On average women are lighter, less strong and have a lower center of gravity to men. Women are arguably attracted to different aesthetics. These physical and psychological characteristics would surely justify skis designed and built to optimize performance and skiing enjoyment of female skiers. Finally this gap has been recognized in the ski market and manufacturers are delivering results for lady skiers of all abilities and skiing styles.
Physical Differences Between Men and Women
There are individual exceptions to the following physical differences between women and men, but on average,
- Due to a larger hip section than men, women have a lower center of gravity.
- Women are shorter than men.
- Women have a lower muscle mass therefore are less strong than men.
- Men have larger hearts and lungs, and their higher levels of testosterone cause them to produce greater amounts of red blood cells. As a result they have greater endurance than women.
Women-Specific Ski Construction
Many models of womens’ skis have a wood core enabling high performance in a lightweight construction. K2 uses what’s described as a Bioflex core. A blend of fir and spruce combine to give the ski a blend of stability and forgiveness. K2 explains that the beauty of the Bioflex core is that it “produces a lighter weight core which translates into skis that are easier to maneuver and causes less fatigue than a comparable men’s size and model.”
Other ski characteristics designed specifically for women include:
- Graphics (ski cosmetics) appealing to women according to individual companies market research.
- Shorter ski size range
- Skis built with maneuverable ski tips through use of softer materials (e.g. Spruce softwood rather than Fir) and rocker technology.
- Altered distribution of the ski's mass. K2 refers to this technology as MOD structure. According to the manufacturers, "The shape of the MOD structure is sculpted to distribute mass in ways that ensure the smoothest ride." The men's and women's skis are shaped differently since the optimum location and thickness of mass differs from men to women.
Five Great Skis For Women
- The Volkl Kiku (Sidecut: 137-106-122) are Big Mountain Skis. At 106mm under foot it is one of the fattest women’s freeride skis on the market. This ski has rocker technology. According to one tester for Freeskier 2010 Online Buyers Guide, the Kiku "..has good float, it's really responsive and it was super easy to ski. It skied itself."
- The Dynastar Ex Legend (Sidecut: 114-75-102) is a Carving Ski or Piste Ski (a ski most suited for groomed trails). It is a light ski with a stiff flex that makes it grippy when tilted on the edge.
- The K2 She’s Back (Sidecut: 121-80-107 ) is a lightweight Ski Touring Ski. K2's series of adventure skis all come with a hole drilled in the tip and tail that facilitate building a rescue sled and serve as an attachment point for skins.
- Salomon Lady (Sidecut: 128-85-113) is an All Mountain Ski that is easy to use on and off piste. Maria Bergehamnn, instructor with the European Snowsport in Verbier tested the Salomon Lady for Ski and Board Magazine. "There's something about them", she says, "explosive and powerful".
- The Armada ARW is a Twin Tip Park Ski (Sidecut: 113-85-105) designed by X Games Gold medalist, Grete Eliassen. The skis core is certified under the stringent guidelines of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) = 100% sustainable wood.
What Do Professional Female Skiers Ski On?
Suite101 asked professional skier Andrea Binning what she skis on and, what she thinks about skis for women. Andrea is sponsored by Volkl skis and skis mostly on the women-specific freeride model Volkl Kiku .
Referring to the different designs and graphics of women's and men's skis she says, “I like having that separation. The structure of the ski is different – lighter wood core, softer flex." And the difference in performance? “I really enjoy skiing on the Kiku.” Until last year Andrea was accustomed to skiing on men's or unisex skis. She says of the Kiku, "they were easier to ski in general."
Until recently women-specific skis either didn’t exist or lacked performance, assumed women had lower expectations of what skis can do and were adorned with flowery graphics. Now, as more and more female skiers, including high performance athletes such as Andrea provide feedback on the womens' skis; designs will evolve and the connotations associated with ‘skis for girls’ will be a positive change.
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