How to choose ski length

Looking to get new skis? Lucky you! There’s nothing like the mailman dropping off a brand-new pair for you to tear up the mountain. But before you even click ‘Add to Cart’, there’s one crucial step to decide: the length. 

Yep, you’ve found an awesome pair of skis, but there’s a selection of lengths. Which do you go for? And does it matter if you go too short or too long? Or should you go too short or too long deliberately? Don’t fret – Dope Mag’s got you with our quick-fire guide to finding the perfect ski size..

Oh, and what makes new skis even better? New outerwear, of course! Refresh your winter setup from head to toe with our just-dropped collection of ski pants for women and ski pants for men. Yew!

What’s your ideal ski length?

Know your height

Knowing your height helps decide where your ski tips should line up against you when holding your skis upright. The proper ski length typically means the tips fall somewhere between your chin and the very top of your head. So, a 5’10” rider (179cm) wants skis between 160-180cm. 

As a super general rule, you always want to subtract from your height to determine your ski length and range. And how much you subtract depends on certain factors, such as your skill level, style, and terrain preference (we’ll get onto these in a sec). However, there are exceptions. For example, pro, advanced, or pow riders might want skis slightly taller than them for added float and stability at speed. But don’t worry – you’ll discover a handy section on when to size up and down underneath our ski size chart. 

Determine your skill level

Working out your skill level is key to choosing the right ski length, as it decides whether you should opt for shorter or longer skis. Which level are you? Let’s look at the definitions below…

Beginner

Congrats on starting your shred journey or getting back into things after taking time off. And don’t worry about reaching for beginner skis after years of learning – everyone goes at their own pace! In fact, selecting beginner-length skis helps you ski better. They’re often shorter (roughly 15 to 10 cm shorter than you or around chin height), making them more forgiving and easier to maneuver and control. That way, you feel more confident on the hill! 

Choose beginner-length skis if…

Intermediate

Generally, intermediate skiers can comfortably parallel turn on blues and reds. However, they dabble on other colored runs, too. Intermediate-length skis are mid-length (around nose height) to boost progression. This size helps maintain stability while offering plenty of maneuverability to pick up the pace. You’ll also notice they’re wider than beginner skis – perfect if you want to start playing in pow.  

Choose intermediate-length skis if…

Advanced

Happy with black diamonds, getting on your edges to carve (although this isn’t essential), and slashing pow? Class yourself as advanced! Okay, anything super gnarly might still give you the shivers. This terrain is more for expert riders. However, the ski length stays similar for both levels. That means you’ll often have longer skis (reaching the top of your head or higher) for a solid performance when charging steeps. You’ll notice advanced-expert level skis are stiffer, too – ideal for holding their camber in sketchy conditions and staying stable at speed. 

Choose advanced-length skis if…

Look at ski profile

Of course, your ski’s camber profile plays a part in deciding the perfect length. ‘Camber’ is the curve in the ski, which you can see from a side-on angle. It affects how much your ski touches the snow when unweighted, impacting your ski’s effective edge.  

For example, if your skis have rocker (where the ski’s tip and tail curve away from the ground), a good chunk of the ski is off the snow, and the two contact points (where the ski meets the ground) are closer together. This makes the ski feel shorter than it really is. Conversely, further contact points make your ski feel longer. Let’s get into each profile, shall we? 

Full camber

Camber skis have a slight upward arch in the middle of the ski. And the contact points are close to the ends. This makes camber skis feel much longer than they really are. So, you’d typically size down to have more maneuverability. And why choose full camber skis? Well, they provide superior edge grip, reliability at speed, and impressive precision on hardpack. They also boost flex, adding power as you carve and plenty of ‘pop’ as you come out of the turn or jump (like having a built-in spring). Reach for these if you’re into carving and racing. 

Tip rocker

Although they’re a measured length, skis with tip rocker feel shorter. That’s because the front of the ski comes off the snow, providing a shorter effective edge. So, you’ll want to size up your ski to have more edge in contact with the snow. The degree of rocker depends entirely on the ski. For example, you can have as much as 30% tip rocker! And most all-mountain skis have a tip rocker. This makes them easier to maneuver with quick turn initiation. Skis with tip rocker can perform well off-piste and in deep snow, too (thanks to the rocker-provided float). 

Tip and tail rocker

Skis with tip and tail rocker feel the shortest, as they have the shortest effective edge. And, because the tail and tip are off the snow, you’ll want to choose a longer length than usual. So, why incorporate tail rocker, too? It often makes the skis easier to maneuver down tricky terrain, such as narrow couloirs, while making them super playful for park laps. Plus, you can ride them switch. These skis are also more forgiving over varied terrain. So, they’re great off-piste (especially with their balanced, centered feel). 

Full rocker 

Full rocker skis have no camber (i.e., they’re flat on the ground in the middle) and only one point of contact with the snow. This means you’re less likely to catch an edge and can pivot like a dream with a loose, surfy feel. Full rocker skis offer max float in pow and are awesome at charging down the fall line. So, you’ll likely find full rocker on powder skis or specialized all-mountain skis. And as there’s no effective edge, you’ll often select a longer ski length for these. 

Consider how style and terrain affect ski length

You need to consider the type of terrain you ride. That’s because different ski types are sized in relation to their intended use and most common snow type. For instance, you’d struggle on a mogul field with long, wide skis meant for fresh pow. So, let’s get into which skis are best for which terrain.

All-mountain

If you want a ski that handles most conditions and terrain, you’ll want to look at all-mountain skis. These often have a combo of camber underfoot and tip/tail rocker for controlled turns on hardpack, but improved float in the soft stuff. 

It’ll vary from brand to brand, but take note of how much camber or rocker is in the ski that catches your eye. This lets you know how much to size up or down. Of course, as we’ve already mentioned, ability plays a part, too. For example, beginners to intermediates should consider all-mountain skis shorter than them (approximately 15cm and 10cm shorter, respectively). Meanwhile, advanced to expert riders could match their height or go between 5-15cm longer, depending on preference.    

Groomers

Crave carving? What about reliable edge grip on groomers? Consider a groomer-specific ski if you spend most of your time on marked trails. These tend to have a narrow waist width and cambered profile, allowing quick edge-to-edge transfer and smooth carves. 

Because you’re on hard snow 90% of the time, these skis don’t have to have float. And, with their extended effective edge, they often feel longer than their measured length. Want to make quick, precise turns when carving? Size down. Want to zoom on the groom? Consider sizing up for stability. As mentioned, it’s handy to think about your ability, too. 

Park and freestyle

Park and freestyle skis (also known as twin tips) are purpose-made for sliding on rails, stomping kickers, and conquering the pipe. You’ll often be center-mounted (with the bindings mounted in the middle of the ski) for even weight distribution – handy when catching air and landing switch. 

However, sizing up or down with park skis depends on preference. For example, size down if you want super nimble moves on rails and boxes and tighter spins. Looking for dependability when stomping landings off XL kickers? You might want to size up for more surface area. Play around with different sizes to see what suits you best. 

Powder

In general, you’ll always choose a longer ski length for powder skis – typically as tall as you are, if not taller (around 5-15cm longer for expert riders, depending on preference). This longer size gives you more surface area and float – 100% needed in deep, fresh pow. 

But don’t worry – it won’t be like trying to steer two canoes through soft snow. Powder skis often have a rocker profile to keep the nose up and a shorter effective edge to make them easy to control. Spend most of your time hunting stashes? Consider a full-rocker shape for dreamy float and easy control. 

Alpine touring 

Alpine touring skis are usually lighter than freeride skis, so riders can skin up and earn their turns. But the length of your alpine touring and backcountry skis totally depends on the rider. 

Some backcountry riders choose to size down their skis for easier kick turns and more maneuverability when in the trees. This can range anywhere from -10 to -5cm shorter than your height, based on skill level and preference. On the other hand, other ski tourers match their height or select longer skis to keep on top of soft snow when breaking trail and charging the descent. 

Ski size chart

Check out our ski size chart for an idea of your ideal ski height. This chart applies to ‘alpine’ skis, typically with a single-tip design (i.e., medium width with a wider nose and narrow, flat tail). In the chart below, the length is given in a range: the shorter end is ideal for beginners, the middle for intermediates, and the longer end for advanced skiers. If you’re looking at other ski types (such as freestyle or powder), you’ll want to size up or down accordingly. We cover this in the next section. 

However, remember that different brands don’t necessarily measure length the same. For example, it’s possible that a ski size from Brand X might be slightly shorter or longer than the same size from Brand Y. So, always double-check with the brand itself and their recommendations. 

When to size up or down

As you’ll have noticed, there are a few instances where opting for a shorter or longer ski than your recommended range and length is necessary. Remember bigger is better for bold, fast lines, while short is awesome for controlled speed and park tricks. So, let’s get into other reasons why you might want to size up or down.

Choose shorter skis if you…

Choose longer skis if you…

Wrapping up

Woah – who knew a seemingly simple decision requires so much thought, right? Ultimately, though, selecting your ski length is a super subjective and personal choice. As mentioned, it’s awesome to consider your height, usage, skiing style, and ability. But how short or long you go is down to you. Our top tip? Hire your desired skis before buying, and take them for a test drive. Then, try the same ski in different lengths to see which feels best.

Have you got further questions? Or looking for the perfect outerwear to match your new planks? Reach out to our team at crew@dopesnow.com – they’re prepped and ready to answer pretty much any question about skiing and snowboarding. And they love it, too. 

Related reading:

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• Ski jackets for women / Ski jackets for men
• Summer skiing in Europe
• Ski clothes for women / Ski clothes for men
• Avalanche safety