With all the new and exciting kit available, 2011/2012 is sure to be an amazing season. Ski brands have continued the evolution of shape, with interesting profiles and dimensions filtering down through ranges for all levels of ability. Boot manufacturers haven’t rested either as they continue to improve the fitting and customisation options, making boots lighter, more responsive and most importantly, more comfortable.

Blizzard is a famous Austrian ski manufacturer with a rich history and we’re very pleased to introduce their skis to our range. This includes truly awesome all-mountain and freeride options using the innovative Flipcore technology. The use of reverse camber / rocker profiles is spreading deeper with Volkl using full rocker on all-mountain skis and Salomon very successfully mixing tip rockers with standard camber to create the excellent Enduro models.

Our range is wide and diverse, covering virtually all types and levels of skiing. The women’s selection has over 20 models, tried out and approved by our female test team. The choice of freeski models is the deepest and most interesting in the country. And, as ever, our all-mountain offering is a one-stop-shop of test winners and quality performance products. And even if after careful selection you’re still unsure, we have 4 locations around the country where you can try the skis on real snow to finalise any decision.

The boot line-up represents only the best available, from guaranteed favourites like the Atomic Hawx and Salomon Impact and Idol ranges, to up-and-coming stars like the Lange RX series and Dalbello Axion and Raya. The impressive new range of Head Edge boots with their adjustable width settings are sure to be hugely popular, and there’s no way you can ignore the freestyle credentials of the Full Tilt Drop Kick.

We ensure all this excellent product is supplied with the best service and advice from knowledgeable, helpful staff. To achieve this we supply the most comprehensive training programme for ski hardware staff in the UK, including on-the-hill training, seminars, coursework and continual assessment. Therefore you can be sure our techs will custom fit your perfect boots and help choose the ideal ski.

We look forward to seeing you soon in one of our ski departments, whether you’re shopping for the latest skis, seeking advice on comfy feet or just want to chat about winter trips.

2011 Ellis Brigham Staffs Ski Test Reports NOW HERE

Buying Skis
With hire fees increasing even though the equipment is often still poor, and the problems of adjusting to new unfamiliar set-ups, it is time to take advantage of the amazing value for money now available through all levels of modern skis. It’s the best way to make sure you have the right tool for the skiing you want to do, and you’ll maximise your performance as you use a ski tuned to your ability and style.

The following is designed to help you choose your perfect set of skis – often a daunting task but don’t worry, we have deliberately de-mystified all the jargon and made simple all the facts (and you can ski them on snow before you part with the cash: see our Try-Before-You-Buy page). This is your guide to explaining the icons, graphics and technical information you will find used throughout our ski section..

Skier Ability
So often in life to get the best you have to pay the most but this really isn’t the case with skis. Expert level skis are expensive but are actually only suitable for experts – unless you are on top of your game 100% of the time and want a demanding highly tuned performer, don’t go near these babies. If you are an intermediate, buy an intermediate ski, they are not low tech punter skis but use many of the high-end expert components tuned specifically to delight the intermediate skier. You will ski better on it, enjoy yourself more and also save a bundle of money you can put towards an extra weekend on snow. Be honest with yourself and with our ski technicians, this way you can be sure to get the right equipment. Think about your current ability and your aspirations, and also where you are going to use the ski.

Jargon Buster
Radius
The phrase “radius” used in this catalogue/website refers to a ski’s sidecut radius and can be thought of as the ‘natural’ turn size of that ski. Assuming that due to its curve, the edge of a ski could be one part of a circle, then the sidecut radius would be the radius of that circle. These figures are given in metres. Factors that will affect the sidecut radius are the ski’s length and sidecut depth. The phrase turn radius is slightly different as turn radius is variable and depends on the person using the ski - applying more reverse camber or bend will create a smaller turn radius.
Typically, skis designed for on-piste skiing will have a short radius of 10 to 18m so they will initiate a turn and carve easily, whilst skis designed for maximum off-piste use will have a 25m+ radius. Freeride skis are somewhere in between as they need to function both on and off piste. New for this season are the all terrain hybrid skis such as the Atomic Metrons and Salomon Scramblers that have a small radius but can still be used off piste due to their wide waist.

Sidecut/Shape
The phrase ‘sidecut’ used in the catalogue refers to the ski’s dimensions at the widest points of the tip and tail, and at the waist. Measured in millimetres, sidecut is shown in the order: tip/waist/tail. A deep sidecut will create a ski with a small radius. This will generally apply to a piste-orientated ski as it will carve turns easily. A good example of this would be the Fischer Progressor 8+. Skis with shallow sidecuts, such as the Volkl Mantra, will have a much larger radius suiting deeper snow as turns are less likely to be carved. Furthermore, skis with more shape would potentially be trickier in cut-up conditions.
As well as the actual depth of sidecut, or ‘amount of shape’, the combination of the tip, tail and waist widths will also affect how the ski reacts.
Waist - A wide waist found on freeride and freestyle backcountry skis will offer lots of floatation and stability so you can cruise through deep snow, but on groomers they will feel slightly sluggish as they are slow to change edges. Narrow waists feel very quick from edge to edge when on pisted trails but will not float so well off-piste. Typical sizes at the waist are 62-74mm for piste-skis, 74-89mm for all-terrain, 89-100mm for freeride. Anything bigger than that is for the deep stuff, baby.
Tail - Tail widths affect the feel of carving at the end of a turn. Skis with big tails relative to the waist, like the Head iSupershape Magnum will ‘hold’ at the end of a turn locking you into the carve and minimising loss of momentum. Skis such as the Dynastar Exclusive Sensation have a narrower tail making them easier to skid and more controllable.
Tip - A wide tip and narrow waist give excellent turn initiation as the ski will roll smoothly into a carve. This is especially noticeable on the Dynastar Exclusive Fluid.

There are many differences in the sidecuts and shapes that will create certain types of skis and it is worth noting the dimensions as you compare models.

Selecting the correct size of ski
The size of the ski you need is dependent on a combination of factors.

Weight:Your weight is more important than your height when choosing the right size of ski. Heavier skiers need bigger (or stiffer) skis so there is more stability and surface area; lighter skiers should think about shorter lengths as they may have less power to flex (or bend) the ski. Imagine a ski being an extension of your foot. If the ski is too short/soft, all the body weight is concentrated under the binding area, making the tip and tail light and prone to uncontrollable skidding. If it’s too long/stiff, the opposite happens and the ski is mainly weighted at tip and tail. This makes it hard to initiate the turn and release your edges, giving the ski a twitchy feel. Choosing the correct length-to-weight ratio will allow even weighting of the ski along its entire length. The end result will be a balance of performance, control and ease of use.

Ability/Aggressiveness:The longer the ski, the more edge there is for extra grip and the more base for stability. Cautious skiers should think about down-sizing as they do not need the stability at speed, but would benefit from extra manoeuvrability of a smaller ski.

Intended Use - The intended use has an important influence on the size. The following recommendations are assuming height and weight are roughly in proportion (again, be honest!).
Piste Use - chin-height to eye-level, for easy carving and responsiveness. Longer for extra stability and wider, bigger turns.
All Mountain - nose-level to forehead, can also depend on the width of ski chosen.
Freeride - eye-level to top of the head-height. Go ‘as big as you can handle’ for maximum floatation.
Freestyle - ski it eye-level for the maximum ease of spinning and rail tricks, go bigger for all mountain versatility.
Park - ski it eye-level for maximum ease of spinning and rail tricks but go bigger if you want the very best stability for landing and jumping.
Freestyle Backcountry - forehead to way above head height! Go big or go home!

Ski Shape There are many new shapes and concepts in modern ski design such as ‘early taper’ and ‘rocker’. These new technologies aim to give a large, easy-to-use surface area when skiing in soft snow, resulting in the best floatation and increased manoeuvrability. In firm conditions the amount of ski/edge in contact is reduced, improving the handling. Many skis designed for soft snow can be skied at what seems to be a long length, without any affect on their all-round performance.

Stiffness The final important factor in deciding the correct size is stiffness of the ski, both tip-to-tail and torsional. A ski that is stiff lengthwise is harder to bend, making it more difficult to carve but stable at speed. Softer-flexing skis will nurture confidence and improvements in technique, because they require less energy and/or skill. A torsionally stiff ski is more resistant to twisting forces when on its edge, therefore, will offer greater edge grip. A torsionally softer ski will not have the same grip but it will be easier to control at slower speeds.
Please speak to our staff for further help on ski stiffness.

The size of your previous skis may also be a factor that should be considered. For further help on sizing speak to our staff who can give you detailed advice.