How to choose and buy skis?

The main characteristic of today’s skis is the ’hourglass’ shape. The tip and tail of skis flared and there is a curve along the sidecut at the narrower waist. The word ’carving’ refers to the fact that these hourglass-shaped skis, when the skier’s weight is shifted from one edge to the other, cut corners thus making turning easier, the skier’s knees are not strained and the movement itself is simplified.
What does this mean in practice?

Place the ski on a smooth, flat surface.
Turn the board on its side and notice that as a result of the hourglass shape, the edge touches at the tip and tail while not at the waist.
Again letting the ski lie on its base place your hands on the board’s deck side and exert force on it, trying to push it down.
If you would happen to take a pencil and a draw a line along the edge of the ski board in this position, the resulting curve with its centre at the waist would give the sidecut radius, which is an important parameter of the ski given in meters. The sidecut radius of the given board determines the arch on which the board would cover a whole circle.

Skis are usually divided into five groups or categories:
Easy-carving: Easy to use, softer, shorter skis primarily for beginners and women. The ski stability is relatively low. Radius: 14-18 m.
Allround-carving: for advanced and sporty skiers. Most skis – softer and stiffer alike - belong to this group. Allround-carving skis are suited for use under various circumstances. Radius: 12-18m.
Race-carving: Stiff sporty or race skis belong to this category. They are suitable for more advanced skiers. Radius: 10-22m.
Fun carving skis: these are shorter skis with a radius of 7 to 13 metres. Speed and skill are required to make snow contact turns really a lot of fun.
Freeride skis: these skis are suitable for off-piste skiing. Thanks to their robust structure, wide body thus increased surface area they keep the skier easily on the surface of the deep snow. Their radius is usually between 10 and 22 metres.
If we imagine these categories as sets there are of course intersections of any two. It is always advisable to ask for professional advice before choosing your skis.
The following should be considered before you pick skis:

Skiing skill (beginner, intermediate/advanced, advanced/professional) This is rather obvious, that one has an understanding of one’s own experience and capabilities. A beginner needs shorter, softer skis while the professional longer, stiffer ones. Do not forget that nowadays not only skiing skills but also the preferred skiing-style should be taken into account whey buying skis as the manufacturers tend to offer style-specific products.
Height and weight Average weight - Beginner: skis should be 20-25 cm shorter than the skier (to be)’s height with a medium radius and soft-flexing for smooth first encounters. - Intermediate: the skis should be 15 cm shorter than the height with medium radius and should be stiffer than that of the beginner as to gather speed more easily. - Advanced: again the skis should be 15 cm shorter than the person’s height while the desirable radius depends on the skier’s preferred style (skiing with frequent smaller turns or swift straight downhill slides require different types of skis ). Skis for advanced skiers should be stiff to be stable when sliding at a great pace. Greater bodyweight - Beginner: the above points should be observed but the stiffness should increase proportional to the weight. A soft-flexing ski’s advantages can not fully be enjoyed when it is overburdened. - Intermediate: again, the same should be considered as for average weight skiers, stiffness can be increased. - Advanced: as stiffness cannot be further increased here the ski can be 5 cm longer than for an average weight advanced skier.

Skis for ladies All skis are suitable for females selected according to their skills, but ski manufacturers created a suit of skis designed especially for women in all categories, for beginners and advanced skiers alike. These skis are lighter than the average but their stiffness –which is the main characteristic of each category- remains as of the non-lady designs within each group.