Hard freeride skis. The best skis for freeride in Sheregesh

Freeride is one of the most interesting and dangerous types of skiing. It involves descents on loose and deep snow outside of prepared mountain ski slopes. The athlete requires good physical preparation, experience and decent equipment.

In the last article we already described the features, and now we will focus on skis of a more extreme type (freeride).

This is what it looks like live:

The main question is: what do you want from riding?

The main difference between freeride skis and all others is the width and total surface area.

Compared to other models, they are extremely wide and have huge noses that have a kind of bend (rocker). Thanks to this design, skiers do not drown in deep snow and on high speeds feel like surfers on a sea wave.

In addition to design differences, freeride skis have age and gender differences. They all differ in softness, sensitivity to snow cover, and geometry.

Let's get straight to the selection. First of all, you must understand where and how you will ride. And to do this, answer the following questions:

Do I want to ride fast or slow, but with maximum maneuvers?
Do I want to ride on steep slopes, or on moderate “steepness”?
Always in deep or light snow, or in broken snow?

The weight of the athlete is the most important characteristic of freeride skis

For virgin snow, the weight of the skier is important. How more weight and the softer the surface (snow), the greater the total surface area of the skis should be.

The exact numbers are determined with experience and individually, but some patterns can be derived.

Beginners should remember a simple formula: take your height and add 10 centimeters. With this approach, skis will be as predictable as possible at speed, maneuverable and controllable. Professionals with length “play” and often add only 5 centimeters to their height - this gives them the opportunity to control all movements and do tricks.

Width and surface area

The faster you want to go down the mountain, the smaller the ski surface area should be. In freeride the following proportion works:

For slower skiing you need wider skis.
For fast driving, they are correspondingly narrower.

The spread in width figures is quite large, the width varies from 80 to 140 millimeters.

If you are going to virgin lands where there is half a meter of snow, then take the widest models, but if you are going to compact slopes and want adrenaline from speed, then limit yourself to the universal width (on average - 100 mm).

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We would like to remind you that in winter, almost all air carriers allow. But it is better to check the acceptable standards for weight and size in advance.

Directional and omnidirectional skis

There is another important characteristic responsible for the direction of the design.

For “directional” ones, the design is directed clearly forward. They work mostly on longitudinal sliding. What is called carving or cutting on a slope.

Gives good stability at speed. They require speed because they float up on their own. Directional freeride skis are narrower, therefore they work along the straight line and their entire length. They tend to take long turns and need a lot of space.

Omnidirectional skis

The skis are wide enough. The ratio of length and width differs from directional ones.

Once we have decided on the type of design, we begin to select skis based on surface area, length and width. Using the rule that we wrote about above:

Longer and narrower means faster driving. Shorter and wider - slower and more maneuverable.

Side cutout

This indicator regulates the turning radius. If you are just learning to ride and choose a leisurely descent, then the radius should be no more than 14 centimeters, but if you already have some experience behind you, then feel free to increase it to 20 centimeters.

Adjusting for snow conditions

The harder the snow, the better to take longer and narrower freeride skis so that they show stability and do not “goat” on bumps.

The better the snow, the softer it is, then you can take it shorter and wider in order to plan better on it.

These are, in principle, all the main characteristics that are worth considering when choosing freeride skis. Then we dive “inside” the concept and begin to select the manufacturer, certain models, colors, and so on.

Ski design does not fade into the background. Remember that the equipment should suit you in all respects. It is not at all necessary to sacrifice the aesthetic component - there are hundreds of models on the sports market, the main thing is to find “yours”, which will suit your boots.

How much do they cost and which manufacturers' models should I buy?

Today, freeride skis are manufactured by dozens of global companies. Each manufacturer tries to surprise a potential buyer and provides a wide range of(an average of twenty models of the same type).

Russians most often give preference to European brands that have been known for a long time: Salomon, Atomic, Volkl.

There are two undoubted leaders in the premium segment: Fischer and Rossignol. Not everyone can afford them, because prices for pairs of them can reach up to 1500-2000 dollars. For those who are not ready to invest so much in a hobby, there are also budget options - $200-400.

Atomic Backland alpine skis with camber and Powder rocker. The radius of the side cutout is 117 cm. The cost is 42 thousand rubles.

As a rule, the cost depends not only on the brand, but also on the year of manufacture. The newest models are expensive, but over time they all lose their place in the top, and with it their value.

As you may have noticed earlier, almost all the nuances of choice are based on a correct assessment of your own abilities and capabilities. Riding will be safe and enjoyable if you take into account your level of training and listen to the advice of people who have been freeriding for a long time.

Keep up with the times and monitor the market as often as possible. Technologies do not stand still, so every year new shapes and materials appear, skis are modified;
The feeling of flight will be given by a reverse deflection - rocker. Skis with rocker do not sink in the snow, are easy to control and give owners an incomparable feeling of surfing on virgin snow.
You can also ski in the spring if you prefer skis with a pronounced sidecut radius. They will not get stuck in wet snow and will pass over almost any surface.

We all often try to avoid intrusive consultants in stores, but when choosing sports equipment we should give preference to them over advice from the Internet.

Remember that skis on a mountain slope are your main tool, on which the comfort and safety of the descent will depend. Without a quality pair, you will not master freeride and will not begin to enjoy riding!

Freeride (from the English freeride - “free riding, skating”) is one of the styles of the most magnificent winter hobby, namely. It is believed that it is freeride skiing on off-piste mountain terrain and untouched snow that reveals the fullness of possibilities. skiing. Of course, freeride is not the place for skiing beginners, as it is often accompanied by various dangers (from avalanches to the elementary loss of the route in space). When preparing to master the freerider style of riding, it is necessary to take a responsible approach to choosing the terrain, planning the route, and scouting the climate and weather conditions. The only thing left to do is to choose the right skis for freeride.

Before skiing, it is necessary not only to plan the route, but also to choose the right skis

In this article you will learn what criteria you should use to choose freeride skis among the rich modern assortment.

Types of freeride skiing

Before you begin, you need to figure out what exactly you have to deal with, or rather, what type of freeride you are going to do.

Freeride light, or lightweight, is a type of skiing on loose snow (powder), outside of ready-made ski slopes. People are taken to the top of the mountain using lifts, then there is a free ride down the mountain along selected untouched terrain. It is worth noting that this type of entertainment is relatively budget-friendly.
Catskiing is the process of transporting skiers to snowy mountain peaks using a special vehicle, famous for its absolute cross-country ability, called a “snowcat” (which immediately affects the cost of this type of skiing). After this, freeriders carry out an off-piste free descent from the mountain.
Backcountry, or ski touring, is another type of freeride accessible on a budget. In this case, the ascent to the top of the mountain is carried out by a comfortable ascent by freeriders on skis to the selected end point of the route. This is followed by a free descent.
Snowboarding is perhaps one of the most fun types of freeride. Here skiing become only an auxiliary element of skating. The main part of the process is taken over by a mountain bike, ATV or snowmobile, to which they are attached using special freerider equipment. This is how snow skiing is achieved, reminiscent of water skiing.

The types of freeride skiing described above are only the basic and most common variations of skiing, which even a beginner or amateur can initially become familiar with after deciding to master this style.

Selection of ski equipment

So, if you have already decided on the route and type of freeride, then it’s time to choose freeride skis. Please note that your level of training and skiing skills are important here.

Alpine skiing is divided into several categories and types according to different criteria.

Ski categories

First of all, the selection of a category depends on the professionalism and personal physical data of the skier.

Here we can distinguish the following categories of skis:

for beginners;
for advanced amateur skiers;
for professional sport skiing.

Without a doubt, a consultant at any sports store will help you make this initial choice. Next, you should take into account the age and constitution of the skier. The gender of the athlete is also important.

Age and gender differences in alpine skiing

There is an age limit for ski equipment. Based on this, shells are divided into the following types:

adults;
junior (teenage);
children's.

In turn, adult and children's equipment from the category for beginners can also be divided by gender:

men's;
women's

They all differ in softness or hardness, sensitivity to the snow surface and the geometry of the ski structure, which will be able to ensure safe descent in difficult conditions (ice cover, avalanche). We'll talk more about this later.

Alpine skis for freeride style

The main feature of freeride devices lies in their design: they have a fairly wide middle part of the projectiles (up to 11 cm) and a short length relative to their owner.

Professional riders advise focusing on your height: ski boards placed vertically should be slightly (2–3 cm) higher than a person.

Freeride skis should, of course, be comfortable for any maneuvering, taking into account the possibility of skiing both on loose snow (powder) and on hard icy surfaces.

It should be understood that professional sports ski equipment The board is characterized by its rigidity when pressed, which means that only a person of a certain weight category can own such skis. The athlete will undoubtedly select this category of equipment based on the recommendations of his coach and the type of descent (ski cross, slalom, freestyle, etc.).

But there are also universal products.

Universal mountain equipment is more flexible to learn by both amateur skiers and beginners. They will allow you to ride both on a prepared track and on a steep, unbroken mountain slope.

Size and length of skis for amateur freeride

Typically, equipment for any freeride descent differs in its length and width, which consists of different parameters of the front, middle and rear parts of the projectile. Also, when choosing ski equipment, the radius of the side cutout of the projectile is taken into account. For example, wide alpine skis are suitable for soft powder slopes. For hard mountain slopes, you should choose narrower devices (with an average “waist”) that will allow the skier to easily ride even on a bumpy track.

The usual average width of all-mountain skis for amateur riders varies from 6 cm to 8 cm. Such equipment should not be long. They are often 5–10 cm shorter than their owner. This length provides a safe descent for beginners, as it is relatively easy to control and maneuver.

Alpine ski design

By design, ski equipment is divided into three main categories:

sandwich;
box

Sandwich is a ski design that consists of multi-layer filling of the device with various materials. Each layer of such filling is responsible for its function. As a rule, the top and bottom layers are responsible for ensuring the rigidity of the projectile.

A cap is a design option that also consists of several layers of different composition, but, unlike the first option, the “foundation” of the cap is the upper hard layer, to which all subsequent forming layers of the ski equipment are attached.

The box is a structure with a “core”, which is enveloped with the necessary material over its entire surface, which, in turn, provides torsional rigidity of the ski board for good grip on any route and smooth control.

To complete the picture, it would be useful to listen to freeride style professionals. Most often these are guides and rescuers who are trained and have the most sophisticated and dexterous professional skiing skills.

A ski width of 10 cm for freeride is more than enough at any level of skiing. Suitable for skiing on both hard surfaces and soft powdery snow.
You should always keep up with the times and listen to new sports trends. In this case, we are talking about purchasing ski equipment with Rocker technology. These skis are much faster and lighter at lower speeds, allowing you to master powder skiing techniques without sacrificing skiing on hard surfaces. Thus, when skiing with a rocker, you can safely alternate skiing terrain, which is perfect for both beginners and more advanced freeride lovers. For daily free skiing, skis with double-sided rocker are suitable.
It is worth noting that hard skis with a straight tail are suitable for ski touring. Ski touring fastenings often make the skis heavier and reduce the sensitivity of their control; skiers with low weight category, and also must be taken into account when choosing equipment for women and children.
When skiing on powder, it is advisable to purchase shells with reverse deflection. This will create a feeling of flight and “snow surfing”. Skis with such a camber do not sink in the snow and are easy to control.
Spring skiing will be provided by lightly modeled skis with pronounced carving like a twin-tip. Such skis will not get stuck in dense wet snow and will provide good cross-country ability, taking into account spring weather conditions.

That's all the initial knowledge about the features of freeride skis that should be taken into account when purchasing ski equipment. All that remains is to choose the design and color scheme of your equipment, and go ahead to master the freeride style.

Sheregesh is a traditional place for the opening of the ski season for most riders from Russia and neighboring countries. The resort is famous for its powdery snow and off-piste skiing. But ideas about the ideal skis for freeride in Sheregesh are ambiguous and directly depend on the preferences of the rider. Some strive to roll out exclusively untouched fields of fresh snow, while others strive to develop the entire space of the resort, regardless of the condition of the slopes on and off the slopes. We interviewed several experienced skiers to tell them what kind of skis they ski in Sheregesh themselves and give advice on choosing the ideal freeride model for this resort. In some ways their opinions coincided, but in others they predictably diverged.

Rostislav Akava

About the rider: Instructor at the SnowPro school, ski instructor category B in the NLI (National League of Instructors), finalist athlete Russian competitions in freeride in 2012, 2013 and 2014.

Rostislav Akava

Now I have two pairs of skis in my arsenal - Black Crows Corvus 2011 and Rossignol Super 7 2015. The first is a rigid tool for freeride on steep slopes in large mountains. Skis are demanding, and it took a whole season to get used to and make friends with them. But after that they showed themselves to be an excellent all-rounder and deservedly became my favorite “workhorse” - I ride Corvus almost everywhere. In addition, they help in my teaching practice. Since these skis are technically demanding, everything needs to be done on them as correctly as possible, and this is very clear and useful for riders learning off-piste skiing.

Rossignol Super 7- fairly soft, but at the same time stable skis that ride great not only in virgin soil. I also liked them because of their relatively light weight, since I ski tour in Luzhba and Kazyr every year.

Speaking about the ideal skis for off-piste skiing in Sheregesh, it is worth understanding that the snow here can be very different. “The same” powder that everyone usually talks about falls during the “Big Snow” period at the turn of November-December. At this moment it is really soft, very crumbly, snowfalls occur frequently and the snow cover is constantly renewed. For fun skiing on such powder, wide skis with a waist of 115-120 mm and deep rocker at the toe will be really relevant. The classics here are the wide Fischer Watea/Big Stix, Atomic Bent Chetler, Line Eric Pollard, old Armada JJ.

Glory to Akava. Riding in the “Camel” area of Sheregesh © Yulia Grebeneva

But the period of “Big Snow” does not last long. In the “high” season, there may be no snowfalls for several weeks, and fresh powder rolls out in the first half of the day. So you need to be prepared, including for skiing on broken slopes. In my opinion, maneuverable freeride station wagons with a waist of up to 115 mm are suitable for this. The Camber's deflection underfoot is definitely needed - for proper control over the skis in areas with rolled, blown or icy snow - there are plenty of them in Sheregesh, especially when there is no snowfall for a long time. These skis include Rossignol Super 7 and Soul 7, modern Fischer Ranger. It would be interesting to try the Movement Fly Swatter on the Sheregesh slopes, and Volkl Two exclusively for powder jumping and fun.

Andrey Makov

About the rider: A veteran of Sheregesh, who skied its slopes long before the resort acquired its current popularity. Experienced alpine ski instructor (“C” VAGI) with many years of experience. Preferences: off-piste, hills. I am not indifferent to ski touring. Winters in Krasnaya Polyana.

Riding experience: I first started skiing in the spring of 1996 in Sheregesh!

I learned to ski on the “classics”, shortly before the “carving revolution”, which ushered in an era of bold experiments with ski geometry. Together with the ski industry, so to speak, I have evolved as a skier. I skied on a wide variety of skis: wide, long, “rocker-schmoker”, etc. After experimenting with extremes, such as Hell Bent from K2 or Armada ARG, I came to moderation and healthy conservatism. My fondest memories are from Scott Pure and Scott Mission. The latter, without exaggeration, can be called legendary skis for Sheregesh in the early 2000s.

By the way, about Sheregesh in the 1990s and early 2000s. At that time it was a regional weekend resort. The snow that fell during the week lay quietly until the weekend and “waited” for its snow riders. We rode either in virgin soil up to our waists, or on hillocks of the same height. A stingy tear... :)

Now my main skis are Black Crows Corvus- they are quite strict and demanding on the rider’s technique and are more suitable for big-mountain freeride than for the simple terrain of Sheregesh with its soft snow. But I’m used to them and can ride them in any conditions, on completely different snow conditions on and off the piste.

If I recommend some ideal skis for Sheregesh, then I would focus on freeride all-rounders with a waist in the range of 105-108 mm, with a classic Camber camber and a slight rocker at the tip. Size, without fanaticism, height +10-15 cm. Fortunately, today there are a lot of similar models. Why stop at them?

This will be a truly universal equipment on which you can ride off-piste for your pleasure at a variety of resorts - from Krasnaya Polyana to Sheregesh.

In Gesha, contrary to popular belief, snow does not fall constantly, and fresh “powder” rolls out from the ski lifts very quickly - literally in 2-3 hours. Therefore, you can only allocate one pair of skis specifically for powder powder if you can afford to pay not only for them, but also for freeride programs. Most often, on days of heavy powder it is more profitable and easier to rent wide skis.

In the middle of the day in Sheregesh, you are usually already rolling on a real “sausage”. On it, wide skis with a waist of 115 mm or more hit your legs and you can’t really enjoy skiing.

For beginner freeriders, when choosing skis, I will remind you: “It’s not the skis that go, but the legs.” You need to improve your skating skills, maintain physical fitness. IN otherwise, no “rocker” and geometry will take you out of deep snow or from a steep slope. Roll the hills, ride with friends! :)

Sergei "Kamikaze" Turikov

About the rider: Co-founder and guide at the Mountain Patrol company, which organizes freeride programs in Sheregesh and Altai. Athlete, senior coach of the Novosibirsk Freestyle Ski Federation.

Riding experience: Over 20 years of skiing experience. I've been riding in Sheregesh since 2002. With the arrival of the season, training from the gym turns into daily skiing on the Mountain. Taking into account the specifics of my work, I have the opportunity to regularly ride in areas of Mountain Shoria remote from the resort.

Freeride in Sheregesh © Ekaterina Klimova, Instagram @egklimova

Throughout my skiing experience I have tried many models of alpine skis. If we consider the options specialized for freeride, which I had the opportunity to test and run, then, including a bunch of rare “firewood”, these will be:

Rossignol Bandit (XXl, B-Squad, Scratch BC);

Fischer Watea, Big Stix, Ranger;

Armada ARV, TST, Norwalk, ARG;

Line Eric Pollard, Sir Francis Bacon;

Scott Mission, Dozer, Punisher, Scrapper, SageBrush, Rock Air, Cascade 110;

Atomic Pimp, Bent Chetler, Automatic 107;

Salomon Czar and the Rocker series.

Maybe there was something else, but I don’t remember now :) Every time I tried to try something new in order to find my cherished ideal. In the end, when I “settled down” and realized what was really important to me, I came to the conclusion that I needed to have three pairs in my arsenal :) But for skiing in Sheregesh I have two favorite equipment - Fischer Ranger 122 And Scott Scrapper 115.

Of all the things I tried, at one time I really liked the Armada TST. Cool, light, nimble ski. But the lack of width made me try its older brother, Norwalk. I was pleased. But still, an aggressive riding style and a desire for more confidence in the equipment persuaded me to try the Fischer Big Stix 122. In fact, I still ride them :) And to be more precise, the Fischer Ranger 122 (aka Big Stix 122 in the past). Over the years, the model has undergone significant changes and has become an excellent universal projectile for different snow conditions due to its geometry and range design features. This is the ski I like to ski on broken soft snow and on the piste. Skillfully, they can be used in almost any conditions. But in the upcoming 2017-2018 season we will not see them in the Ranger lineup.

The Ranger 122 has been replaced by a new model with a 115 waist, less weight and a maximum height of 196 cm. 196 cm, Karl! Apparently, the manufacturer considered that 192 cm was not enough and decided to cut down two-meter “sleepers” for real men. I haven’t tested these skis yet, I’ll try them this season and it will be clear what they are like.

I like to take Scott Scrapper 115 when we go to unrolled snow fields on a snowcat. I like them for their noticeably lighter weight compared to the Ranger 122. I love jumping and spinning, which is much more comfortable to do on them. Scrapper 115 is a little softer and lighter, but is not inferior to the Rangers in terms of maneuverability. Scrapper, to put it in an accessible language, is more sophisticated or something... :) Fischer Ranger 122 for me is a “locomotive” that doesn’t care where it goes, doesn’t care what the snow conditions are and doesn’t care how it goes. He will go everywhere. But Scrapper don’t really like “sausages”, and on hard blown snow you have to be on your guard with them. In general, I would like to take the Scrapper 115 geometry and stuff the Ranger 122 “filling” into it, and then taste this explosive mixture :)

But seriously, this season I want to try the Fischer Ranger 115 in a size of 196 cm. It seems to me that this is a downright bad ski that should go straight and fast!

Dmitry Bogdanov

About the rider: Ski instructor since 2009. He teaches at freeride schools and courses to improve Snowpro riding techniques. Led top groups in Krasnaya Polyana, Sheregesh, Tignes (France), Monte Rose, Courmayeur (Italy), Gulmarg (India).

Riding experience: Over 20 years of skiing experience. I've been skating in Sheregesh since 2001.

My main skis for Sheregesh and not only - Line Influence 105, waist 105 mm, minimal rocker at the toe, fairly rigid heel and additionally reinforced with a titanium plate. Thanks to this design and geometry, they are very versatile - they behave adequately on the track and float quite tolerably in soft deep snow, unless it is super-fluffy powder. That's why I ride them 95% of the time.

I think everyone has long and well remembered that the only reliable way to choose suitable alpine skis is to take them for a ride, most often this is actually done in tests. Unfortunately, this opportunity is not always available to everyone, so we often have to rely on someone else’s opinion. Fortunately, there are still quite objective parameters that we can calculate and use as a guide when choosing alpine skis.

And here is one such objective parameter that relates specifically to all-mountain and freeride skis - this is the area of the ski, which accounts for one unit of our weight. With it, everything is quite obvious - the larger the surface area supports your weight, the less the skis fall into the snow, the better they ride in this snow. As already, again, it was said, skis with specific properties are designed to minimize the amount of effort of the skier in certain conditions. And any model is a compromise of minimizing energy costs for different riding conditions.

When I first wrote this article, I did not know that similar numbers indicate in the technical characteristics of vehicles - snowmobiles, snowcats, swamp vehicles, all-terrain vehicles. In addition, I calculated the recommended values in the number of square centimeters cm 2 per kilogram of weight, that is, the inverse values of the accepted values. Now everything has been corrected to the usual g/cm2, grams per square centimeter - that is, the specific pressure on snow. At the same time, the idea itself, which was obvious to me, found clear scientific and technical confirmation.

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How will we calculate the area of the ski? The edging shape is quite complex. But for the sake of simplicity, you can consider the edge on the side of the mountain ski as a straight line from the waist to the toe/heel, since this will introduce less error into the calculation than subsequent factors. In this case, we simply calculate the arithmetic average of the width of the toe, waist and heel - add them and divide by three. Next, multiply the resulting number by the length of the ski. The length of the ski is measured by the base, so strongly bent tips and heels will introduce an even greater error. In addition, the toes, and often the heels, are rounded. All these inaccuracies affect the result we need, but not much. Don't forget about the dimensions - the length of the ski is in centimeters, and the width is in millimeters, so they should be divided by 10. We got the area of one ski. There are two skis, so let's multiply the number by two. And divide your weight in grams by this area. For example, the author’s favorite skis for trips to big mountains

73 kg x 1000 / [ 184 (size, cm) x (136+99+120)/10/3 (arithmetic mean of width, cm) x 2 ] =

16.8 g/cm2

Now let’s compare the resulting number with the following scale compiled by the author, g/cm 2:

26-31 - an indicator for narrow long skis of classical “straight” geometry (in fact, they were not very often straight; experiments with the shape were always going on); To understand how much effort it takes to ski these skis in virgin snow, watch the video. To ski, you have to use the godil technique, make frequent turns with the creation of a compacted area of snow in the final phase of the turn, from which the skier pushes off into a new turn.

Wide and/or long?

The large waist width of skis (more than 100 mm) carries the cost of completely depriving them of their versatility. Such skis are good at minimizing effort in the snow, but! – as soon as the need arises to ride on a solid support, placing them on the edge is associated with significant efforts in the ankle area. If you come to ski with wide skis at a resort where, alas, there has been no snowfall for a week, and not only the slopes, but also all the surrounding fields, bushes and copses are rolled into concrete, after a day or two of skiing on these skis, your legs will begin to fall off. The author of this had the pleasure of skiing for several days in such conditions before the snowfall began in Whistler on rented skis with a 125 mm waist and retained vivid impressions of this skiing.

For this reason, the author often sacrifices width in favor of versatility and, in the absence of a specific forecast for a trip in the snow, takes skis with a waist of 99 mm (16.8 g/cm2). And also considers the optimal length for his weight, which fluctuates around 73 kg (and technical level), the length of such skis is around 185-190 cm (these ones are perhaps a little short).

In general, those whose waist is in the range from 75 to 90 mm can be considered all-mountain skis. The larger the waist, the more off-piste properties the ski has. Today, with some stretch, a waist within 100 mm is considered a universal. But, of course, only with a stretch - on a hard slope, such skis require effort.

It should be noted here that the called waist width ranges depend on the dimensions of the skier. Namely - proportional to size lower limbs. Relatively speaking, for a person with a foot of 29 cm, a waist width of 93 mm is equivalent to a waist of 80 mm for a person with a foot of 25 cm (simple proportion 29/25 = 93/80). The correctness of the statement is relative, since proportions are reduced not only to the length of the foot.

In addition to the increase in area, there is another reason for the need for greater length. To exaggerate somewhat, we can give this explanation for the design of longer, more off-piste alpine skis: imagine your short, stiff, piste skis. In addition to the fact that their small area will contribute to falling into the snow, their hard socks will bury themselves in it. Imagine that we lengthened their tips with a softer core, which does not provide good support on a hard slope, but bends upward with resistance to movement in deep snow, as a result of which the skis float in the snow - they no longer bury themselves. The effective support area over which the weight on the hard ski is distributed remains the same - the soft part of the ski barely supports the weight until the skis sink into the snow and flex. But the advantage is good shock-absorbing properties when moving in broken snow, and this reduces the severity of impacts to the legs.

So the length of freeride skis is not only due to the need to have a larger ski area. If you have any hesitation in choosing the length of your skis (), in the author’s opinion, you should prefer longer ones. Perhaps at first the unusually large length will cause difficulties in handling, but you will adapt to it. But you will always tumble in the snow on short skis.

And also in defense longer length- skis immersed in snow do not behave quite the same as those placed on a hard slope. Already on a slightly broken slope, the skis begin to yaw and require control. And in snow, stability in the direction of movement becomes much more important. Especially at speeds. And long skis maintain this stability better.

A little practice in choosing

For example, let's look at the stock skis of the high-quality Swiss manufacturer Movement - Evolution, from a line from which the author still cannot get rid of consultations on choosing from: o) On the specified website they can be purchased for 160 €, which is extremely inexpensive for high-quality, even non-Swiss ones skis with a wooden core (why the wooden core is so important - see this article). The geometry of these skis is 116-80-104, and the radius is 20m - quite a typical all-rounder. In addition, this model has very soft tips that prevent them from digging in, and the stiffness has a so-called “progressive distribution” - it increases disproportionately as you move towards the center of the ski, which ensures an increase in the ski's return with increasing load.

It is known, however, that a skier weighing over 80 kg, who once rashly acquired this model, was dissatisfied with it. According to the above scale, skis will be of “universal interest” if the pressure on the snow does not exceed 20 g/cm2. We count:

184 x (116+80+104)/3/10 x 2 x 20 = 73.6 kg

That is, these skis in their long size 184 will provide minimum universal properties for a person weighing within 73 kg. They can be considered relatively freeride (our coefficient is up to 17 g/cm2) only if they weigh 61 kg. In the author’s opinion, the size of 184 is too big for this weight, so for the role of freeride, not all-mountain skis The long size of this model cannot be claimed. Moreover, under no circumstances can these skis be of interest to a guy weighing over 80 kg - with such an area for his weight, these may not be skis with soft tips. Having been enriched with the information provided above, he would have understood that the Evolution in size 184 is a station wagon for a skier weighing 65-73 kg. The proof is, in particular, the given review of a girl weighing 64 kg, skating for the first season and satisfied with a slightly smaller size - 177.

But in size 170, the same calculations give a weight of 57 - 68 kg. A relatively aggressive skier weighing about 60 kg will be satisfied with these skis at a height of 170, as off-piste skis. And the logic here is simple - the width of the skis remains the same in a smaller size, and for a person of small dimensions, the proportions of these skis turn out to be the same as wider skis for a larger skier.

Winter program Progress-Ski, details

Regular (all season) Progress-Ski visiting school in Nechkino, alpine skiing and snowboarding.

Russian "small" resort on the banks of the Kama, coniferous forest on the slopes. The ski day is a full 12 hours - from 10 to 22. Well prepared slopes. Snowmaking. Fast chairlift.

Convenient transport accessibility for Moscow and the middle zone. The most budget trip of the season. Recommended for those working on technical excellence, and for those who are new to it.

A wonderful place to relax - and mega-favorable prices. Wonderful, beautiful place. Good conditions to get started with skiing and snowboarding!

Dates: November, February, March, more on request. Alpine skiing and snowboarding groups. Children's groups.

Zell am See - Kaprun, Kitzsteinhorn glacier, Austria, Alps

This is surprising - but in the fall, pure spring weather usually reigns on the glacier. Would you like to experience spring in November? With the simultaneous early opening of the season!

Alpine skiing group (snowboarding group on request).

Karakol, Tien Shan, Kyrgyzstan

For beginners - prepared trails, for intermediate ones - forest paths, for advanced ones - freeride through the forest or in the fields. Everyone can do something they like and can do. The Central Asian flavor adds a special spice to the trip.

Stable one and a half to two meters of snow cover, the opportunity to be the first to roll out fresh slopes (the number of riders greedy for virgin soil is still small here!), comfortable temperature all season, epic landscapes (Issyk-Kul is also visible from the slopes)! For the freerider - the opportunity to inexpensively take snowmobiles and snowcats to sweet spots.

Good, almost “homely” attitude of the local population towards riders. Feeding with hearty Central Asian cuisine, as if for slaughter. An internal Russian passport is enough! And with all these advantages, it’s cheaper than the Alps!

For those who love speed and free riding, freeride skis are suitable. With the help of a special design you can feel like a surfer. To go “free sailing”, you should choose a model, taking into account several parameters.

First of all, you should understand what freeride is. The word is a transcription of the English word “freeride” and literally translates as “free ride”. Freeride does not require specially prepared trails; it is enough to find a slope with untouched snow. The descent is reminiscent of snowboarding.

For have the following characteristics:

increased width;
wide nose (wider than waist);
rocker technology;
short length.

Rocker - An early rise of the front, rear, or front and rear, starting from the middle of the ski. Thanks to this technology, “spotted” on water skiers, the rider glides easily and stays on the surface without burying himself in the snow.

Types of freeride skiing

Lightweight freeride

Another name is “freeride light”. The simplest and most budget-friendly type of freeride. A skier rides up a cable car and slides down a slope with loose, unprepared snow.

Backcountry

Requires some physical training: the ascent is carried out on foot with snowshoes or with special equipment for ski touring. After reaching the top, riders roll down the slope.

Heli-skiing and heli-boarding

Riders ascend in a helicopter and then roll down. It's more dangerous look freeride, because involves steeper slopes and a longer descent through mountainous terrain.

Snowcat skiing

Skiers are lifted up the mountain by special tracked all-terrain vehicles with a passenger cabin - snowcats. Snowcats go over any terrain, so riders can conquer a variety of slopes - forested, hilly, steep.

Freestyle backcountry

A view for extreme skiers who decide to get out of the parks and into the natural environment. It involves not only climbing and sliding down unequipped slopes, but also performing various tricks in natural conditions - from rocks, hillocks, logs, etc.

Freestyle backcountry skis

Models designed for freestyle belong to the freeride category. However, some manufacturers put freestyle skis in a separate category.

Differences between backcountry freestyle skis and classic freeride skis

Compared to freeride classics, freestyle backcountry models have several features:

the design allows you to turn over in the air;
the fastenings are located closer to the toe (for freeride ones - closer to the heel);
increased maneuverability;
uneven stiffness - soft heel and stiffer toe;
larger lateral radius;
full (double) rocker.

What are freestyle backcountry skis for?

Freestyle backcountry is well suited for beginners and experienced riders. They are more maneuverable, lighter, cope better with relief slopes and do not require complex techniques from the skier. You can start learning how to slide down mountain slopes with this model. It doesn’t have to be used only for tricks, they are also suitable for regular descents.

Do you need special skis for freeride?

Freeride skiing technique involves maneuverability on high speed, and ordinary thin models will not cope with this task. Therefore, models for alpine skiing have been developed:

universal;
carving (piste);
freeride.

The piste ones are suitable for descending down well-groomed, equipped slopes. They are stiffer and tapered at the waist. On piste skiing, skiing is not done in a straight line, but in arcs. The radius of the arc determines the speed of the rider, and the radius depends on the technical capabilities of the skier and the sidecut. According to the radius of the cut, short-, medium- and long-radius piste skis are distinguished.

For freeride alpine skiing, universal and freeride models are suitable.

What types of freeride skis are there?

Specially designed skis for freeride:

freeride (classic) - with rocker;
powder - the widest;
park&pipe - for performing tricks and jumps;
ski tour - for climbing a mountain.

Park&pipe are designed for performing tricks in ski parks with springboards, railings, etc. Ski touring is specially designed for backcountry. The model is lightweight and allows you to climb uphill by lifting your heel off. When lowering, it is secured with a fastener. Skis are inconvenient for extreme descent.

Powder

Designed for driving on deep (from 20 cm), soft, hard snow. Good couple to overcome hillocks and uneven slopes. They feel great in wooded and gully areas with a meter deep snow. Main characteristics:

width - up to 150 mm at the toe and up to 140 mm at the waist;
turning radius - 24-35 m;
front rocker.

Powders are not suitable for groomed slopes.

Station wagons (all-mountain)

Suitable for various terrain with soft, sticky, deep (from 30 cm) snow. On station wagons you can overcome soft bumps. However, on compacted slopes they are significantly inferior to piste models in terms of speed and maneuverability.

Characteristics:

width - 140 mm at the toe and 100-105 mm at the waist;
turn - 16-24 m;
low front rocker.

All-rounders are suitable for learning to freeride.

Big mountain freeride (freeride skis for big mountains)

An improved version of station wagons. High-slope freeride skis can go literally anywhere. They cope well with extremely hard slopes and deep, melted snow. They are often reinforced with carbon fiber in one sheet.

Main characteristics:

width - 108-120 mm;
low front, rear, rarely full rocker;
turning radius - 21-35 m.

The pair is difficult to control and is suitable only for experienced skiers.

How to buy the right freeride skis

Finding the best skis for freeride is quite difficult. You should take into account several parameters and understand what skis are needed for - riding on groomed slopes or overcoming natural obstacles.

Cut radius

This parameter shows what the turning radius will be. Skis with a small indicator are able to turn quickly and often. The large radius (from 17 m) helps to turn smoothly. It is important for a novice skater to pay attention to this in order to make maneuverability much easier.

To cross the forest, it is better to choose a pair with a radius of up to 15 m. For a free descent, 20 m is enough.

Stiffness and weight deflection

Hardness is not measured by quantity and can only be checked with your own hands. Soft skis are easier to control. They are suitable for deep soft snow. For descending on dense, melted surfaces, it is better to purchase a hard pair.

The weight deflection distributes the pressure of the ski on the slope and depends on the stiffness. In freeride models, the weight deflection is combined with rocker. The longer it is, the higher the maneuverability. The short rocker helps with sharp turns and driving in dense snow.

The greater the rider's weight and the shorter the ski, the greater the stiffness should be.

Lenght and width

Long skis are less maneuverable than short skis. Therefore, beginner skiers are advised to choose models exactly according to their height. This will make management much easier.

The size indicated on the skis is an average parameter and may not correspond to reality. Typically, a vertically placed ski is 5-10 cm higher or lower than the skier.

Wide models easily overcome deep soft snow and are suitable for unprepared slopes. Narrow skis maneuver better on hard surfaces and are able to change direction faster. Station wagons with a waist of 100 mm have average performance.

Typically the width indicated corresponds to the waist. Socks are 2-5 cm wider than the waist.

Ski categories

according to experience - for beginners, amateurs, professionals;
by gender - male, female;
by age - children, teenagers, adults.

Each category differs in size, weight, fastening, and maneuverability. Beginners are advised to buy universal models with double rocker. They can be used to ride on slopes with different snow densities and make quick turns.

Important! A child can acquire riding skills from the age of 5. Foreign schools Accepts children aged 2-3 years. However, it is better to master freeride from the age of 8-10.

Manufacturers and prices

Top 10 alpine ski manufacturers.