For first-time skiers, one of the main uncertainties before embarking on a skiing holiday in Andorra or elsewhere is about how to choose skis and ensure you have the best skis for a beginner. Even for more experienced skiers, it can also be hard to tell when it’s time to change to a different length or type of expert skis.
To help answer all these questions about how to choose the right skis for beginners and experts, this guide will talk you through how to choose the right skis for you and how to follow a skis size calculator.
Skis size chart: How to choose the right skis for beginners and experts using a skis size calculator?
Let’s start off by talking in general terms, forgetting whether you’re a regular skier or a first-timer who is looking into skis for beginners. The general rule for everyone is to focus on the following, as these are the five most important factors in terms of how to choose skis size:
- The skier’s height
- The skier’s weight
- The skier’s ability
- The skier’s style
- The terrain
Looking at the top two factors, the general rule in terms of how to choose skis is that taller and heavier people should use longer skis, while shorter and lighter people should use shorter skis.
As a starting point, there is a skis size calculator that you can use to work out the rough length that your skis should be and the skis size calculator metric is that the skis should reach approximately where your chin is when you stand the skis straight up on the ground. So, if you’re wondering what the ski length should be for your height, follow this practice.
To give an example, if you’re looking to find out what size skis do you need if you’re 5'10", the estimate is that your ski length should be between 163cm and 173cm.
Then, when we consider how your weight factors into the skis size calculator, it is recommended that you add on an extra centimetre to your ski length for every 10 pounds by which you’re over your recommended weight. Offering the example of 5'10" man, the recommended weight is 149 to 183 lbs.
What are the best skis for beginners?
Let’s now discuss the other three factors from our five-point how to choose skis size list and how they change if you want to know how to choose skis for beginners. They were the skier’s ability, the skier’s style and the terrain, which all have a little more to do with your level and whether you’re trying to pick out the best skis for a beginner or the best skis for experts.
If you’re a skiing rookie, enrolled in classes at the Grandvalira skiing school, and asking yourself ‘how do I choose my first ski?’, you should follow the standard height and weight skis size chart and then take off a few centimetres because skis for beginners should always be a little bit shorter. This works out to about 10cm to 15cm less than your full height, so a bit below the chin.
What are the best skis for experts?
If you’re a more seasoned skier, you’ll want to also follow the standard height and weight skis size chart and then added on a few centimetres. That’s because riders should have slightly longer skis if their ability is higher and their skiing style is more aggressive, because longer skis will then provide the base for extra speed and power.
The terrain that you’re going to ski on will also factor into your ski length, as skis should be a little bit longer again if you’re going to be tackling more adventurous and less groomed trails. At Grandvalira, you can always check out the resort’s Andorra ski slopes chart to see in advance what the various pistes will be like, or bring multiple sets of skis and store them at the Grandvalira ski lockers.