Can we use freeride skis on the piste?
Freeride skis are skis cut to go off-piste and in powder.
At first glance, they do not seem suitable for a track program. But we can still develop the subject and see why, with a few concessions, freeride skis can be correct skis even on piste.
- 1. The freeride ski program
- The particularities of freeride skis
- 2. On-piste ski conditions
- On track
- 3. Situations in which freeride skis are possible on piste
- Cases where freeride skis are possible on piste
- 4. To summarize
The freeride ski program
Freeride skis are very clearly oriented towards deep snow, steep and committed terrain. They can even absorb good shocks and have a response because they must be reactive.
This in a nutshell is the freeride ski program. Above all, it means being able to venture on ungroomed snow, uneven, rocky and potentially dangerous terrain. In addition to that, the skis must allow you to ride the powder, without sinking too much at the risk of getting stuck.
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Freeride skis are therefore wider than standard all-mountain skis. On top of that they are longer and often have different rockers from classic piste skis. This is to allow them to plane quickly in powder and to ensure a good return between each turn without overheating the thighs.
The particularities of freeride skis
On-piste ski conditions
On the piste, the snow is often compact and hard. The area to evolve is limited, sometimes even a few meters narrow.
In these conditions, rather short and reactive skis, which can turn quickly are highly recommended. It is better to know how to avoid inattentive or too slow skiers.
This description seems to contradict freeride skis. It's not wrong, but skiing on piste with freeride skis is quite possible.
On track
Situations in which freeride skis are possible on piste
Despite contradictory programs between powder and hard snow on piste, freeride skis can do the trick on piste provided you are an experienced skier.
Being slower to turn from care to care, and their length making them unwieldy, you might as well be ready to handle them with vigor and dosage. Their weight and size tend to get the skier on board on hard snow, because they are not made to grip firmly, but rather to go straight, in force.
Cases where freeride skis are possible on piste
to summarize
Freeride skis can be used on piste if you are a good skier, and there is enough fresh and soft snow, on piste, on the edge of the piste or off-piste. Since freeride skis are longer and wider, they become less manoeuvrable, and therefore less comfortable outside of soft, deep snow. If you want to invest in a pair of powder skis, it is essential that you already have a pair of all-purpose skis to take advantage of the classic slopes and conditions, which represent 80% of the days in the resort and in the mountains.
The best freeride skis
