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All Mountain Ski
You love those runs on groomed slopes, short and long turns, fast and slow? But when the snow starts falling from the sky you head right into the off-piste to glide through that powder? Then you are in need of a versatile ski that fulfills all your needs. With an allmountain ski, you are well prepared for all conditions and thanks to wide-ranging options of widths and constructions, you can decide on the specific characteristics of your ski. Allmountain skis by the different brands such as Atomic, K2, Salomon, Fischer, Völkl or Rossignol are available for men, women and kids either with a pre-mounted binding or flat.
The allmountain ski – enjoying every part of the mountain
As the name already says, the allmountain ski is great for the entire mountain. Whether you are on slopes or on freeride adventures in the off-piste, this ski is versatile. And it comes in a great variety of characteristics. Widths ranging from 65mm up to 110mm, different rocker constructions, weights and stiffness, skis for beginners, intermediate skiers and experts. All of them are good on groomed slopes and powder, but some are more on-piste oriented while others feel more like freeride skis.
©All mountain ski by Pierre Morel
Allmountain ski characteristics
This
ski is easy to turn and fun on the slopes. And although it is not as
super sporty as an on-piste ski, you can still apply lots of pressure on
its edges and reach some high speeds. At the same time, it floats in
the untouched backcountry, glides through the powder and the snow
masses. Also, it is stable and safe in mashed-up and harsh snow.
How well the ski floats in powder is depending on its width and weight.
The wider and the lighter, the better it floats. But at the same time, a
heavier ski has its advantages. The more weight, the more stable the
ski is, especially in rough conditions. This, together with the torsional stiffness
is important for the pressure on the edges. The stiffer the ski is
around its own axis, the better you can put pressure on the edges, which
is important for fast runs on hard slopes. The weight is mostly
dependent on the materials used and the core. Many manufacturers use wooden cores,
oftentimes paulownia or balsa wood, which is especially lightweight. To
keep the ski stable, different forms of metal are integrated. Laminated
metal in the edge area or titanal make for additional stiffness. The
characteristics are also, as with any other ski, depending on its radius.
Allmountain skis come in different radii ranging from 13m up to more
than 20m. Generally it can be said that wider skis have a larger radius
since they do not have as strong of a side cut.
Rocker and camber construction of the allmountain ski
Almost all allmountain skis are built with rocker constructions. Full rockers, tip rockers or tip & tail rockers. Some also have a camber construction, which is the opposite to a rocker. Full rocker means that the ski is bent upwards towards the tip and tail, leading to the binding area being in constant contact with the snow. This makes for a better float on powder. Especially the tip rocker also makes turning around the ski easier. The camber construction is the opposite. Contact with the snow is located towards tip and tail, leading to some empty space between the binding area and the snow when there is no pressure on the ski. When putting pressure on the ski, tension is created and the entire edge cuts through the snow. This is good for high speeds and rougher conditions.
©All mountain ski construction by K2
Choosing the right allmountain ski
Finding your perfect allmountain ski depends on your style, your skills and your needs.
If you mostly intend to use it on the slopes, going on high speeds and
from time to time going off-piste, it is advisable to pick a rather
narrow ski. Those planning on being more in the freeride areas and doing
occasional runs on groomed slopes are better off with a wide ski with
freeride characteristics. And obviously, anything in-between to fit your
needs. Beginners should get a ski that is about as high as their eyes.
This makes it easier to turn. Advanced skiers and experts should go for a
ski which is about as high as they are, plus/minus 5cm. The longer the
ski, the more stable it will be.
Most
important is always your safety, therefore, when going into the
off-piste with your allmountain ski, make sure you have all needed avalanche safety equipment and ski apparel. Also, you need to pick the right ski boot
to fit your ski for your mountain adventures.
Read more regarding allmountain skis
- How to find the right ski length
- Telemark and Alpine Skiboots: Sole length and mondo point
- RECCO® rescue system – small technology that can help big times
- Back Protection: Necessary safety equipment