Freestyle Ski

Park & pipe or off-piste: Where to use your freestyle skis

Freestyle, the name already tells, is about having fun on your skis. With these skis you can jump kickers straight, do different grabs and tricks, 360° turns and flips. Pipes, rails and boxes are also part of the program, basically anything you can think of in the park can be done with the right skis and some training. But freestyle skis are not only great for park and pipe. Some brands such as K2, Black Crows or Armada are also producing broader freestyle skis. These are great for that deep powder!

©Freestyle ski jumps by Rocky Maloney

Characteristics of your freestyle ski

The main difference to regular skis is the twin-tip construction. Meaning the ski is bent upwards both in the tip and the tail, like a snowboard. This enables skiing backwards, going into kickers backwards and landing backwards. The ski is also very symmetric. Typically, the freestyle ski is rather narrow, being about 85-90mm underneath the binding. This makes it perfect for slopestyle skiing: stable for jumping off, landing and going on rails. It is also good for the on-piste, where you can also include some tricks. The Atomic Punx 7 is one of those very typical freestyle skis. But there are also some freestyle skis with widths up to more than 105mm. These are also good in the park, but thanks to the width, they are great in the off-piste. Being broader makes them float in deep powder, just like freeride skis.

Both narrow and wide freestyle skis are usually built with rocker constructions, but there are also some camber ones out there. Camber refers to points of contact of ski and snow being located towards the tip and tail of the ski, producing empty space between the ski and the surface underneath the binding as long as there is no pressure on the ski. When applying pressure, the edges of the entire ski cut through the snow. The rocker is the opposite. Most freestyle skis come with a tip & tail rocker. Here, the effective edge length is decreased, making the ski easier to turn and more forgiving. Also, it leads to more float on deep snow. Additionally, there is a stronger rebound-effect. This is especially useful in the park when kicking off. As core, most manufacturers use wooden ones as they ensure stability and durability while keeping the weight of the ski at a minimum. As with alpine, or allmountain skis, freestyle skis often contain titanal to provide additional stability.

©Freestyle ski construction by K2

What you should pay attention to when purchasing your freestyle ski

Finding the suiting freestyle ski depends on your abilities and your skiing style. Whether you are a beginner, intermediate or advanced skier, the ski must fit you needs. If you plan on spending most of your time in the park, you will prefer a narrow ski. But if you intend to go off-piste into powder too, you should go for a ski a bit wider. No matter which, freestyle skis should always be at least your height. When it comes to bindings, these also depend on your intentions on where to ski. For park skis, the binding should be mounted in the middle of the ski, which enables backwards skiing with no problems. Those planning on doing some skiing on the entire mountain, going on regular slopes or in powder as well, will mount their bindings a bit further back. This makes them float on the snow. Another important aspect are your ski boots, these should be able to cushion even very rough landings. Additionally, you should always wear your helmet and protectors when on freestyle skis.

Read more regarding freestyle skis

• How to find the right ski length
• Telemark and Alpine Skiboots: Sole length and mondo point
• What avalanche safety equipment do I need?
• Back Protection: Necessary safety equipment