Ski Radius, Length and Width

This article is one of a series designed to help skiers of all abilities improve their skiing and racing skills.

• The Radius of a ski indicates the length of the turn the ski is designed to perform. For example, a ski with an R18 meter radius is designed to arc turns approximately 18 meters in length when properly executed by the skier.

• The Length of the ski will be determined by the weight, gender, and skill level of the skier. The width underfoot will determine how a ski is designed to turn. The narrower the width underfoot the sharper the ski will turn when rolled on its edge.

• In general, the shorter the Radius and Length of the ski the quicker the ski will turn. However, a ski with a short Radius is less stable at high speeds. The greater the radius and the longer the ski, the faster the ski can go, but will be more challenging to turn.

• The following are loose guidelines for Masters racers. You should always consult your coach or ski expert for more specific recommendations.

Slalom Skis

• The Radius of slalom skis for adults usually range from R12 to R13 and the length ranges from 150 cm to 165 cm.

• Women typically favour ski lengths in the range of 150 to 155 cm. Lighter male slalom racers tend to opt for 158 or 160 cm skis. Males weighing over 165 lb, taking into account their strength and ability, will often select 165 cm skis.

• Slalom skis are the narrowest to facilitate quick, sharp turns. They typically measure about 65–67 mm underfoot.

Giant Slalom Skis

• The Radius of GS skis for adults normally range between R18 and R 24.

• Adults who are in the early stages of learning to race may prefer a R18 to R19 ski. More experienced racers look for skis with R20 to R24.

• Women generally prefer a 170 to 180 cm GS skis. Light men and those new to racing often select a 175 to 180 cm ski. Stronger men over 165 lb with racing experience sometimes chose a 183 cm ski. Adults who raced at a high level in their youth may race on 188 cm or 192 cm ski with R27.

• Giant Slalom skis are slightly wider than slalom skis to provide a balance between agility and stability at higher speeds, usually around 65–70 mm underfoot.

Super G Skis

• Super G skis are longer and have softer tips and tails to smooth out the bumps at speed. Their Radius is on average R33 to R38 and length 195 to 210 cm.

• A Word of Caution: For most adults, Super G racing is infrequent, sometime occurring just once a winter season. This limited exposure provides little opportunity to practice with longer Super G skis. Additionally, Super G courses for adults are sometimes set as fast Giant Slalom courses, which can pose challenges in manoeuvring longer skis Super G skis. In such situations, adults may achieve better results and enhance safety by opting for a pair of Giant Slalom skis they are more accustomed to skiing.

Down Hill Skis

• Downhill skis typically feature a radius in the range of 38R to 45R and come in lengths of 210 to 215 cm. These skis are designed with softer tips and tails to effectively absorb bumps and rollers when cruising at high speeds. If you’re contemplating the purchase of downhill skis, it’s highly advisable to consult with your coaches and seek guidance from experts from a ski shop that specializes in alpine race equipment. Their expertise will help ensure that you select the most suitable skis for you.

Width of Super G and Downhill Skis

• Super-G and Downhill skis are wider, to enhance stability at the high speeds these races involve. They can range from about 65 mm to over 70 mm underfoot, with downhill skis occasionally being slightly wider to provide maximum stability during the fastest and most perilous race conditions.