Which versatile ski to choose?

Before asking which versatile ski to choose when you are a beginner or want to discover off-piste, it is important to know more about these skis. Indeed, all-mountain skis represent the ideal compromise between alpine skis, freestyle skis and freeride skis, because they can glide on all types of snow.

So, before knowing which versatile ski to choose, it's interesting to ask yourself what use you want to make of them and what your level is. If you have a good command of alpine skiing, off-piste, and freestyle skiing and you want to have a single pair, all-mountain skis are for you.

Choosing the right ski size

When alpine skiing, we tend to favor longer skis, while for freestyle skis we will have slightly smaller and lighter skis. So that's the whole problem: how to know what size of versatile ski to choose when they will be used in both situations? Four scenarios are possible depending on the type of terrain, snow type, and discipline you prefer:

• You do as much on-piste as off-piste skiing : in this case, opt for an intermediate / long ski length which will provide you with comfort and maneuverability regardless of the terrain you ski on.

• You mainly practice on-piste skiing : if off-piste remains occasional for you, you can opt for intermediate length skis.

• You do mostly off-piste skiing : a ski size longer than average will allow you to benefit from good flotation, but they should not be too long if you also use them for on-piste skiing. The width of skis for powder is also more important, but for them to remain versatile, it is better to avoid a waist width greater than 105 mm.

• You also like freestyle sessions in Snowpark and backcountry: opt for a pair of skis a little shorter and less wide. 

Good to know: your level is also a criterion to take into account when choosing the right size of versatile ski. Indeed, the higher the skier's level, the better they will be able to master longer skis, which will help them gain speed while maintaining good stability and improving performance in turns.

Equipment rental: ideal for testing all-mountain skis

If you are still hesitating between several versatile ski models, two interesting solutions are available to you: signing up for equipment tests at resorts (often free) or renting your equipment from a ski shop.

Rental indeed has the advantage of offering you the choice between different types of all-mountain skis, with varied characteristics in terms of waist, camber, rocker, radius, etc. Before buying your own pair of skis or for enjoying all-mountain skiing for just a few days, this allows you to test and enjoy yourself at an affordable price.
This also gives you the opportunity to rent boots and bindings adapted to your needs and practice at the same time.

Off-piste: a discipline to be practiced with caution

As you will have understood, all-mountain skis allow you to ski both on the slopes of your favorite ski resort and off-piste in powder, which is why it is important to find out which versatile ski to choose. Nevertheless, we would like to draw your attention to the fact that off-piste skiing, also called freeride, is not without danger, so we advise you not to venture out without taking precautions beforehand. Do not hesitate to go and train at a DVA Park before going backcountry (very often free for skiers with a lift pass) and to have a guide accompany you for your outings.

In addition, you will find on our online store and in all Sport 2000 stores safety equipment such as helmets, avalanche transceivers (avalanche victim detectors), probes, and shovels. This equipment is also available for rent as a safety pack in partner Sport 2000 stores.

If during your winter holidays you like to practice off-piste in other forms, don't forget that Sport 2000 stores also offer ski rental specially designed for freeride (greater width, pronounced rocker, etc.), for ski touring and for freerando.