It’s hard to believe that shaped skis have been around for nearly two decades. Wider tips and tails giving skis deeper sidecuts changed not only the way we buy skis, but also the way we ski. Prior to shaped skis, only racers and very good skiers carved turns. Today, skiers at all but the lowest levels can be seen carving turns. The shaped skis are also skied in shorter lengths making skiing easier to learn.

The revolution turned to an evolution and hundreds of models allow skiers to select a ski designed to exactly fit their needs. There are skis for soft snow, hard pack, groomed runs, off piste and racing. Men race World Cup GS on 185 cm skis, down from 204-209 before the shapes came along and they race Slalom on 165’s. This seemed to be all we needed, but now the “Rockers” are here.

For the last two or three years, every ski company has been developing rockered models. Simply put, this is a reverse camber. If you lay a traditional cambered ski flat on the floor, the ski under the center will not touch the floor. This was important in giving skis full length edge hold. Now new materials and construction techniques make it possible to have a ski without such camber to still have good edge hold. At the same time, this rockering makes skis easier to turn.

Rockers come in three variations, full rocker (no camber at all), tip and tail rocker, (turned up and slightly softer tip and tail with traditional camber under foot) and tip rocker (traditional camber waist and tail with softer turned up tip). Full rocker is for skiing off piste, ungrooomed and soft snow. Tip and tail is for varying conditions going back and forth from off piste to groomed runs and tip rocker for primarily skiing groomed runs. Race skis still have traditional camber because racing takes place on groomed runs, usually very firm and edge hold is critical for racers.

While skis have been getting shorter over the last decade, switching to rockers will require going about 5 cms longer due to how the rockers turn up about 10-15 inches back from the tip. Rather than go into all the brands, my advice is to get out and demo the new models. Go up about five cms longer than your current skis. There is one other important point. As technology has improved it has trickled down to lower priced models. You can spend $1500 for the top models with bindings, but you can also buy skis and bindings for $400-600. I have made it a point to try a number of these in recent years, and most ski very well. Unless you’re a very aggressive high speed skier these lower priced models could fill your needs. Give them a try.

The most important item in ski gear is your boots, and they are also improving rapidly, with better fitting the key factor. One advantage of the shorter and softer skis we’re on is that we can get adequate performance out of softer and less expensive boots. We don’t need the stiff race boots we used to push 200-210 cm skis around. I still ski race skis most of the time, but where race boots range from 120 to 150 in flex, I’m now in a 110 flex and it’s plenty as long as the fit is snug.

Probably the most innovative boot in fit is the Fischer Vacuum, where the shell is heated and formed to your foot and ankle. After all, it’s not the soft inner boot that causes pressure it’s the hard shell. Obviously, this kind of fit is only demanded by very good skiers and those with very tough fitting problems. Prices range from $625 to $950 which is in line with comparable foam models. Flex ratings range from 150 for racers down to 110 for recreational skiers.

Tecnica has the usual full line from recreational to racing with plenty of fit options. The Inferno race models come in 95 or 98 lasts and flex ratings from 110 to 150. Racers know what they want so let’s go with recreational and high performance boots. The Cochise has a power strap with a buckle in place of the fourth buckle and the extra pressure allows the skier to get more pull on the crucial ankle buckle. There are two Phoenix models with air fit for those looking for comfort and they come in a 102 last for wider feet. There are also some 104 last models for extra wide feet. The point is that even within the same brand there are numerous fit options giving skiers plenty of chances to get a good fit.

One boot that has come on strong in the last decade is Dalbello. This company got a big jump by providing an easy to fit rental boot and that reputation for good fit has followed it into the retail market. Dalbello has a full line of performance from race to recreational in a variety of flexes. Most skiers can find a fit in their regular models but for a precise fit the I.D. Thermo liners are heat moldable. Dalbello is also a lot of boot for the money.

Going through the various models from the different manufacturers shows that all have plenty of options in fit and performance. Lange, for example used to be known as a boot for racers only. The years I spent patrolling in them I learned that on super cold days, I needed to have two strong friends in the top shack to get them off to warm my feet. They were that stiff. Great performance but….. That’s no longer true. Today’s Lange’s come in softer models for lower level skiers and last widths can accommodate wider feet.

Nordica has always been a top performer and their line up has models for all levels. We can say the same for Alpina, Salomon, and Head. There are too many features to list, which leaves us with one important bit of advice when searching for new boots. Go with an open mind to a ski shop you have developed a relationship with. Let the boot fitter check your feet and recommend the right boot. Remember that with today’s shorter, easier turning skis, you can get by with a lot less boot. Unless you’re a very aggressive advanced skier you don’t need that stiff race boot. A softer flex will be easier to get on and off, more comfortable to wear all day and less expensive.