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How to Choose Cross-Country Skis

Thursday, April 30, 2009
Related Tags: skis | speed | cross | wax | paper
 

Instructions

Things You’ll Need:

  • Money
  • Tape measure
  • Piece of paper
  • Step 1:
    A Madshus Lillehammer MGVBreak out the tape measure and find out how tall you are. Make sure to get an exact measurement because that will be important when finding the right set. Skis are first selected based on a chart system that starts with height and then factors in age, gender and skill level. This will get you the right length of ski.
  • Step 2:
    Know where you plan to ski because that will affect the width of the ski. A skinnier ski is better for areas you plan to speed through. A wider ski is best for areas that require a lot of turning.
  • Step 3:
    Put the skis on while standing on an even surface such as cement. Have someone try to slide a piece of paper under the skis. This tests to see if you are too heavy for the ski. If the paper gets stuck, then go with a different set of skis.
  • Step 4:
    Decide on whether to use pre-waxed or unwaxed skis. Pre-waxed cross-country skis don't glide as easily, which means less speed. The upside is it saves the user from constantly having to wax the skis. The wax-your-own style allows for more speed. But the challenge is waxing, which sometimes must be done in the middle of a trip.

Tips & Warnings

  • Remember to get a good pair of boots and bindings to go along with the skis.
  • A set of skis can range from $50 to $200 on average.

Resources


How to Choose Cross-Country Skis Provided by eHow.com
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