It makes sense. You’re child is joining a ski team and despite skiing blacks in Breck, they have little to no experience racing. There are specialty skis for slalom, giant slalom, SUPER(?!) giant slalom (aka. Super G), and Downhill, not to mention several skis in between and for older racers. There are even skis that look like race skis, maybe have race ski bindings, but aren’t really race skis.
It’s hard to tell, beyond graphics, difference between race skis and advanced recreational skis, or even regular rec skis.
So why not get a “multi-event” ski – a ski that can navigate slalom AND giant slalom races? Why not get a ski that fulfills a full “quiver,” on that does it all?
For starters, most coaches will tell you to just get a (junior) slalom ski. But doesn’t that put your child at a disadvantage in giant slalom? Well, yes, but assuming your child only has one type of ski beause they are 1) young AND/OR 2)new, training and racing on a slalom ski will better position you to move into a true GS ski when the time is right, and assuming your child is racing in the younger ranks, the loss of speed is relatively reasonable. Geometrically, it’s much easier to ski a longer GS turn (the gates are further apart) with a slalom ski that it is to ski a slalom turn (gates much closer) with a GS ski.
So beyond approach, and strategy, what is the real difference in the three main types of skis we’re discussing: SL, GS and ME (multi)?
SLALOM
At first glance, you’ll notice a slalom ski is shorter and curvier than other skis we’re comparing. The curviness, which really means thin in the waist (at the bindings where your boot is), and wider at the font and rear, is better for shorter turns. If you imagine putting a slalom ski on its side, and pressing on the binding at an angle towards the ground, the ski will bend. When you’re pressing hard enough on that ski, the metal edges will make contract with the ground in a curvy manner. The greater the difference in the tip/tail to waist ratio, the sharper the turn.
You might notice old style skis (mid 90s and prior) were very straight. Sure, the had some curve, but not the way all skis are made today. The method of skiing those skis were very different form the slalom skis of today, and involved more skidding and washing out the tails.
Today, however, ski racers are expected to keep their inside edges in contact with the snow, to carve their turn through the gates.
Because slalom skis are typically the first race skis someone owns and that they also work pretty well as all-mountain skis, slalom skis generally fetch the highest price in the used (and often new) markets.
GIANT SLALOM
GS skis are not that different from slalom skis but with a few subtle and important differences.
GS skis are narrower at the tip and tail than slalom. Sometimes they sr