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ength. We were there once, buying our first pair. It's a big investment, but the payback if you choose the right skis is amazing

We have broken our guide into two sections - Skis 101, a breakdown of what a ski actually is, all the geeky words used, and what they really mean to you. And then we have the Ski Buyers Guide below, to help guide you through your ski purchase. We hope you find both of these guides useful, and remember, we are only a phone-call, email or short trip away if you need further advice on your purchase. If you are buying skis, snowboards, we are here to help! Buying Skis

Step 1 - Which Type Of Ski? The first step in buying your own skis, is to work out the type of skier you are and the skier you want to be. Skis come in a variety of types. Here are the key ones:

Piste Skis - These are suited to skiing on piste, in good snow conditions. Some models use technology direct from the racing scene. Piste skis are great carving skis. Piste skis may struggle a little when skiing in less perfect conditions, and also if you wish to go off-piste. All Mountain Skis (Or All Condition Skis) - These skis allow you to ski in a variety of snow conditions. So whether it is icy or slushy, an all-conditions ski will perform better than a piste ski. There is sometimes a loss of carving ability, but the modern all-conditions skis such as Volkl AC skis and Attiva women's skis have the latest technology to maintain carving ability. Back Country Skis - These skis are for venturing out of bounds, hiking all over the mountain. They will remain versatile enough to ski the whole mountain, and also be lighter than normal to make it easier to carry them or travel uphill with them. Normally these are supplied without bindings, and you select an appropriate binding to suit your needs (See our Ski 101 section)

Off-Piste Skis (Or free ride, powder skis) - These skis are designed for skiing in powder and off-piste conditions. They will generally be wider to help with floating in the snow, and be a little more forgiving to give you more feel in powder and to absorb impacts from jumping/landing. Which Length Of Ski Do I need? You know the type of ski you want, you now know what each brand. Now you just need to work out the correct length. This chart is to give you a rough indication of size. Height is not the main factor with modern carving skis; weight and ability are the two key things to consider. You can contact us any time for advice on ski lengths. If you are between sizes, a shorter ski will give you shorter turns and a longer ski will be a little faster. If you are comparing to old non-carving skis you will see modern skis tend to be used in shorter lengths. If you are buying a piste ski this chart should be accurate, if you are looking at an all-conditions ski, and again are between sizes, we suggest the lower of the two lengths. If you are a female skier, also choose the shorter length

SKI SIZING CHART IS FOUND IN THE ALBUM. Snowboard Guide

All-Mountain: All-mountain snowboards are designed to work well in all snow conditions and terrain. They are at home on groomers, powder, park runs and almost anything in between. The vast majority of snowboarders choose all-mountain boards for their great versatility. If you’re just getting started or unsure of exactly what you need, an all-mountain snowboard is a great choice. Shop All Mountain Snowboards

Freestyle: Freestyle or park snowboards tend to be a bit shorter in length and love terrain parks, rails, jibs, trash cans, tree trunks, riding switch (non-dominant foot forward), wall rides and more. Freestyle boards often feature a true twin shape, and are typically selected by those looking to ride the terrain park. A more versatile variant of a freestyle board is the all-mountain freestyle, which combines the versatility of an all mountain snowboard with the playfulness of a freestyle snowboard. Shop Freestyle Snowboards

Freeride: Freeride snowboards are designed for the rider who spends most of the day off groomed runs and in varied terrain. They typically have a stiffer flex and are ridden in longer sizes than freestyle snowboards. Freeride snowboards often feature a directional shape that is designed to perform optimally in one direction. Shop Freeride Snowboards

Powder :Powder snowboards love powder. Often associated with freeride snowboards, powder boards sometimes feature a wider nose and a tapered narrower tail. The binding inserts, which determine the rider's stance, are often set back on a powder snowboard to help the rider float the tip of the board through the deep stuff. Powder snowboards sometimes also feature rocker, a design element where the tip (and tail) rise starts farther back on the board, which also helps the rider maintain tip float through the pow. SNOWBOARD SIZING CHART FOUND IN ALBUM