Ski fit: match the new you.

Any ski, skate or classic, must be properly sized. Long gone are the days when you measured your ski from the floor to your raised wrist. With new ski innovations, proper sizing is based on body weight. You must also consider a few other factors: Are you in worse or better shape than when your present skis were new? Do you ski more or less than when you purchased your skis? Has your technique improved or declined? Do you ski more aggressively now than in the past, or do you just go out to cruise now? If your ski patterns and fitness have changed, you may need new skis to match the new you.

When I was racing full time, I enjoyed and benefited from a much stiffer ski (both classic and skate) than I do now. Now, I ski a classical ski that closes at only 52% of my body weight. With these skis, I slightly shift my weight for a tremendous kick with no compromise in glide. For skating, I would have raced on a ski that flexed at 125% of my body weight because I had a much more energetic weight transfer than I do now. I now ski on skate skis that are at 110% of my body weight. I transfer the same weight, but more gradually now, as I prefer just to cruise through the trails. My present skis need to be softer to match the softer and gentler me.

Are my classical and touring skis the correct stiffness for me? …