How to choose skis according to your height?

Winter sports are a pleasant and favorite pastime for many. The quality and safety of active winter holidays depend on the correct choice of ski size.

It is sometimes more difficult to choose skis according to the height for a child than for an adult. Due to the rapid growth of children, well-chosen options may require replacement within a few months. Products bought "for growth" can become a source of danger and discomfort for a child.

To choose the best ski option, you should pay attention to the following parameters:

• the age of the child;
• height;
• possession of technology;
• a kind of skis;
• product brand;
• cost of goods.

We list the rules for choosing skis, depending on the height of the child.

• The length of skis for preschool children should not exceed 100 cm, depending on the height. The less experience in skiing, the more important this indicator.
• After 7 years, sports equipment should be selected according to the established standard: 20 cm less than the height of the child.
• The length of the sticks is also calculated according to the above rule, when 20 cm is subtracted from the height of the athlete.

It is easier for an adult to pick up skis than for a child, but nuances may arise here. To determine the optimal size for an adult skier, there is a formula - an indicator of a person's height + 20 cm (up to 25 cm). This formula is used to calculate the length of classic skis.If a man's height exceeds 190 cm, it is permissible to choose skis with a maximum length of 207 - 210 cm. For women, this figure drops to 10, although many prefer to use the formula for calculating the length for men. The skis must be stable, comfortable and well secured.

Depending on the manufacturer, the length indicator may vary, which is also important to consider when selecting. Additional indicators that can influence the choice of the length of the equipment will be the degree of rigidity of the products and the level of skill of the athlete - with short types it is easier to handle, and the use of long ones may require skill; user weight - the more it is, the greater the length and rigidity of the product will be required.

Every year cross-country skiing is gaining more and more popularity among fans of ski resorts. The selection of the length of the products plays a key role in ensuring a safe descent or ascent, as well as in passing obstacles. Cross-country types should be selected by adding 10 to 15 cm to the height of the skier. Since the maximum length of such products is only 195 cm, selection by height is available only for persons up to 180 cm tall. Taller skiers will have to limit themselves to the maximum possible length.

The correct choice of the size of devices may also depend on secondary indicators.

• The degree of hardness of the material from which the steam is made. Many manufacturers increase the rigidity of products with increasing length. Overweight will require longer specimens due to the increasing pressure on the surface.
• A kind of track. Long products are suitable for gentle, free road lines, while for narrow routes with numerous obstacles, it is better to choose a shorter option.
• The level of the athlete's training. In case of a lack of experience in skiing on cross-country tracks, it is advisable to choose shorter products, and with the acquisition of the necessary skills, switch to long ones.
• Distance length. It is on the choice of the optimal length that the outcome of the competition may depend. So, for short distances, short versions of inventory are ideal, and for long distances - elongated ones, which will help save energy.

Professional athletes often choose skis that match or exceed their height. Here we are talking about the skill of the athlete, since he has the opportunity to choose from a large number of devices. Amateurs and even more so beginners should not conduct such experiments. It is best to select products according to standard rules.

The selection of equipment according to the degree of hardness of cross-country skis depends on the following indicators.

• The level of training of athletes. Soft skis that do not require additional equipment while riding are suitable for beginners. Hard types will entail additional participation on the part of the skier, therefore, can only be used by experienced athletes.
• Track type. Suitable skis are ideal for skiing on hard surfaces. Soft slopes require more flexible materials to increase structural stability.
• A kind of race. Medium to low hardness products will show themselves over long distances. For sprint sports, the most rigid types of skis are suitable.

The choice of mountain types of skis by height is somewhat different from the same process in the case of classic and cross-country skis. The height of the athlete and the length of the skis also play an important role in the selection of products. There are several types of downhill skiing, depending on the style of skiing:

• for freeride - used when skiing on natural trails where training has not been completed;
• for freestyle - are used for all kinds of acrobatic purposes;
• carving - products for fast descents in conditions of prepared road lines;
• universal - are used by beginners to master the initial skills of ascents and descents.

The selection of ski sizes for each of the presented purposes can be presented in the form of a table:

For women, it is enough to subtract 5 cm from the male parameters in order to choose the best option for skiing. The quality of their use, the success of the events and the safety of the skiers will depend on the correct choice of the length of the skis.