Your guideline for the perfect racing ski: tips and features

• Construction/design: in contrast to conventional ski models, they usually have a less pronounced centre width, which gives them a larger turn radius (20 to 30 metres). All-round carvers usually allow a radius of 12 to 18 metres.
• Materials: Resources such as tetanal or carbon are used to develop particularly stiff skis.
• Ski behaviour: Racing skis require a lot of power and a sensitive skiing technique to maintain edge pressure even at high speeds. "Normal" skis, on the other hand, are rather easy to control.
• Regulations: The perfect racing skis are usually designed to meet all the requirements of organisations such as the FIS so that they can be used in official races.

In contrast to conventional models, racing skis are designed for maximum precision, edge grip and speed. “Normal” carving skis focus on comfort, versatility and easy handling.

For all slalom fans and speed hunters: race skis or race carvers are the high-speed stars among the various models. These sporty skis deliver the best performance in tough conditions. Depending on the race format the following aspects vary:

• Some race skis are designed for medium-wide carving turns.
• Other models are ideal for really large and sweeping turn radii at maximum speed.

What is not a race ski? Although the perfect race ski really comes into its own in the right situations, such as in the World Cup, a race model is less suitable for a relaxing day on the slopes. The fast planks are neither intended for wedel runs with tight turns nor for trips into the backcountry. Beginners should also steer clear of them.

Racing skis are the right choice for your sport if ...

• you have high expectations of yourself and your skis.
• you like to ski fast and aggressively.
• you are a very active skier who expects constant feedback from the terrain.
• wide, fast and precise turns are your thing.
• you are a very good, experienced and ambitious athlete.
• you have a lot of strength in your thighs.
• you prefer to conquer hard, groomed slopes.
• you strive for perfect skiing technique.
• you want to have full control of your skis even at high speeds.
• you don't want to compromise on safety in the rush for speed.

The construction of the racing skis is similar to that of classic slalom skis: they are long, low-waisted and therefore ideal for wide turn radii (up to 30 metres). Thanks to their high torsional rigidity and hard flex, they are extremely stable and smooth-running at high speeds. Thanks to their sharp edges, race skis offer perfect grip on hard groomed slopes and can also be optimally steered on icy surfaces.

For comparison: The characteristics of race carvers differ significantly from the visibly shorter and more waisted slalom carvers (turn radius around 13 metres). Accordingly, you are more manoeuvrable on slalom skis and require less effort. A case for all those who prefer fast, crisp turns.

The perfect racing ski may well reach your body length or even exceed it. Slalom carvers, on the other hand, only reach about as far as your shoulder. Due to its shortness, this type of ski would start to flutter at high speeds and lose stability. However, larger skis are more stable and easier to control at higher speeds, due to their longer effective edge.

But remember: body size is only one individual selection criterion in relation to ski length - alongside your weight, ability and preferred skiing style and terrain.

We have summarised the most important features of a race ski below:

• Low waist
• Large radius
• Long ski length
• High torsional rigidity
• Hard flex

INTERSPORT Rent equips you with the top ski models from leading international winter sports brands. Test the latest racing skis from Atomic, Völkl, Fischer and Rossignol on the steepest, iciest and most notorious slopes in the world's best ski resorts! Here you can get a first impression of what characterises the "speedsters" of the individual brands. You can easily find out which racer suits you best thanks to on-site advice from the RENTertainers. We will now show you which models you can expect:

If you ski for racing, then all your equipment should be geared towards speed and control. The winter sports experts at INTERSPORT Rent will equip you from head to toe for the hunt for speed on the slopes. We offer you first-class racing gear and everything that goes with it:

Therefore, always have the binding adjusted by a specialist. The correct setting depends on many factors. For example, your height, weight, skiing ability and style.

Tip: Use the RENTertainer ski service. They not only fit the bindings in the right place, but also customise the correct Z-value for you.

A ski helmet for racing must fulfil the highest safety standards and meet the special requirements of competitive sports. In addition to the normal safety guidelines that must be met, an additional specification label is mandatory for official FIS races. This guarantees that the helmet can withstand even greater forces. In addition, the ski helmet must fit firmly and comfortably and must not slip during movement. Modern safety technologies such as MIPS can provide additional protection, but are not a must for certification.

Carving skis are generally more forgiving and considered beginner-friendly models. Materials such as aluminium make the ski flexible and are therefore intuitive to handle. A short ski length in combination with a small waist also makes steering easier.

Professional skiers use longer skis because they are much more stable, precise, smoother at high speeds and with strong edge pressure. Disciplines such as slalom, downhill or super-G in particular require ski models that ensure optimum performance at top speed.

You can also carve with a racing ski if you have a good skiing technique. However, in contrast to pure carving skis, where the waist is more pronounced, more power and a more precise technique are required. Due to the shape of the race skis those models are primarily suited for long turns and large radii.