How To Personalize Your Ski Equipment Without Compromising Your Safety
by Janey Jones
As ski resorts reopen around the world, thousands of ski enthusiasts will be preparing to hit the slopes this upcoming winter. One of the most important preparation tasks they will need to do is to buy the right ski gear. However, in recent years (and thanks to recent technological advances), consumers are no longer just settling for standard shop-bought ski equipment but instead are opting to add some customization to it. Whether it is to look the part of a pro skier or to add some sentimental value to your equipment before you hit the slopes, it can be a fine line between customizing your ski equipment and compromising your safety. Knowing your ski equipment is safe while still being stylish can make a huge difference in helping you to stop worrying and enjoy the skiing.
Know The Best Ski Equipment To Start Customizing
Despite popular belief, your ski boots are more important than your skis. They are also one of the pieces of equipment that may benefit from being customized. Personalizing your ski boots can reduce pain in the forefoot (metatarsalgia). Three of the most common causes of pain in the foot during skiing include tight-fitting boots, inflexibility, and uneven pressure distribution. With this in mind, the best place to start is by customizing your footbed which you can have pre-molded or tailor molded.
When In Doubt, Get The Help Of A Custom Ski Design Company
You can also personalize your skis and opt for a tailored boot fit for your ski boots. However, while there are many DIY tutorials on building/customizing your skis, you must get the measurements right to optimize your safety. Ideally, the right-size skis should measure between your chin and the top of your head. The terrain you intend to ski in will also determine the kind of sky you design. This is why it can be a good idea to work with a custom ski design company. During the custom design process, you will get the opportunity to determine the amount of input you would like to have- whether it is choosing the core material for your ski or designing the graphics for it by personally sketching an image of blinkers to be transferred onto the skis.
Understand The Dynamics Of A Ski’s Shape Before Personalizing
Last but not least, the shape of a ski and the materials used will determine the experience you will have skiing. Spending time understanding all the elements of your ski’s shape will help you know what measurements are important to keep you safe. For instance, the sidecut radius determines the kind of turn your ski will take. Smaller sidecut radiuses mean your skis will ake a tighter and shorter turn. For beginners, this can be useful as they get used to navigating on the slopes. However, it can also be less predictable. Also, the profile of your skis is determined by the snow conditions you intend to ski in. If you are going powder skiing, you would want a longer tip and tail length.
If you are worried about compromising your safety by customizing your ski equipment, you can also start small by personalizing your ski equipment including your helmet or accessories. With a bit of inspiration from Pinterest boards and spray paints, you can change the face of the helmet to suit your personality.
