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What size carving skis do I need?

Author

Noah Mitchell

Published Jan 20, 2026

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.

How do you choose carving skis?

The deeper the sidecut, the smaller the ski's turn radius.

  1. small radius: short turns up to 14 m (slalom carvers and freestyle skis)
  2. medium radius: turns between 14 and 18 m (all-mountain skis and all-round carvers)
  3. large radius: long turns of more than 18 m (race carvers and freeride skis)

Are carving skis good for beginners?

Whether you're a dabbler in the sport, carving snow for the first time, or sticking to green-level terrain, these are the best all-mountain skis for beginners. For many, it's not realistic to have a truck, van, convertible, SUV, and EV all parked in the driveway. The same goes for skis.

What is the difference between carving and all-mountain skis?

All-mountain skis have the same shape as carving skis but they are wider. They typically have deep sidecuts to help with turns. Rockered tips also help you float if you are going through powder off-piste. These skis are especially wider around the feet, ranging from around 85-100 mm.

What size skis should I get if im 5 7?

In general, the proper ski length is somewhere between your chin and the top of your head. For example, a skier that is 6' tall will want to look for skis between 170cm and 190cm. The exact right size for you will depend on your skiing ability and style.

35 related questions found

Can you carve with all-mountain skis?

You don't need to buy new skis just to learn how to carve. If you're considering new skis anyway, though, all-mountain skis offer a nice sidecut radius for carving. They also have enough camber to allow you to flex the skis and hold the edges.

Can you carve with twin tip skis?

Powder skis often also benefit from some tip of twin tip – be it partial or full twin tip. Carving Skis more often have flat tails- but if you're looking for something good for carving, but want just that little bit more forgiveness in the tail, then there are carving skis with partial twin tips too.

Are park skis good for carving?

Park skis are okay at carving but not nearly as good as all-mountain or race skis. Park skis are fully cambered and can carve. The need to carve because carving off of the lip of a jump is one way to start the rotation of a spin or cork trick.

What happens if my skis are too short?

Having skis that are too short to support your weight will have a lack of control, lack of response or rebound, and will not absorb the vibration when at a higher speed.

How long should carving skis be?

There isn't an exact formula for determining the right size but in general the proper ski length should be between your chin and the top of your head. For example, a skier that is 6' tall will want to look for a skis between 170 - 190 cm. The xact right size for you will depend on your skiing ability and style.

What size skis are best for beginners?

A beginner will need skis that are quite short: 10 to 15cm less than their own height for downhill skis. A good skier might choose skis which are the same height as themselves for downhill skiing (and sometimes even a little longer for freeriding).

What size skis for a 7 year old?

Youth skis should come up somewhere between the child's chest and nose.

What size skis for 5'9 man?

Your height will be the mid-point of a 30-centimeter range of ski lengths. For example, a 5-foot 9-inch person is about 175 centimeters tall. Assuming nothing else, that individual should probably be seeking a ski somewhere in between 160 centimeters and 190 centimeters long.

How wide should all mountain skis be?

If you're an avid skier looking for an all-mountain ski—or the elusive one-ski quiver—go for a waist hovering around 100 mm. “If you need an everyday, universal ski for mountains like Vail or Aspen, we recommend going 95 to 105 mm underfoot,” says Klomparens. This is the mid-fat, do-anything width.

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.

Why do freestyle skiers ski backwards?

The skis tend to be slightly lighter than normal skis making those jumps easier. The other key difference is that freestyle skis turn up at the front and the back. Normal skis only turn up at the front. Commonly known as “twin tips” the turn up at the back allows freestylers to ski backwards with ease.

Do twin tips ski shorter?

Because they turn so easily, it really helps newbies get a feel for things. Twin tips also "ski shorter" than they really are (we'll get into why later on), meaning they're more manageable for novices looking to link turns and make it down the easier slopes.

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.

What is the difference between carving and parallel turns?

The major difference between carving and normal parallel turns is that while the back end of your ski will skid a little with each parallel turn, a carving turn will have the back end of your ski following the trace of the front end of your ski, for a clean turn.

How do you carve a ski for beginners?

Initiating Carving

This is best done as you are pointing straight down the slope, by rolling the knees over so that the ski edges dig into the snow and steer the skis across the slope. The skis need to be put on the edges enough that when they start turning the skis will cut into the snow and not slide.

Does weight matter for ski size?

Weight. Weight also plays a factor in deciding which skis you'll buy. A good rule of thumb is that, if you weigh less than the average for your height, you should opt for shorter skis. If you weigh more than average, you should opt for longer skis.

Can you ski if you are overweight?

There are no restrictions on an overweight body being able to ski for recreation, but, if you are way too obese, it would certainly affect your experience. The expert's advice that shedding a few pounds to gain the incredible recreational experience of skiing is worth a shot.