars, most professional ski testers, many industry members. The best skiers on the hill. They advance the sport and change how we ski. a.k.a. World Class Skiers. Most ski 100+ days, most ski full time.
Expert: Former pro-level skiers who currently ski considerably fewer days per season than working pros. Includes ex-NCAA athletes, former coaches and instructors, other racers and athletes, many coaches, many instructors, some patrollers, some professional freeriders, most junior and development athletes, many ski testers, many industry members, a few committed recreational skiers for whom coaching, instruction and camps are major skiing motivations.
Sport: Many recreational skiers for whom skiing is a passion pursued for the thrill of accomplishment. Often take lessons, attend camps, explore new terrain and 3-dimensional conditions. Often first on the lift and last off.
Strong: Many long-time skiers who do not pursue coaching. Some instructors, some patrollers, many long time recreational skiers, some shop employees, generally strong skiers who use traditional technique.***
Leisure: Many, if not most, recreational skiers for whom skiing is less all-consuming passion than it is another form of active recreation among many.
Casual: People for whom skiing is primarily a social opportunity, who accompany skiers of other levels, people for whom the heart of the experience is enjoying the mountains, amenities but who are unlikely to focus on technical improvement. May feel tentative in mildly challenging conditions. May ski 5 or fewer days per season.
* Difficult terrain and conditions demand well-developed skills; there's no way 'round it! These symbols indicate that a given model is effective in a given condition, but we assume adequate skills. Alas, no ski can make a skier better than she is, although an inappropriate choice can render a skier less skilled in practice than he is in reality.
Ice is in its own class of difficulty. We place the ice symbol last, unlike other terrain symbols that appear in descending order of appropriateness.
And, just because a ski does not have an ice symbol does not necessarily mean that it isn't ice-effective. The ice symbol simply denotes skis that are known to be effective ice tools.
We should add that Eastern ice is in a class by itself, as any Eastern skier knows. Some of our ice symbols may be optimistic for true eastern boilerplate. Please email with questions about specific models.
** Based approximately on accepted ski school level descriptions. ** Traditional technique emphasizing steering in which tips are pressured and steered into the turn, up &/or down unweighting frequently used to initiate turn. Often referred to as "elegant, feet-locked-together style." Often incorporates modified stem turn entry. For a detailed explanation of modern technique, see Harald and John's columns.
