| General |
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If you decide to take your skiing one step further and start to compete,
you'll need some specialised kit…
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| Alpine Race Skis |
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Slalom skis are short turning, precise and reactive. They offer
excellent grip and are quick from edge to edge. They are not good in powder
and can sometimes feel unstable or twitchy at speed. The latest slalom
skis are shorter then ever with an even more pronounced sidecut.
Giant Slalom (GS) skis are longer turning, with less sidecut than
slalom skis. They are smooth, powerful and stable at speed. Taken in a
longer length than slalom skis, the extra surface area gives GS skis more
flotation in powder. And similarly to slalom skis, there is a trend towards
shorter, more shaped GS skis being used in World Cup races.
SuperG skis are basically oversized GS skis for extra stability
at speed.
Downhill skis are not designed for turning and they have very
little sidecut. They're designed to go straight and fast. Extra long and
impossible in moguls…
Free-skiing race gear
Long, fat skis are best suited to free skiing or extreme competitions.
Most manufacturers now produce an extra wide, super cool big mountain
ski that floats through the powder and is incredibly stable at speed.
[Photo: Fall Line]
Salomon AK Rocket |
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| Freestyle gear |
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Mogul skis are short with a strong middle and softer tip and tail.
They love short tight turns and are similar in construction to slalom
skis. One piece of advice - avoid using skis that have any metal in their
construction as they may bend.
Acro skis are very short skis that are used for spinning and flipping.
Only used with extra long poles. Formally known as 'Ballet Skiing'.
Aerial skis are short for manoeuvrability, but strong enough to
take the impact. Helmets are a must.
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[Photo:Atomic]
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| Boots for racing |
Top-end race boots tend to be very stiff for accurate transmission of
power to skis.
Mogul and free skiers sometimes go for softer race boots
that give them more freedom of movement as well as easier landings.
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| Body protection |
Gate bashers (both skiers and snowboarders) need hand protectors,
face guards, shin guards and helmets for protection from the gates.
[Photo: Scott]
For freeriders, snowboarders and Big Air fans
Padded shorts, knee, elbow and back protectors are mandatory for extreme
lovers who come up against rocks, cliffs and steep gullies.
[Photo: Dianese]
Tuning Gear
Whatever kind of racing you do, you have to keep your kit in excellent
condition.
A comprehensive tuning kit that includes the following essentials
(at least) is a must: wax remover, wax for all conditions, an iron, files,
plastic and metal scrapers, p-tex, a ski base brush, a stone, a diamond
file, ski vices, and screwdrivers. The list is endless!
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