Gs shrinkit6/18/2023 None of these methods of design is absolutely right - or wrong - but it is nice going into the buying process with a bit of education. Kästle feels a skier is just that, a skier, neither male nor female. Some manufacturers, such as Kästle, don’t even offer women's skis, and that's not bad either. The Experience (men) and Temptation (women) lines are mostly the same except for graphics and a slight difference in construction: the women's collection does not incorporate the HD construction. Yet not only is it the same ski, it is exactly the same length does Rossignol assume that a man cannot ski a 162 or a woman cannot ski a 164? Is it marketing? Either way, there is no reason the same ski shouldn't be described the same. The Rossignol Sky 7 for men is a 164 for women, it is a 162. That's all just fine, but I do have an issue when a manufacturer thinks the consumer isn’t paying attention. Rossignol's freeride skis are basically the same except for graphics and a "W" added to the name. The current Luvs share molds with their unisex brothers, the Iconics and Pinnacles, but their constructions are significantly different. K2 was one of the first manufacturers to heavily promote women's skis way back when with the LTP in the 1980s, the T9 series around the turn of the century, and eventually the Luv collection (twice), which many feel is the reference series of the ski industry. The names change because Armada uses a shorter length for the women's skis as a reference size than the men's offering. Even though the model numbers differ, the Victa 83 is the same as the Invictus 85, the 87Ti is the same as the 89Ti, and the 93 is the same as the 95. For example, the women's Victas are the same as the men's Invictus skis. These light and nimble skis not only have their own constructions, but they also have their own molds that Head uses nowhere else.Īrmada does a very good job in scaling its skis to make sure all skiers have the same experience this goes for both men and women. Now, what are the differences between women's skis and what should you look for? First, some skis have no male counterpart, such as the Head Joy collection, which was designed from the ground up for women. Tricia is the reference size for the typical woman skier: 5’6” and perfectly built, she gets to try most everything. At least she can test the skis that are unisex in construction because the only difference is the topsheet. SBrown, at 5'9" our tallest tester, can run into a similar (but opposite) problem because the longest length in the women's models is also often unavailable. SkiNurse at 4’13½” is lighter on her skis and can have a tough time demoing because her size is often unavailable such sizes need the most refinement and tweaking in order to scale the core and flex for lighter skiers, so they are usually the last to get produced. Our three main female testers are small, medium, and tall they are proficient skiers with different needs and desires in the ways that skis perform. It still comes down to each skier's individual needs.Įvery season Tricia and our women testers get on 50 to 75 pairs of women's skis. Are any of these right or wrong? Since not all women are built the same, why should we expect their skis to be designed identically? Not all women even need women's skis, not all women have a lower center of gravity and need a forward mount point, and not all women ski differently. For some manufacturers, it is a complete change in build philosophy for others, it is different graphics for still others, it is that plus a forward mount point.
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