Ski fit FAQ

Quick answers to the questions we hear most often — sizing, shape, stiffness, and how skis and snowboards fit differently. Use the quiz if you want a recommendation built around your body and riding style.

How are skis sized to my height?

The classic baseline is a ski length that lands somewhere between your chin and the bridge of your nose when stood upright. From there you tune for style: longer skis give more stability and float at speed, shorter skis feel quicker, more pivoty, and easier to control — which is why park and freestyle riders usually size down. For a more detailed breakdown, see the full ski sizing guide.

Does my weight change the right length?

Yes — often more than height does. A heavier rider needs more length (and stiffness) for the ski to support their weight without washing out, while a lighter rider can usually size down and still get a stable platform. If you're between sizes and you carry more or less weight than average for your height, lean toward the longer ski.

What does waist width mean, and how does it vary by terrain?

Waist width is the narrowest point of the ski underfoot, measured in millimeters. Narrow waists (around 65–75 mm) are built for frontside and groomer days where quick edge-to-edge carves matter. Mid waists (about 80–90 mm) are the all-mountain sweet spot that handles mixed snow without feeling sluggish on hardpack. Wide waists (95 mm and up) float better in powder and soft snow but feel looser on ice.

Twin-tip vs directional — which do I need?

Directional skis have a defined tip and tail — designed to charge forward and are the standard for all-mountain and powder skis. Twin-tip skis are symmetric tip-to-tail so they ride the same switch as forward, which is why park, pipe, and freestyle riders lean that way. Plenty of all-mountain skis use a "slight twin-tip" that lets you dabble in switch without giving up frontside stability.

What is ski stiffness, and how does it match skill level?

Stiffness (or "flex") is how much the ski resists bending under your weight. Soft flex is forgiving and easier to bend into turns — great for beginners, lighter riders, and anyone who wants a playful feel. Medium flex is the most versatile and works for most intermediates. Stiff skis hold an edge at speed and stay stable through chop, which is what advanced and expert riders want when they're charging hard.

How is snowboard sizing different?

A snowboard should reach somewhere between your chin and nose when stood on end, but on a snowboard your weight drives the sizing more than your height — heavier riders need longer, stiffer boards for stability, lighter riders can size down. Pay attention to waist width too: too narrow and your toes/heels will hang over the edge, too wide and the board is sluggish to roll edge-to-edge. Boot size is the rule of thumb for matching waist width.

Riders FAQ: sharing and saved fits

What does the share flow do?

The share flow packages your saved ski or snowboard profile into a link you can email to a friend. When they open it, the original fit and recommendations appear on /results. See the saved results.

What is a fit token, and how do emailed fit links find my answers?

A fit token is the profile ID in a URL such as /results?id=.... The server uses that token to retrieve the saved rider profile before rendering the results page, so an emailed fit link can find the answers that created it. Open the results page.

Which saved answers carry through to /results?

Saved answers include your equipment, height and weight values and units, skill level, days per season, selected terrain, riding style, budget, gender preference, and optional age and ZIP when supplied. The results view uses the available values to render your fit summary and recommendations. Review the results.

How should I read the recommended fit specs?

The results labels show recommended length in cm, waist/width in mm, item or board weight in grams, and ability range. Each item can also show its per-item length, flex score out of 10, profile, and shape; the snowboard fit summary also exposes recommended length and flex. See the recommendation details.

How do I share a saved profile with a friend?

On the matching saved-profile form, enter your friend's name and email to send a tokenized /results?id=... link. Share a ski profile or Share a snowboard profile; the existing Results Share Results action can also copy or use the current saved-results URL.

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