What To Look For
Racing on skis is all about control at high speeds. Even minute adjustments on slopes can change the result by a tenth of a second, which can mean the difference between winning and losing. Most of the major ski companies, including Rossignol, Nordica, Head, Fischer, Dynastar, Vokl, Elan and Atomic offer specific skis designed for the demands of the race circuit. Skis are also designed for the different disciplines of downhill, super G, giant slalom and slalom. Downhill and Super G skis are longer, as there is less turning involved in those disciplines, while slalom skis are shorter.
Because of the extraordinary forces skiers put on their skis during a race, race skis are longer and stiffer than the shaped skis so popular among recreational skiers. They generally have more sidecut, for faster turns, and faster bases. Race skis are not suited for all-mountain use because they are stiff.
Common Pitfalls
When it comes right down to it, unless you are racing, you have no need for racing skis. You won't be going fast enough or skiing them hard enough to take advantage of the ski's properties. Yes, it might be cool to have the skis that Lindsey Vonn tears up the World Cup circuit in, but you probably won't enjoy skiing them.
If you are getting into racing, keep in mind that most race skis come with an integrated binding designed to give you the best control over the ski. You will not be using the bindings you had on your recreational skis.
Where To Buy
Race skis can be purchased at any specialty ski retailer. Many of the top racers get their skis directly from the manufacturer. Race skis can also be purchased at online retailers like Raceskis.com
Cost
Race skis are much more expensive than all-terrain skis. They typically start in the $800 range and go up to $1,100.
Comparison Shopping
Some of the most popular race skis include the Nordica Dobermann series ($900-$1,150), the Rossignol WC series ($1,100), and the Head Worldcup ($950) and iSupershape ($1100), the Dynastar Speed Course World Cup ($800-$1,100), and the Vokl Racetiger ($1,050).
