Looking into the garage, I see a rack with powder skis, all-mountain skis, groomer skis, backcountry touring skis, and Nordic skate skis. And this is just my rack. Living in Utah means owning a quiver of skis. Ok, maybe I don’t need all of them, but I don’t need multiple pairs of shoes, purses or gold hoop earrings, either. So, when I go to Christy Sports Salt Lake City and see a wall of pencil-thin sticks, I tell Hubby to hold on to his wallet and make room in the rack because skinny skis are back.
Unlike skinny jeans, skinny skis are back in style. With waists (the narrowest part underneath the foot) measuring in millimeters in the 70s to low 80s, these slim skis are carving up mountains throughout Utah.
But in a land famous for its powder, why?
Since the advent of wide, dual rocker “powder skis” in the 1990s and early aughts, the ski industry has encouraged people to seek deep powder atop these girthy surfers. In 2007, Rossignol, with its S7 (later Soul 7) skis, over 100mm underfoot with twin tips and forgiving side cuts, made it possible for average skiers to ski steep and deep and then down to the base to brag over brews.
You can call it fashion (or good marketing), but there is more to the mountain than big powder. Most skiers stick to on-piste runs at Utah resorts…for good reason. It’s fun! Corduroy is a compliment. Hard-pack can be a delight with the right gear. Skinnier skis make both a lot of fun to ski on.
By design, a ski in the 70s or 80s underfoot will allow most skiers to not only turn easily but also carve, whereby the skier tips the skis on their metal edge to cut into the snow. Coupling this with outside ski pressure during the turn generates a rebound to launch the skis into the next turn, giving riders a “skiing on rails” experience. Even if skiers cannot achieve a high edge angle, they often find it easier to turn on skinny skis.
And then, there’s Carv.
In addition to technological advancements in skis, there are high-tech devices making skiing more accessible and enjoyable. Carv is a “digital ski coach” designed for skiers who want to improve their technique and performance. Two electronic devices attached to skiers’ boots send information to a mobile app and provide on-mountain feedback and instruction. Although its latest iteration works for off-piste and uneven terrain, Carv became wildly popular for showing people how to initiate turns earlier, use more outside ski pressure, bend like an “athletic banana,” and tip on those edges more cleanly and easily. Olympians were brought on board to share audio tips on the lifts, and the app gave members a daily Skier:IQ score that could be shared and bragged about to spouses, friends and other Carvers. The gamification of carving was born, and skiers looked for ways and gear to up their game.
So, it’s not just marketing. Skiers want to ski more of the mountain better. It’s supply and demand. Ok, it actually is marketing. It’s just not a fad…until something else comes along. Ok,…I don’t care. I still look great in my skinny jeans, as well. I’m not giving them up…or my shoes, and, “Hubby, we’re going to need a bigger ski rack!”
