Picking the right ski length can be tricky. Especially for freestyle skis, as you could be tempted to choose shorter skis for nimbleness and then lack the grip and stability at speed that you need. To help you, Glisshop's experts have prepared this guide.
Freestyle skiing actually covers different riding styles. 3 categories in total:
- All-mountain Freestyle skis
- Park Freestyle skis
- Backcountry Freestyle skis
What length should you get for All-mountain Freestyle skis?
Versatile freestyle skis feature waist widths between 80 and 95 mm and can ride switch (backwards) without a problem thanks to their twin-tip profile (front and tail tips). To make freestyle moves and pivots easier they often feature tip and tail rockers. This specific profile gives all-mountain freestyle skis an easy and playful personnality. The skis feel nimble and perform both in parks and off piste.
If you want something as versatile as can be, we recommend a length between your height and 5 cm shorter.
If you want something that's more park-oriented, prefer a shorter ski, 5 to 10 cm under your height. Don't go any shorter or you will lack stability which is not what you want when you're landing a trick.
What length for a Park Freestyle ski?
These are skis specifically designed for park shredding and street jibbing. Like all-mountain freestyle skis, park skis are twin tip but they are narrower and don't always feature rockers. This helps increasing the effective edge length for added grip, which can come handy on the icy walls of the pipe. Park skis are often more technical and more demanding than all-mountain FS skis. Their flex is stiffer, and they are primarily intended for advanced and expert skiers.
To choose the correct length, you first need to define the use you're going to make of it:
- Park & Pipe: Pick a ski at your height. You will get more stability on landings and more grip.
- Jib and Street riding: Pick a ski that is slightly shorter than you (few centimeters). It will feel more nimble and livelier.
How long should Backcountry Freestyle skis be?
This is probably the most specific use of a freestyle ski. It requires a wide and playful ski that can send and land tricks in deep powder. BC FS skis come with waist widths over 100 mm for better flotation in powder. Like every freestyle ski, backcountry FS skis are twin tip and feature sometimes a light traditional camber and more often a flat camber or reverse camber profile. To lift easier, these skis also have two long rockers helping skiers keep the tips above powder.
In order to stay afloat, backcountry skis are longer than traditional freestyle skis. A ski that's 5 to 15 cm taller than you is about right.
So, what skis do you fancy?
Explore our freestyle and backcountry ski pages to discover all the models available. From park and pipe skis with good carving ability to models designed for big jumps in deep powder, you've got plenty of options. We offer skis for beginners as well as advanced level skis and beyond. Skiers of all skill level and from all disciplines can find the right ski at Glisshop.