How wide should an East Coast ski be?
Sarah Smith
Published Jan 12, 2026
In terms of waist width, the optimal East Coast ski is between 80 and 95 millimeters, which should provide stability and good carving on groomed runs and decent flotation in deeper snow.
How wide a ski should I get?
Typical beginner skis should be between 70 mm – 80 mm. This narrow waist makes them nimble and quicker to turn. Wider skis are more “smeary” and take a little more effort to make precise turns. The typical beginner range can change based on different factors, such as the size of the skier.
How wide is too wide for resort skis?
Id say most times there is no need for wider skis than about 90mm (give or take a few mm) at any resort in NA most days. To learn how to carve I would say skis under 85~88mm are preferable. So about 80mm wide or so or less. Also skis within that width range are generally designed to carve well.
How wide is the average ski?
Ski width is measured in millimeters (mm). <95 mm - Skis with a waist width under 95 mm are meant to be skied on piste. These skis are quicker from edge to edge and great for carving, park skiing, and groomed runs. 95-110 mm - Waist widths in this range are generally used for all mountain skis.
How wide should ski touring skis be?
If you are a classic ski tourer, choose a wide waist width of around 75-90mm. Soft skis with a short sidecut radius of around 15m will be easier to use and less demanding in the descents. Favor more rigid and straighter skis if you ski in the springtime, in couloirs or on steep terrain.
28 related questions foundCan you downhill ski with touring skis?
Absolutely! In the last few years a lot has happened and our touring skis work very well on the slopes. Although you should adjust your speed in icy conditions, our touring skis basically react similar to alpine skis. This means that you don't have to adapt off-piste and you can simply keep your usual riding technique.
Can you use freeride skis for touring?
Technically, you can use most any ski for backcountry touring as long as you have boots and bindings that allow you to lift your heels to walk (“skin”) uphill (with the help of climbing skins) and then to lock them back into the bindings for the descent.
Are wider skis harder to ski on?
Generally speaking, beginners are going to want a narrower ski. For starters, beginners spend most of their time on-piste, where a wide-waisted ski will feel unwieldy. Narrower skis are also nimbler and are therefore easier to lay over on edge.
Are wide skis good for beginners?
Bigger skis provide more stability at higher speeds, which makes them safer — and great for beginner and intermediate skiers.
Why have skis gotten wider?
Torsional rigidity has also improved dramatically since the conception of wider skis. With better torsional stiffness wider skis perform exceptionally well on groomed and hardpack conditions. The torsional stiffness decreases chatter at higher speeds, and allows the ski to have increased edge hold on hardpack snow.
Are 105 skis too wide?
Just get some "All Mt." skis in the 95 to 105 range and you will be fine.
Are wider skis harder to carve?
Actually, a wider ski will be more forgiving in all conditions. Narrower skis carve easier, better on firm snow. But wide skis work better not just in powder or cut up snow, but Audi in soft, skied off snow, like you get 3 days after a storm. It will not catch up an edge as easy as a narrow ski.
Can you carve with wide skis?
That thing—you can carve it anywhere. It's built like a race ski, it's just wider.
Are wider skis easier to control?
What is this? If you choose the right pair (more on that below), you'll probably find that wide skis increase your sense of control and stability on all types of terrain. This means you'll be skiing faster, harder, and having more fun in all conditions.
What are narrow skis good for?
Skiing Ability
Consequently, a narrower ski width will make it easier for them to practice cornering and laying the skis on their edges. As the beginner improves they also master the technique of carving, where a narrower width waist ski will be more responsive and easier to handle.
How do I make my skis wider?
The trick on wide skis is to ski the crud at the side of the piste so well that the people on race skis think "that looks easy/fun, I'm having some of that" (this will improve your offpiste skiing). Most put in a couple of turns and then ski back onto the piste with their tails inbetween their legs.
How heavy is too heavy for touring skis?
For everyday ski touring or ski mountaineering, I like to stay above 1400 grams for my skis. For me personally, 1500–1600 grams is a good target for a ski-mountaineering ski while a few hundred grams heavier tends to work well for mid-winter / powder touring.
How long should ski touring skis be?
Touring skis should be 5-15cm less than the skier's height.
Touring ski length is a balance between lightweight maneuverability on the way up and stability on the way down. Freeride skis should be at least the skier's height and can easily be 5-15cm longer for skilled skiers.
What is ski free riding?
Freeriding is a form of skiing or snowboarding on open terrain, away from groomed slopes. Strictly speaking, this means that the very first skiers were freeride skiers, however, powder snow skiing was only formally recognised as a sport in the 70's.
How tall should my skis be?
The general rule is for your skis to measure somewhere between your chin and the top of your head. With expert level skiers often choosing skis slightly above their head. SIZE SHORTER, CLOSER TO CHEST IF: Child's weight is less than average for their height.
What are cross-country touring skis?
Cross-country touring skis are designed for skiing on groomed trails with a forward and back striding motion similar to how you walk or run. The skis are generally long, narrow and lightweight for fast and efficient skiing in groomed tracks.
What skis are good for backcountry?
The 10 Best Alpine Touring & Backcountry Skis of 2021-2022
- Atomic Backland 85 UL.
- Black Crows Camox Freebird.
- Blizzard Zero G 95.
- DPS Pagoda Tour 100 RP.
- Dynafit Seven Summits Package.
- Faction Agent 2.0X - Women's.
- Salomon MTN Explore 95.
- Head Kore 93.
Are wide skis good?
Confirm your ski dimensions support the type of skiing you like to do: Skinnier skis are better for carving turns on groomed runs, while wider skis provide better flotation in deep snow. (The type of ski you choose will inform these dimensions.)
Can you ski backwards on carving skis?
Carving switch
To get into the turn, just slowly push your left foot backwards. This will position your left ski a bit further down the slope compared to your right ski. Then slowly turn your hips to your left and let your shoulders follow.
Are 100 mm skis too wide?
If you only plan on buying one ski and are an intermediate to advanced skier, we think that the true sweet spot for all-mountain use is the 88- to 100-millimeter range. The skis will be nimble enough to carve but wide enough to get some float in the deep stuff.