EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW TO CHOOSE YOUR FREERIDE SKIS

At ULLER we are lovers of snow and freeride since it is quite an adventure.The freeride is a modality that will require wearing a very specific type of skis, since with them we are going to access areas where the snow has not been trodden on before. It is not the same to ski in areas where the snow has become hard due to the passage of skiers, than in a place where the snow is powder, and therefore requires a specific type of ski. That's why at ULLER we are going to tell you everything you need to know to choose your skis and enjoy freeriding like never before.

PARTS OF A SKI

Let's start at the beginning. The different parts of a ski have their own name. When you put a ski on the snow, the parts that are in contact with the snow are the tip and the tail. However, the skate, which is where the binding is placed, does not touch the snow.

Do you know what revolutionized skiing 10 years ago? It was the rocker. The rocker is the evolution of the shape of the spatula and heel of the ski. It consists of a small elevation of the tip, which makes it easier to descend compared to more traditional forms of skiing. One of its great advantages is that it facilitates flotation in powder snow which is why it began to be used in freeride skis.

What happens with the rocker is that the ski points that are glued to the snow are close to the binding, in such a way that the tip rises little by little. On the other hand, the rocker can also be found in the tail of the ski or in the tip, and this is called tip and tail rocker. When we have a double tip in which the tail curves as much as the tip, it creates a reverse arc that allows us a feeling of floating in powder snow.

THE THREE BIG FAMILIES OF SKIS FOR FREERIDE

• VERSATILE SKIS

As the name suggests, these skis are suitable for all types of snow. Its width is between 90 and 100 millimeters. They do not specialize in any field, but at the same time they serve everyone. They have a very marked rocker in the tip, but not so much in the tail. In addition, they have a traditional bow for grip. In powder snow they help keep you going, and in packed snow putting weight on the edge is more difficult due to the wide width of the ski.

• THICK SKIS

If powder snow and inaccessible places are your thing, you should choose this type of freeride ski. The skate has a width of between 95 and 105 millimeters They are very wide and have a very long tip. However, some fat skis have a traditional width and are quite stiff underfoot. On the other hand, the most extreme models have great flexibility and a reverse arch.

• FREETOURING SKIS

The freetouring is a mix between touring/backcountry skiing and freeride. They are designed for those who are going to use skins in the part where the ski comes into contact with the snow to go up the slopes and then descend on completely virgin snow.

The measurement of these skis must be 5 centimeters less than your natural height.

In any case, manufacturers currently provide you with a guide where the sizes appear with the skis that adapt to your physiognomy. In any case, in the shops dedicated to skiing and especially to freeride, they will tell you which is the most appropriate size.

These skis are typically used with a pair of skins and bindings that allow you to walk with your heel free for ascents. You should also have ski boots that can be used for walking, with a flexible shaft and inserts that make them compatible with the bindings.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE LENGTH OF YOUR SKIS?

The best way to calculate the length of your freeride skis is going to be to add between 5 and 10 cm to your height, with this you will be able to stay in the instability of powder snow while reaching speed. The rocker makes the skis easy to handle despite being so long.

The more professional you are, the more you can extend the length of your skis, for high-speed turns in wide, open spaces. If you have free touring skis, you should use skis 5 cm shorter than your height to make movements smoother and make it easy to maneuver ascents and descents.

WHAT DO I NEED TO CARRY IN MY FREERIDE BACKPACK?

Since we have seen the different types of freeride skis that you can find, perhaps it is good that we review that essential material for the practice of this modality that we like so much. Having said that, the basic elements that we must have whenever we go off-piste to enjoy freeriding are:

- Shovel and probe: many of the backpacks have a specific place to store these two elements

- The pulsed radio system or search called ARVA. This, in case of avalanches, constantly emits and receives waves that indicate the position in which we are. It is for individual use and, as always, from Uller we recommend that freeriding be practiced in company so that it is the rest of the companions who can give the search order.

- ABS backpack, which has an airbag system that, in the event of a snowfall, we can activate. In this way, it will inflate and make it less likely that an avalanche, the result of an avalanche, will bury us.

- A backpack bottom: backpack bottoms are all these accessories that we must have as a spare pair of gloves, spare sunglasses and clothes

- A small first aid kit

- Sunscreen and cocoa for the lips

- A mobile phone with battery, even carry a battery

- Identity documents protected with a plastic bag

- Water in a canteen. You can also bring groceries and energy food

- Small front light for incident things or late return

In Uller's blog we have another much broader article about practicing freeriding safely that can help you learn more about this modality. So, after reading this article, you already know everything you should know about freeride skis and choose the one that best suits your conditions. Enjoy freeriding in the safest way!