How to choose the right ski
There is a huge difference between types, widths, models and shapes of skis. With this guide, we've tried to explain the differences so you can find the type of ski that suits you best. The advanced skier can take almost any ski and have a great day on the mountain. This is especially true with the new all mountain skis. The good skier can notice a big difference between different types of skis, sidecuts, how the ski flexes and how much rocker the ski has.
Before you start looking for skis, there are some things you need to consider. It's important to be honest with yourself. The following points are important to consider.
- How good a skier you are.
- What ski terrain you normally ski in.
- What conditions you normally encounter.
All points are explained in more detail below.
At One Open Sky, we categorize skis into the following categories: Piste, All Mountain, Freeride, Twintip, Ladies and Junior skis. These different skis have their own advantages and disadvantages, depending on the conditions you'll be using them in. Don't be surprised that several of the skis can be used in several different conditions. Therefore, these skis could be placed in several categories.
Piste skis
Piste skis are a classic ski. It's for those who like to turn on the piste from edge to edge perfectly. The characteristic of this type of ski is that they are narrower underfoot (60-85mm). Piste skis are made for standing on the piste, with a fast edge-to-edge reaction. You can divide piste skis into different subcategories used for different turning styles:
SL/SC: Skis that turn very fast on clean edges, with a turning radius of less than 14 meters. This is for people who want a ski that reacts quickly and loves short turns. Usually also with a stiffer and more rigid rear ski.
GS: GS skis are for people who make medium to large turns. On clean edges, the ski doesn't turn as fast, thus providing a more stable ski at high speed. 
Read also about our bestselling piste skis.
All Mountain skis
All Mountain skis are, as the name suggests, skis where you can ski the entire mountain. The skis are built to go wherever you want to go. This applies to everything from tree skiing to hard slopes and everything in between. The hallmark of All Mountain skis is that they are wider than piste skis (75-95 mm approx.). When choosing the width of your All Mountain skis, you need to decide how much piste/off-piste you ski. A narrower All Mountain ski will perform better on piste, but lack a little float in the off-piste - and vice versa. If you want an all-mountain ski, this is the category to look for. However, keep in mind that All Mountain skis can do most things, but are not necessarily the best for everything.
Freeride skis
Freeride skis with us cover many types of skis within the freeride category. These include wider All Mountain, front side, backside, backcountry freestyle and deep powder skis. In general, all skis are wider underfoot (95-140mm). The rocker profile is also larger than on all mountain skis and can be placed at both ends to lift the ski and make it more agile in the off-piste. The width of the ski helps to keep you floating in the off-piste and gives you a surf feel. Full-width skis are only built for pure off-piste and don't do very well on the hard slopes. 
Read also about our bestselling freeride skis.
Twintip skis
Twintip skis are made for people who are usually in the snowboard park or half pipe, or spend a lot of their time there. If you can check off one of the following; rails, kickers or jib, then a pair of twintip skis could be for you. Normal twintip skis are relatively narrow skis with a focus on a hard surface. In recent years, there has been a trend towards wider skis that can be used all over the mountain. In addition to curving up at both ends, twintips are characterized by slightly stronger, more durable edges, harder bases and special flex zones. Even if you never go into the park but just like to play on your skis, a good pair of twintip skis is the way to go.
Read also about our bestselling twintip skis.
Women's skis
Our women's category includes piste, all-mountain, twintip and freeride skis together. Women's skis are usually lighter, softer and shorter than the unisex/men's skis. Women's skis are made for women's lower center of gravity and less weight. The cores of the skis are usually more forgiving and the bindings can be mounted further forward. However, ladies should not be pigeonholed by women's skis. There's no reason why a woman can't stand on a men's ski and vice versa. Many women's skis today are made really well and with the same materials as men's skis. So if you're really going for it on the piste, there are women's skis for you too.
Junior skis
Buying children's skis can be a bit of a jungle. You want them to be able to grow a little in the skis, but this is just not a very good idea. For very young children (>6 years old), it's important that they fit so they can get the most out of the skis. The rule of thumb is that they should be too short rather than too long if they are still in the plow. For slightly older children (<12 years), they can be a little longer if they have mastered the parallel turns.
Shorter length <6 years means under the chin, and the older children chest to nose depending on technique.
Levels
Before you start choosing your skis, you need to decide how good you are at skiing, we have divided all our skis into 3 categories: Beginner, intermediate and expert. Today, ski manufacturers have made skis that are incredibly easy to ski on. So that even a beginner can take on a significantly more difficult ski and still have a great day on the mountain.
Beginner: People who are just starting out or have a limited number of weeks on skis. Typical beginner skis usually have a softer flex, narrower underfoot, composite core, foam or wood core with a cap construction. The idea is to make a ski that turns easily and is forgiving if you make mistakes. The rocker in the ski helps to initiate the turn and that it doesn't "fish" as much on transport pieces.
Practice: The vast majority of skiers fall into this category. If you like slopes, or like trips out between the trees. You can ski all types of slopes, with good control and turns. Skis in this category usually have a stiffer core than beginner skis and a sidewall construction. Depending on the ski type, these can include camber, rocker or a combination of both.
Expert: The expert skier can stand anywhere and is more aggressive in their skiing style. Expert skis usually have titanium, carbon, bamboo or other materials to stiffen the ski. This results in a ski that can go faster and in hard conditions without feeling unstable. Expert skis come in all categories in different versions.
Ski length
How do you find the right length? The truth is that there is no one answer, but if you want to get really close, just click HERE and we have a little guide for you!
Rocker / camber
In 2003 we saw the first skis with Rocker technology in them, today almost all skis have rocker in them. Rocker comes in many different versions and types, depending on the surface you need it for. Basically, the less rocker, the more piste oriented and vice versa. Rocker goes by different names on our website, including reverse camber and early rise. Rocker and camber are the profile of the ski and how it reacts with the snow.
Camber
Camber is the most classic profile for skis. It's where the ski curves up under the foot and the contact points are far out towards the tips. Camber in a ski makes it feel alive and that something happens when you push through the turn. Camber requires more precise control from the skier, but also provides a ski that is stable. The Camber profile is often used in race skis and top park skis. Camber gives a better edge on icy sections and more "pop".
Rocker
Rocker is the new revolution, just like years ago when skis were sidecut, rocker is the new step. Rocker is basically that the ski curves up earlier than on a camber ski. This means that the ski will feel shorter when you start the turn, depending on how much rocker there is in the ski. When you push the ski out at the end of the turn, you'll regain full edge grip. Rocker has a big impact on how long you need to ski, if the ski has a lot of rocker you can take the ski longer than usual. Both because the ski is easier to carry around and to get a more stable ski.
Why is rocker so great?
When you're in deep off-piste, the tips are lifted and the ski will have an easier time floating in the off-piste. This feels much more natural and means you don't need full-width skis (140mm) to achieve the same floating ability in the snow. Wide All Mountain skis are more forgiving and easier to handle. Ruts, moguls and slush are a whole new experience, the ski floats on top and you never worry about the tip getting stuck.
Turning radius
The turning radius on skis is measured in meters and is a definition of how big an arc the ski makes on a clean edge. Skis with a short turning radius will make a smaller arc and turn sharply. A ski with a high turning radius will make a larger arc. How sharply a ski turns is a mixture of the dimensions of the ski, at the offset, under the foot and the rear ski. The greater the difference between these numbers, the sharper a ski will turn.
