Skis - Parts and Features

Of all the equipment that you need in Skiing, Skis are the most evident. There are numerous types of Skis available in the market, but you need to consider a lot of things before buying the right Skis for you. One of these factors to pay attention to is the Ski and its Parts. In this section, we will focus on the different parts of a Ski:

Move the mouse cursor over the dot to view the definition or function of each part of the Ski.

Base
This is the bottom side of the Ski, the part of the Ski that touches the Snow Ski Surface. Traditionally, Skis were made of wood. Although wood is still used sometimes, most Skis nowadays are made from aluminum or fiberglass.

Camber
This is the amount of space beneath the center of a Ski when it lays on a flat surface and its weight rests on the Tip and Tail. The responsiveness and liveliness of a skier is related to the Camber.

Contact Points
These are the points at which the Skis are put into contact with the Snow with out the pressure of the rider being displaced on the Ski. The Contact Points can be found by placing the board on a smooth, flat surface then slide a piece of paper under the center of the Skis, slide it toward the Nose or Tail until it stops.

Edge
This refers to the metal edge on the sides of the Skis. For sharp Edges, make sure you maintain grip in turns and that the Skis do not slip. Holding an Edge is important in turns.

Effective Edge
This is the length of metal edge on the Skis which touches the Snow. It is the effective part which is used to make a turn. The Effective Edge is in contact with the Snow when the Ski is in a carved turn. A longer Effective Edge makes for a more stable, controlled ride. On the other hand, a shorter Effective Edge makes a looser, easier turning Ski.

Tip/Nose
This refers to the front end of the Ski. The Tip is always pointed upwards to make sure that the front of your Skis does not grip the Snow and dig itself in.

Shovel
This is the widest part of the Ski found at the front.

Overall Length
This is measured from the Tip of the Ski to the Tail. This is usually referred measured in centimeters (cm).

Sidecut Radius
This is the measurement of how deep or shallow the Ski's cut is from the nose of the Ski to the waist (or middle of the Ski). The smaller the Sidecut Radius, the tighter you will be able to turn. A Ski with a larger Sidecut will make big arching turns. It is the radius of a circle that makes the hourglass shape of the Skis and thus how it is defined and measured. It works in conjunction with the running length of the Skis.

Tail
This refers to the rear end of the Ski opposite the nose or tip.

Top/Deck
The top of the Ski is where the Bindings are mounted and where the skier stands. Most Skis have mounting holes in the Deck where the bindings can be screwed into. The holes enable you to connect your bindings to your board in different angles and stances.

Waist
This is the narrowest point of the Ski. This is usually the middle of the Sidecut.

It is very important to know the different basic Parts of a Ski because you need this knowledge to effectively use your Skis. In addition, getting familiar with the functions of some Parts can aid you in deciding on the kind of Skis suitable to your Skiing needs.