Updated April 25, 2025
I get it. I’ve been there.
Your turns feel sloppy. Your skis feel slow. You start thinking, “I need new skis!”
Spoiler: it’s not the gear (sorry)
Let me explain…
Your Skis Are (Probably) Fine. Your Technique Isn’t.
Here’s the rough truth nobody likes saying out loud:
If you can’t lay a clean carve, link consistent turns, or stay balanced at speed… new skis won’t magically fix that.
They’ll just highlight it.
You’ll ride the same.
You’ll just be $800 poorer.
What Actually Helps (Sorry in Advance)
Take a lesson.
Yeah, yeah, you’re “self-taught.” Same as every guy sideslipping down black diamonds on brand new Volkls. One afternoon with a decent instructor will do more for your skiing than any new setup ever will.Tune your edges.
Blunt skis don’t carve. They smear. If your edges are dull, you could be riding World Cup race skis and still look like a snowplowing toddler.Ski the right length.
Not the longest planks you can physically drag into the lift line. Not the 165cm kid’s skis you “make work.” The right length for your actual body and actual skills.- Wax it up.
Bases drier than yo’ momma’s meatloaf? (uncalled for – sorry). A quick hot wax is an easy way to give old skis a new lease of life. Work on your legs, not your wallet.
You want new turns? New stability? New speed? Strengthen your legs, not your quiver.
When New Skis Do Actually Matter
If your skis are completely dead (like, delaminated, edges falling out, flexing like pool noodles), okay, sure. Go get new ones.
If you’re skiing full days on 68mm underfoot carving sticks in a resort that dumps 400” a season, yeah, alright. Time to widen out.
But if your gear is modern-ish, in decent shape, and sized remotely correctly?
It’s not the skis.
It’s you (which is good news—because you can fix that!)
Final Thoughts
New skis can be amazing (I love new gear too.)
But real progress? That comes from time on snow. A few good crashes. From finally linking that one run top to bottom and grinning like an idiot.
Gear can help.
But it’s not the magic trick.
Save your money – I’m speaking from experience!
