Choosing Skis

The most important factors when choosing skis are intended use, skier’s height, and skill level.

First, it’s good to identify the conditions and type of skiing you’ll be doing the most. For example, if you mainly ski on groomed slopes in Southern Finland’s smaller resorts, a narrower piste ski is the best choice. If you spend several weeks each year skiing in Lapland or the Alps, you should consider a wider all-mountain ski, or even a freeride ski over 100 mm at the waist.

Ski length depends not only on the skier’s height but also on skill level. As a rule of thumb:

• For beginners, the right piste ski length is about 10 cm shorter than the skier’s height.
• Experts usually choose skis closer to their own height.
• All-mountain and freeride skis for advanced skiers can even be up to 10 cm longer than the skier’s height.

Example 1: A hobby skier’s piste ski/narrower all-mountain ski, e.g. Elan Wildcat 76. For beginners, the suitable length is about 5–10 cm shorter than their height.
Example 2: An advanced/expert freeride ski, e.g. Elan Ripstick 102. For experienced skiers, the suitable length can be up to 10 cm longer than their height, depending on preference.

We indicate each ski’s category (piste/all mountain/off-piste) and recommended skill level (beginner/intermediate/expert) on the product page.

If you are uncertain about your choice, don’t hesitate to contact us – we’ll help you find the right skis.