This guide is for Alpine Skis. For help with Nordic Ski sizing, please call us at: (877) 812-6710.
Ski Sizing can be tricky, thanks to a combination of the ever changing ski technology. It used to be that if you extended your arm upwards, you should be able to reach the tips of your skis. Then parabolic shapes came along. Then skis got wider. Then rocker technology came along, and, long story short, there’s way more room for preference and interpretation than ever before. The good news is that the all around quality of skis is increasing, making it more possible than ever to find a ski that fits your specific style and preferences. The bad news, is that it can be a bit more difficult to do- but that’s why we’re here. Take a look at the chart below, and if you have any trouble figuring out your size range, scroll past the cart to where we provide more information regarding these categories.
Sometimes you just need to speak to a expert, so if you're still having trouble picking a size, please give us a call at (877) 812-6710.
Rules of Thumb:
Adults: Between Chin and Eyebrows
Kids: Between Chest and Chin
Height
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Expert
3'
65-75 CM
65-75 CM
65-75 CM
65-75 CM
3'2"
75-85 CM
75-85 CM
75-85 CM
75-85 CM
3'4"
80-90 CM
80-90 CM
80-90 CM
80-90 CM
3'6"
85-95 CM
85-95 CM
85-95 CM
85-95 CM
3'8"
90-100 CM
90-100 CM
90-100 CM
90-100 CM
3'10"
95-105 CM
95-105 CM
95-105 CM
95-105 CM
4'
100-110 CM
100-110 CM
100-110 CM
100-110 CM
4'2"
105-115 CM
105-115 CM
105-115 CM
105-115 CM
4'4"
110-120 CM
110-120 CM
110-120 CM
120-125 CM
4'6"
115-118 CM
118-121 CM
122-125 CM
125-132 CM
4'8"
121-124 CM
124-127 CM
127-130 CM
130-138 CM
4'10"
124-129 CM
129-134 CM
134-139 CM
139-148 CM
5'
134-139 CM
139-144 CM
144-149 CM
149-160 CM
5'2"
139-144 CM
144-149 CM
149-154 CM
154-165 CM
5'4"
144-149 CM
149-154 CM
154-159 CM
159-170 CM
5'6"
149-154 CM
154-159 CM
159-164 CM
164-175 CM
5'8"
154-159 CM
159-164 CM
164-169 CM
169-180 CM
5'10"
159-164 CM
164-169 CM
169-174 CM
174-185 CM
6'
164-169 CM
169-174 CM
174-179 CM
179-190 CM
6'2"
169-174 CM
174-179 CM
179-184 CM
184-195 CM
6'4"
174-179 CM
179-184 CM
184-189 CM
189-200 CM
6'6"
179-184 CM
184-189 CM
189-194 CM
194-205 CM
6'8"
184-189 CM
189-194 CM
194-199 CM
199-210+ CM
Skill Level Descriptions:
Beginner: Chances are you’ll know if this is you. Beginner skiers are classified as people who have never ever skied, right up to those just starting to dabble in Intermediate trails. Chances are if you’re the type of skier who typically skis with a “ski-mentor” or a friend who’s job it is to get you down the mountain. Skill wise, you’ll be able to control your speed with snowplowing, wedging, or forming a “pizza”. Turns will be slow and steady, and at the end of your time as a beginner, you’ll be starting to tip your skis to turn rather than pushing yourself to turn with your heels.
Intermediate: Congratulations! You’ve made it to the next level in skiing. Rather than snowplow your way down blue squares, you’re able to use the shape of your skis to make parabolic or carving turns. You’re likely still pretty cautious in regards to your speed, but are able to stop on demand and have a bit more confidence that you’ll make it to the bottom in one piece. Most intermediate skiers will be tempted to wander off trail, but may not be brave enough quite yet. Some certainly will, but if off-trail skiing becomes your preference, chances are you’ve graduated to the next level.
Advanced: This might be one of the hardest groups to identify. If you know you’re not an Intermediate skier still, but aren’t quite confident enough to call yourself an expert, then chances are this is you. Ski lengths on our chart above will fall somewhere between your nose and eyebrows. This is what used to be referred to as “Expert” until rocker skis came along and let experts go back to over head ski lengths. Characteristics of an advanced skier would be: the ability to ski most, if not all trails, an ability to ski fast, regular ability to ski off trail, and more traditionally, the ability to link full carving turns at full speed.
Expert: Hands down, you’re the best skier on the mountain. Ok, so maybe not the best, but you certainly could be a contendah, kid. Black diamond, double black diamond, centuple black diamond, it doesn’t even matter. You’re that good at skiing. Heck, you could probably even ski blindfolded and with your hands tied behind your back. Well, maybe not, but you get my point. If you’re truly an expert skier, you probably know it.
Other Considerations:
Weight: There’s no easy way to say it, but skiers who are carrying around a bit of extra weight should consider staying to the higher side of the scale. More weight means the skis will feel softer, and shorter. With a bit of extra length, the skis will have a more accurate flex and better weight distribution. Conversely, skiers who are exceptionally light should stick towards to smaller side of the scale, for similar reasons.
Use: This is a question that’s most relevant to advanced or expert skiers: Where are you skiing? If you’re looking to buy a powder ski, the natural notion is to go a bit longer. In most cases, this is the right call, but skiers should be geo-conscious before buying more than they can handle. For example, East Coast skiers may have visions of skiing wide open powder fields, but the reality is that 9/10 they’ll have to navigate tight trees before finding their 100 yard straight shot of glory. Out West, where things are a bit more open, it’s not uncommon to see skiers on skis much taller than themselves. Powder is likely the most common reason to adjust your ski size, but other specialties such as ski racing, park skiing, and moguls can all skew what size is proper for you.
Preference: Finally, there’s preference. While this isn’t a free pass to say “screw all that, I know I need 210’s!,” it is an official recognition that different skiers have different preferences which can easily change the length of ski they purchase. Myself? I size up. I like the extra stability on groomers, and with 102mm waist widths, the extra length allows me to use these skis in light powder on those rare East Coast days.
SKI POLE SIZING
Alpine (Downhill) Pole Sizing
The nice thing about sizing ski poles is that it's relatively straight foreword. To determine your size, simply flip a ski pole over, grab it under the basket, and place the handle on the ground. If you're holding the right size pole, you'll notice that your elbow forms a perfect 90 degree angle between your bicep and forearm. If the pole is too long, then your forearm will be angled slightly up. Too short, and you'll find your forearm angled downward. Of course if you don't have ski poles to try this out on, you can always use the chart below. Finding the proper length ski pole is important as ski poles too long will actually shift your center of balance to behind you, and a pole that's too short will put it in front of you.
Skier Height:
3'2 - 3'4
3'5 - 3'8
3'9 - 4'0
4'1 - 4'4
4'5 - 4'8
4'9 - 5'0
5'1 - 5'3
5'4 - 5'6
5'7 - 5'9
5'10 - 6'0
6'1 - 6'3
6'4 - 6'6
Ski Pole Length (IN):
32"
34"
36"
38"
40"
42"
44"
46"
48"
50"
52"
54"
Ski Pole Length (CM):
80
85
90
95
100
105
110
115
120
125
130
135
Nordic (Cross Country) Pole Sizing
Cross-country pole sizing is easy as well. For classic or touring poles, the correct size pole should reach your armpit. For skate skiing, poles should be a bit longer. The rule of thumb for skate poles is that they should come between your lip and your nose. So you can measure yourself, or you can just check out our handy-dandy chart below.
Skier Height:
4'11"
5'0"
5'1"
5'2"
5'3"
5'4"
5'5"
5'6"
5'7"
5'8"
5'9"
5'10"
5'11"
6'0"
6'1"
6'2"
6'3"
6'4"
Skate (CM):
130
132
135
137
140
142
145
147
150
152
155
157
160
162
165
167
170
172
Classic/Touring (CM):
120
122
125
127
130
132
135
137
140
142
145
147
150
152
155
157
160
162
We're looking for your Mondo Point size, and the conversion is easy! Find your street shoe size on the chart, determine men's, women's, or kid's, and find the corresponding Mondo size! Please keep in mind that ski boots DO NOT come in half-sizes. If you measure a Men's 8/Mondopoint 26, please select 26.5, for example.
BOOT SOLE LENGTH: What is it?
Your boot sole length is the actual length of your ski boot, in millimeters. This is the number that our ski techs will use to mount your bindings. While you’ll still need a final adjustment done before you can ski, providing us with your boot sole length is absolutely crucial if you’d like us to send your skis pre-mounted with your bindings.
HOW DO I FIND IT?
Finding your Boot Sole Length (BSL) is easy. On your ski boot, there will be a 3 digit number on the outside or inside heel of one or both of your boots. Keep in mind that there shouldn't be a decimal (ex. 28.5). If the number you see has a decimal, then you’re probably looking at your Mondo Point size which isn’t accurate enough to use when mounting bindings. Other hints that you're looking at the Mondo Point and not the BSL would be if it looks something like "270/275" or if the number is found on the bottom of the boot. If you’ve looked all over and still can’t find your BSL, it’s also acceptable to measure along the bottom of the boot from the very tip of the toe, to back of the heel- just make sure you measure in Millimeters!
ISN'T THE BSL THE SAME AS MONDO POINT?
Nope! The mondo point size is the generic boot size that every boot maker uses it. Think of it as a shoe size, like a "size 11" for example. The boot sole length is the literal length from toe to heel of that boot, measured in millimeters. It's entirely possible and very common for boots with the same Mondo Point to have different Boot Sole Lengths. Because ski bindings are so precise, it's crucial to have them mounted to the BSL and not the Mondo Point.
ALPINE SKI SIZING
This guide is for Alpine Skis. For help with Nordic Ski sizing, please call us at: (877) 812-6710.
Ski Sizing can be tricky, thanks to a combination of the ever changing ski technology. It used to be that if you extended your arm upwards, you should be able to reach the tips of your skis. Then parabolic shapes came along. Then skis got wider. Then rocker technology came along, and, long story short, there’s way more room for preference and interpretation than ever before. The good news is that the all around quality of skis is increasing, making it more possible than ever to find a ski that fits your specific style and preferences. The bad news, is that it can be a bit more difficult to do- but that’s why we’re here. Take a look at the chart below, and if you have any trouble figuring out your size range, scroll past the cart to where we provide more information regarding these categories.
Sometimes you just need to speak to a expert, so if you're still having trouble picking a size, please give us a call at (877) 812-6710.
Rules of Thumb:
Adults: Between Chin and Eyebrows
Kids: Between Chest and Chin
Height
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Expert
3'
65-75 CM
65-75 CM
65-75 CM
65-75 CM
3'2"
75-85 CM
75-85 CM
75-85 CM
75-85 CM
3'4"
80-90 CM
80-90 CM
80-90 CM
80-90 CM
3'6"
85-95 CM
85-95 CM
85-95 CM
85-95 CM
3'8"
90-100 CM
90-100 CM
90-100 CM
90-100 CM
3'10"
95-105 CM
95-105 CM
95-105 CM
95-105 CM
4'
100-110 CM
100-110 CM
100-110 CM
100-110 CM
4'2"
105-115 CM
105-115 CM
105-115 CM
105-115 CM
4'4"
110-120 CM
110-120 CM
110-120 CM
120-125 CM
4'6"
115-118 CM
118-121 CM
122-125 CM
125-132 CM
4'8"
121-124 CM
124-127 CM
127-130 CM
130-138 CM
4'10"
124-129 CM
129-134 CM
134-139 CM
139-148 CM
5'
134-139 CM
139-144 CM
144-149 CM
149-160 CM
5'2"
139-144 CM
144-149 CM
149-154 CM
154-165 CM
5'4"
144-149 CM
149-154 CM
154-159 CM
159-170 CM
5'6"
149-154 CM
154-159 CM
159-164 CM
164-175 CM
5'8"
154-159 CM
159-164 CM
164-169 CM
169-180 CM
5'10"
159-164 CM
164-169 CM
169-174 CM
174-185 CM
6'
164-169 CM
169-174 CM
174-179 CM
179-190 CM
6'2"
169-174 CM
174-179 CM
179-184 CM
184-195 CM
6'4"
174-179 CM
179-184 CM
184-189 CM
189-200 CM
6'6"
179-184 CM
184-189 CM
189-194 CM
194-205 CM
6'8"
184-189 CM
189-194 CM
194-199 CM
199-210+ CM
Skill Level Descriptions:
Beginner: Chances are you’ll know if this is you. Beginner skiers are classified as people who have never ever skied, right up to those just starting to dabble in Intermediate trails. Chances are if you’re the type of skier who typically skis with a “ski-mentor” or a friend who’s job it is to get you down the mountain. Skill wise, you’ll be able to control your speed with snowplowing, wedging, or forming a “pizza”. Turns will be slow and steady, and at the end of your time as a beginner, you’ll be starting to tip your skis to turn rather than pushing yourself to turn with your heels.
Intermediate: Congratulations! You’ve made it to the next level in skiing. Rather than snowplow your way down blue squares, you’re able to use the shape of your skis to make parabolic or carving turns. You’re likely still pretty cautious in regards to your speed, but are able to stop on demand and have a bit more confidence that you’ll make it to the bottom in one piece. Most intermediate skiers will be tempted to wander off trail, but may not be brave enough quite yet. Some certainly will, but if off-trail skiing becomes your preference, chances are you’ve graduated to the next level.
Advanced: This might be one of the hardest groups to identify. If you know you’re not an Intermediate skier still, but aren’t quite confident enough to call yourself an expert, then chances are this is you. Ski lengths on our chart above will fall somewhere between your nose and eyebrows. This is what used to be referred to as “Expert” until rocker skis came along and let experts go back to over head ski lengths. Characteristics of an advanced skier would be: the ability to ski most, if not all trails, an ability to ski fast, regular ability to ski off trail, and more traditionally, the ability to link full carving turns at full speed.
Expert: Hands down, you’re the best skier on the mountain. Ok, so maybe not the best, but you certainly could be a contendah, kid. Black diamond, double black diamond, centuple black diamond, it doesn’t even matter. You’re that good at skiing. Heck, you could probably even ski blindfolded and with your hands tied behind your back. Well, maybe not, but you get my point. If you’re truly an expert skier, you probably know it.
Other Considerations:
Weight: There’s no easy way to say it, but skiers who are carrying around a bit of extra weight should consider staying to the higher side of the scale. More weight means the skis will feel softer, and shorter. With a bit of extra length, the skis will have a more accurate flex and better weight distribution. Conversely, skiers who are exceptionally light should stick towards to smaller side of the scale, for similar reasons.
Use: This is a question that’s most relevant to advanced or expert skiers: Where are you skiing? If you’re looking to buy a powder ski, the natural notion is to go a bit longer. In most cases, this is the right call, but skiers should be geo-conscious before buying more than they can handle. For example, East Coast skiers may have visions of skiing wide open powder fields, but the reality is that 9/10 they’ll have to navigate tight trees before finding their 100 yard straight shot of glory. Out West, where things are a bit more open, it’s not uncommon to see skiers on skis much taller than themselves. Powder is likely the most common reason to adjust your ski size, but other specialties such as ski racing, park skiing, and moguls can all skew what size is proper for you.
Preference: Finally, there’s preference. While this isn’t a free pass to say “screw all that, I know I need 210’s!,” it is an official recognition that different skiers have different preferences which can easily change the length of ski they purchase. Myself? I size up. I like the extra stability on groomers, and with 102mm waist widths, the extra length allows me to use these skis in light powder on those rare East Coast days.
SKI POLE SIZING
Alpine (Downhill) Pole Sizing
The nice thing about sizing ski poles is that it's relatively straight foreword. To determine your size, simply flip a ski pole over, grab it under the basket, and place the handle on the ground. If you're holding the right size pole, you'll notice that your elbow forms a perfect 90 degree angle between your bicep and forearm. If the pole is too long, then your forearm will be angled slightly up. Too short, and you'll find your forearm angled downward. Of course if you don't have ski poles to try this out on, you can always use the chart below. Finding the proper length ski pole is important as ski poles too long will actually shift your center of balance to behind you, and a pole that's too short will put it in front of you.
Skier Height:
3'2 - 3'4
3'5 - 3'8
3'9 - 4'0
4'1 - 4'4
4'5 - 4'8
4'9 - 5'0
5'1 - 5'3
5'4 - 5'6
5'7 - 5'9
5'10 - 6'0
6'1 - 6'3
6'4 - 6'6
Ski Pole Length (IN):
32"
34"
36"
38"
40"
42"
44"
46"
48"
50"
52"
54"
Ski Pole Length (CM):
80
85
90
95
100
105
110
115
120
125
130
135
Nordic (Cross Country) Pole Sizing
Cross-country pole sizing is easy as well. For classic or touring poles, the correct size pole should reach your armpit. For skate skiing, poles should be a bit longer. The rule of thumb for skate poles is that they should come between your lip and your nose. So you can measure yourself, or you can just check out our handy-dandy chart below.
Skier Height:
4'11"
5'0"
5'1"
5'2"
5'3"
5'4"
5'5"
5'6"
5'7"
5'8"
5'9"
5'10"
5'11"
6'0"
6'1"
6'2"
6'3"
6'4"
Skate (CM):
130
132
135
137
140
142
145
147
150
152
155
157
160
162
165
167
170
172
Classic/Touring (CM):
120
122
125
127
130
132
135
137
140
142
145
147
150
152
155
157
160
162
We're looking for your Mondo Point size, and the conversion is easy! Find your street shoe size on the chart, determine men's, women's, or kid's, and find the corresponding Mondo size! Please keep in mind that ski boots DO NOT come in half-sizes. If you measure a Men's 8/Mondopoint 26, please select 26.5, for example.
BOOT SOLE LENGTH: What is it?
Your boot sole length is the actual length of your ski boot, in millimeters. This is the number that our ski techs will use to mount your bindings. While you’ll still need a final adjustment done before you can ski, providing us with your boot sole length is absolutely crucial if you’d like us to send your skis pre-mounted with your bindings.
HOW DO I FIND IT?
Finding your Boot Sole Length (BSL) is easy. On your ski boot, there will be a 3 digit number on the outside or inside heel of one or both of your boots. Keep in mind that there shouldn't be a decimal (ex. 28.5). If the number you see has a decimal, then you’re probably looking at your Mondo Point size which isn’t accurate enough to use when mounting bindings. Other hints that you're looking at the Mondo Point and not the BSL would be if it looks something like "270/275" or if the number is found on the bottom of the boot. If you’ve looked all over and still can’t find your BSL, it’s also acceptable to measure along the bottom of the boot from the very tip of the toe, to back of the heel- just make sure you measure in Millimeters!
ISN'T THE BSL THE SAME AS MONDO POINT?
Nope! The mondo point size is the generic boot size that every boot maker uses it. Think of it as a shoe size, like a "size 11" for example. The boot sole length is the literal length from toe to heel of that boot, measured in millimeters. It's entirely possible and very common for boots with the same Mondo Point to have different Boot Sole Lengths. Because ski bindings are so precise, it's crucial to have them mounted to the BSL and not the Mondo Point.
CROSS-COUNTRY SKI SIZING
Fitting cross country skis is different then fitting alpine skis. Instead of fitting the ski by height, the skis that we carry are fit by weight. Check the charts below to see which size you need. Still have questions? Don't hesitate to give us a call at (877) 812-6710 and let us help you.
New from Volkl for 2023 is a revamp of one of their most popular skis: the Mantra 102. In the second edition of this beloved ski, Volkl amplified its strong, stable, and maneuverable characteristics that make it so great, by bringing in some of the brand’s latest tech. Chief amongst these editions is the introduction of Volkl’s Tailored Titanal Frame which enables the ski to retain a heck of an edge despite it’s 102mm width. To be frank, we’re pretty excited about this new ski, and we can’t wait to tell you all about it in this full review of the 2023 Volkl Mantra 102!
Well skiers, there’s no way around it: today’s a big day for us here on Chairlift Chat. As you know, we’ve been putting out comprehensive ski reviews here on the blog for years now. Over the course of those years though, there’s been a glaring omission: a lack of women’s content. Starting today, we’re extremely excited to announce that we’ve started working with one of Mad River Glen’s Head Freeskiing coaches, Emily Crofton, to bring an equivalent caliber of review to women’s skis. To kick things off, she’s put together a review of the all new 2023 Salomon QST 98, a ski whose predecessor Emily has skied on for years. So, without further ado, we highly recommend clicking through to read her review of this exciting new ski! It’s a good one, we promise.
This week, we’re nervous but excited to bring you a full review of what’s likely to be one of the more controversial skis of the 2023 season. As you might already know, Fischer totally redesigned their beloved Ranger series this year (with at least a little input from us, might we add), and in doing so has changed the personality of some of their most popular skis. Personally, we think the changes make skis like the Fischer Ranger 96 and the Ranger 102 skis all around better, although there’s sure to be some discussion around that in the year ahead. We’ve already given the 102 the full review treatment, so this week, we’re excited to share with you our official review of the 2023 Fischer Ranger 96. Enjoy!
Looking for a twin tip ski that doesn’t ski quite like a twin tip? Something that’s a bit burlier than your average buttery park ski, but not as series as some of the more charge-ready freeride skis? If this sounds like your ticket to on snow success, the 2023 Liberty Origin 96 might just be the ride for you. With its freestyle inspired shape and flex zones, combined with singular metal strut, the Origin offers an uncommon blend of park influence and all mountain performance. Get all the details about what makes this ski so exceptional right here in our full review!
Since it’s inception, the Head Kore 99 has proven to be one of the more experimental freeride skis we’ve had the pleasure of testing. Since it’s birth in the 2018/2019 season, the Kore 99 has used everything from Koroyd, to Graphene, to even polyester fleece. Regardless of which iteration we’ve tested, we’ve always found the ski to offer a unique set of properties that have made it hard to pin point a specific skier type that it’s best suited for. For 2023, Head gives the ski another update, and to be honest, it’s our favorite one yet. While they remain hard to classify as a specialist in any one area, the 2023 Kore 99 is an incredibly fun option for the right skier. To find out if you fit the bill, click through and check out this comprehensive ski review!
For 2023, Nordica has blessed us with a whole slate of new skis, introducing both the Unlimited and Unleashed series. This week, Bob takes us through the new Nordica Unleashed 98, telling us all of the reasons why, as much as he loved the Soul Rider that it replaces, he's fallen head over heels for this new ski. Taking cues from a number of skis within Nordica's lineup, the new Unleashed 98 is a blend of traits that offers the perfect ride for skiers like Bob. Find out all of the details about this new ski in this official review!
Just about a month ago, when Fischer launched their new line of Ranger skis, we jumped right in with an overview of the entire series. Since then, we’ve received a number of questions and comments asking us to go more in depth with each of these skis, especially the Ranger 102. This ski, which replaces the Ranger 102 FR, or “the pink ski” as many might call it, has a decidedly different personality. That said, despite being different, we’ve found ourselves in love with it for a number of reasons. To learn more about what you can expect from the 2023 Fischer Ranger 102, check out this complete ski review.
When K2 launched the Mindbender series a few years back, they took a huge stride forward towards establishing themselves as a serious player in the all mountain free ride category. With this line of skis, K2 proved to many that they were capable of making a line of ridiculously high performing freeride skis that offered a perfect blend of playful and seriousness. This year, K2 has revamped the serious side of their line, launching a revamp of every Mindbender with metal in it. While we were always fans of Mindbender Ti skis, we’re head over heels for this latest revision. We’ll highlight a few of these skis in the months to come, but to kick off our reviews of the redesigned K2 Mindbenders, we’re starting with one that we think is going to make quite a few people very, very happy: the 2023 K2 Mindbender 89Ti. Click through to read our full review!
So far for 2023, we’ve seen a lot of brands expand their product line, introducing new skis and lines to satisfy growing segments within the sport. Rossignol however, has gone a different route. Rather than continue to diversify through expansion, they’ve simplified their lines, adding key models and constructions to hit a bring a stronger focus for each ski. One of the highlights of this reorganization is the new Sender / Rallybird line, which each feature three models ranging from mid-90’s to mid-100’s in width, offering a variety of stiffnesses to perfectly satisfy a wide range of free ride oriented skiers. After putting these new lines to the test, we have to say, we’re quite impressed. For the skiers they’re intended for, the 2023 Rossignol Sender and Rallybird skis have proven to be incredible options. Click through to read our full review of these exciting new skis.
This week on Chairlift Chat, we're continuing our series of reviews covering the all new 2023 Atomic Bent line of skis. Previously, we've covered both the series as a whole, and given an in depth review of the Bent 110. This week, we're back with a review of the Bent 90, and it's something of a combo-review as Bob and Jeff both had distinctly different perspectives on the ski thanks to substantially different mount points. Despite their differences, our two highly esteemed reviewers each found themselves falling in love with the Bent 90. Click through to read all about this exciting new ski!
This week, we’re quite excited to bring you a review of the newly updated 2023 Salomon QST 106. Last season, Salomon introduced some subtle yet significant updates to the QST 98 and the QST Blank, leaving us wondering if they would decide to bring those changes into the 106 for 2023. As it turns out, they did, and the results are spectacular. This right here is just the preview copy, so we won’t give away too many details, but we encourage you to give this review a full read to learn all there is to know about these exciting changes to an incredible ski!
A few weeks back we had the pleasure of previewing the updated 2023 Atomic Bent (Chetler) line of skis. Amongst this expanded lineup are an all new Bent 85, Bent 90, and Bent 110. Obviously, given the pedigree of the line, the 110 has received the most interest both within the walls of SkiEssentials and on message boards across the internet. Thankfully, we recently got hit with a 16” 48-hour period here at Stowe, setting up the perfect testing conditions for this exciting new ski. If this ski caught your attention when it was first released, we highly recommend giving this review a read!
This week on Chairlift Chat, we're bringing you a preview of the very exciting, all new 2023 Blizzard Hustle Skis. Following a theme that exploded in popularity this year, Blizzard has taken their highly regarded line of Rustler skis and modified their construction to create a more tour-friendly version. As we found out in testing these skis however, just because they're lighter doesn't necessarily mean they should be relegated to touring setups. Click through to learn all about this exciting new line up, right here on Chairlift Chat!
Back in November, we shared with you an overview of the new 2023 Nordica Unlimited skis. This week, we're excited to say that we're back with an overview of a second brand new series from Nordica: the 2023 Unleashed skis. Borrowing traits from the Enforcer Frees, Santa Ana, and Soul Rider series, the new Nordica Unleashed ski is the mash-up we never knew we needed. Available in 98 and 108 widths for advanced skiers, as well as in a 90 for more intermediate skiers, the Unleashed series takes a "best of both worlds" approach to offering a mix of freestyle and freeride capabilities. We have plenty of things to say about these exciting new skis, and we highly recommend clicking in to give this comprehensive overview a full read!
This week we have a very, very special ski preview here on Chairlift Chat. Over the course of the last two years, we've had the chance to work with Fischer, alongside a number of other talented athletes, to provide direct feedback into their redesign of their incredibly popular Ranger line. Already huge fans of the Ranger series, being asked to get involved with the development of the ski was a huge honor for us, and we couldn't be more excited to share with you this complete overview of the 2023 Fischer series. We promise we'll be objective, but we've gotta say, we're pretty impressed with how well Fischer turned our feedback into reality. Click through to check out this exciting new line of Fischer skis!
