How to Size Skate Skis

Choosing the right size ski equipment is critical to having a good skate skiing experience. While finding the right size quickly boils down to finding the appropriate options in a size chart, you must also take into account your skill level along with your weight and sometimes your height, as well. The chart will also only yield a range of options--as always, the final choice boils down to personal preference.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Step 1

Measure your weight as accurately as possible. Medical scales or a digital scale are the ideal ways of doing this; if you use a mechanical scale make sure it reads "0" before stepping onto it.

Step 2

Measure your height, as well; having a rigid height measure, such as those found on some medical scales, is ideal--but a line drawn on the wall then measured, or even a friend with a measuring tape, will do the job in a pinch. Not every skate ski sizing system incorporates height, but a few do.

Step 3

Evaluate your skate skiing skill level as honestly as possible. Are you a beginner, intermediate or advanced skier? Have you experimented with skate skis enough to have a personal preference for softer or stiffer skis?

Step 4

Consult a size chart (see options in the Resources section) to determine the appropriate size skate ski for yourself. Note that what size you use depends on how stiff the ski is. In general, a soft-flex ski will accommodate less weight than a stiff-flex ski of the same size; at the same time, beginners will usually want a softer (and thus larger) ski than an expert might.

Resources

Article Written By Marie Mulrooney

Marie Mulrooney has written professionally since 2001. Her diverse background includes numerous outdoor pursuits, personal training and linguistics. She studied mathematics and contributes regularly to various online publications. Mulrooney's print publication credits include national magazines, poetry awards and long-lived columns about local outdoor adventures.

Editor's Pick

Backcountry Camping Tips

You've already tried car and RV camping. You've camped at commercial campsites that had a convenient restroom and water supply. Now, you want to explore the road less traveled. Backcountry camping, also known as primitive camping, is a wonderful way to explore the remote...
More Backcountry Camping...
Popular Article

Beach Camping Near Pismo Beach, California

Pismo State Beach, California, has many attractions and activities including camping, swimming, hiking and wildlife viewing. Birdwatching is one of the primary activities in the area. The park also has the largest over-wintering colony of monarch butterflies in the natio...
More Beach Camping...
Featured Video

Common Sense Hiking Tips

The first and most fundamental thing is never hike alone. There are too many situations, especially as an unexperienced hiker, where you may find yourself without anyone to help you. So the buddy system works and applies very much in hiking.
More Camping Basics...