Overview of short skis and their selection
Short skis involve skiing without sticks. Riding, as well as long skiing, requires skill and basic physical training.
This shell is produced by different companies: Salomon (Snowblade models), Kneissl (Bigfoot models). Short skis are skibboards, snowblades, and there may be slalom skis with a small radius.
Peculiarities
Short skis have appeared relatively recently, in fact, at the turn of the new millennium, they were started by Salomon for freestyle. Today, other companies have joined the production of short skis, the equipment has begun to be used for different skiing techniques.
Small skis are good for short slopes. They instantly accelerate on the descent, you can jump from a springboard, make sharp turns. Free and easy sliding attracts many today. The ski equipment is used by:
- for recreation in parks where there are no specialized tracks;
- for freeriding on tourist trips to race on the slopes with friends or family;
- for teaching beginner skiers;
- to hone the skills of professional athletes.
Small skis are pleasant for those who are bored of skiing on a well-worn track, but want to travel across the expanses of wild small slopes. The inventory has a number of advantages:
- it is designed for any weight category;
- compact skis are easy to transport;
- they are suitable for everyone - adults and children, beginners and professionals;
- sports equipment is inexpensive.
When skiing and snowboarding, sticks are not used, so the entire load falls on the feet. To pick up speed or start moving from a flat surface, you need to be very good at jogging.
Despite its compact dimensions, the technical characteristics of short skis are quite high. They have a well thought out shape and parameters.
Length
The first small skis from Salomon were 99 cm long. This size was fixed by the Ski Federation in 1999 and is still considered the standard. In reality, skibboards can be divided into several categories in length:
- with a size of 75-110 cm;
- with a size of 110-130 cm;
- children's size - 61-75 cm.
Width
The width and shape of the skis affect the support component. Short and wide skis, according to the laws of physics, fall into the snow less, they get a good ride in deep snow, the so-called powder. The narrow and rigid contour has products with speed characteristics.
Ski shape
In shape, short skis contain several varieties:
- skibboards are wider than classic products, endowed with a pronounced twin-type design and a symmetrical shape;
- snowblades are asymmetrical, they widen towards the headland, their twin-type design is poorly developed.
It is worth explaining that twin tip from English translates as "two ends", and they can have the same size or narrow, as well as bend on both sides, which allows you to move on the snow not only forward, but also backward.
Side bend
Sidecut skis are easier to handle. Thanks to this form, beginners can quickly master the carving technique. But for high speed bends on the ski contour are dangerous, they reduce stability and are suitable only for professionals.
Mounts and shoes
The short skis can handle even heavy riders and are designed to accommodate all types of ski boots. The customization assists in attaching bindings to different shoe sizes. All types of fasteners are used, but most often there are rigid, non-detachable options. They do not block the leg during a fall, which is fraught with injury. Sometimes automatic ski bindings are installed on the skiboard.
Model overview
We propose to pay attention only to some options for popular models for adults and children for different skiing techniques on short skis.
- Redster S9i. Australian company model made for slalom short turns with small radius side cutouts. Skis of a high level, designed for professional riding, excellent grip on a hard slope, behave flawlessly on icy surfaces.
Not recommended for beginners.
- TWOOWT YUNG. Kids' model for small riders with heat-treated piping for strength and durability. The size is 85 cm. The sliding surface is easy to maintain, designed for good speed. The product is suitable for quickly teaching children and for practicing existing skills.
- Cloud 14 Select. The female model with reinforced piping, wooden filling, is equally suitable for both beginners and experienced craftsmen. It handles well at speed.
How to ride?
The technique of skiing on any type of short ski can be mastered in a few days. The beginner is first offered standard size snowblades. Having mastered, in subsequent classes, he already studies the technique of turns on a skiboard, riding on edges.
Stance problems usually do not arise for beginners at all. When descending at speed, the torso intuitively assumes the correct position on its own. Equilibrium is maintained without difficulty. Students quickly grasp what a tight sliding stop and a brake stop are and do everything correctly.
Despite the ease of training, overspeeding is dangerous for a beginner, as it is difficult for the legs to begin to control the skis. Care should be taken in the initial stages of training.
Secrets of choice for beginners
You can start freeriding at any active age. If a model is being selected for a child less than 10 years old, a narrow snowblade with a length of 50-60 cm should be considered. Adults can also start with tapered models with non-detachable fasteners. Their length should be 90-100 cm.
If they are going to ride on "wild", unrolled slopes, the product should be chosen in dimensions of 100-130 cm and with automatic fasteners.
The feeling of short skiing is a bit like ice skating. Due to the light weight, climbers take skibboards with them to the mountains, and huntsmen inspect their lands on them. Short skis are good because they are suitable for people of any age, profession, beginners and athletes.
