Many female skiers with a solid foundation of basic or alpine skiing skills want to try freeriding. However, many worry about whether they can do it, or have no idea what width or characteristics of skis they can ride. In such cases, pro shops are the go-to place for help choosing the right skis for your first freeriding adventure. Pro shops offer persuasive advice, combining their extensive knowledge and user feedback to compare and evaluate products from multiple angles. Let's ask a discerning pro shop for some highly recommended skis for those trying freeriding for the 2023-2024 season, or for women just starting out
INDEX
ARMADA｜ARW 94
It's not too thick or too thin, and has just the right shape, making it easy to use in a variety of situations!
Like the ARV series, the ARW series has also had a size update! The ARW94 has just the right shape, not too wide or too narrow, making it perfect for everything from the park to the slopes and side country. Its smooth glide makes it a versatile ski
Regardless of genre or category, we want you to freely enjoy skiing itself! Whether it's groomed slopes, a park, rough conditions, or fresh powder, this luxurious board fulfills every female skier's desires.
Whether you want to jump around a bit, enjoy a smooth run, or even dive into fluffy powder, this luxurious model satisfies all your skiing whims, regardless of genre or category. And because looks matter, the graphics are fantastic – just looking at them on the lift will lift your spirits!
The ultimate all-mountain freestyle ski. This versatile ski lets you enjoy everything from groomed slopes and powder to the park. While sharing the same basic structure as the ARV106, it uses poplar ash for the core, resulting in a lightweight 750g ski that still provides excellent stability for enjoyable turns. The tip and tail feature edgeless and 3D-shaped Smealtec, contributing to excellent swing in powder and ease of butter tricks.
The rocker isn't too deep, and the camber is just right, allowing you to ride the ski with confidence on groomed slopes. Compared to the ARV, the more flexible tip and tail will inspire you to take more creative lines! Available in sizes up to 188cm, this is a ski that men can also choose according to their preferences.
Reviewer: PADDLE CLUB Staff / Koji Kato
ARMADA｜ARW 116 VJJ UL
From the best powder riding to on-piste carving, it's versatile enough for any situation
The main reasons I recommend this model are that it's lightweight and easy to handle, allowing anyone to enjoy powder riding, and despite being a powder ski, it also has excellent turning performance on groomed slopes, making it highly versatile in all conditions. If I can only bring one ski because I can't predict the conditions, I always take the JJUL.
Its appeal is endless, but here are some of its strengths: - Anyone can easily enjoy the best powder ride. - Excellent handling and easy turning on groomed slopes and spring snow. - Despite being a powder ski, it can also perform sharp carving on groomed slopes. - Despite being ultra-lightweight, it provides a sense of security and stability. - Allows for nimble handling like a park ski (for jump tricks and buttering, etc.). - By attaching SHIFT Bins, it can cover both backcountry and groomed slopes with just one ski. ...and *The ZERO ARV116JJUL and ARW 116 VJJUL are the same specifications with different cosmetics, so please choose the one you prefer as they are unisex models.
The best thing about it is the good looks! The design of the board is also important to women. The simple and clean design gives off a mature, feminine vibe. But it's not just the design; the performance of the board is also outstanding. It uses a lightweight core material, making it easy to maneuver. And while lightweight boards can sometimes seem unstable, this board contains titanal, so you can step firmly on it both on and off the course
This ski received positive reviews in the 2022/2023 season, and this season it will be available in a new color, light blue. The skis are lightweight yet sturdy, making them perfect for all-around skiing in any situation
The moderate rocker shape delivers the control you expect, while the flexible flex and lightweight wood core make it easy to perform tricks in the park! This freeriding model is also great for all terrain, not just the park, and offers excellent gliding performance. It's easy to handle for everyone from entry-level to high-end skiers! The beautiful design is especially popular with women. It's also highly rated by men!
MOTHER TREE is a women's model with firm tension and a reliable flex, even at high speeds. It's a perfect fit for a wide range of women. This is the model we've recommended for three consecutive years in our pro shop project!
With a flex and binding position designed specifically for women, these skis are lightweight, easy to maneuver, and easy to handle in any snow condition, making them recommended for female freeskiers. Not only are they light, they are also stable and easy to turn on the slopes, making them great skis to enjoy on a variety of runs
When you think of Salomon, you probably have a strong image of "skis that are a little heavy and solid" (apologies if this is just me), but the redesigned QST series has evolved to have a completely opposite feel. The texture of the ski's flex is a "smooth" feeling that is typical of an international brand. What was really impressive about this ski was how beautifully it flexed from tip to tail.
In terms of maneuverability, the quick response underfoot is excellent. For long, vertical turns, the torque of the ski doesn't get in the way, allowing you to pull the turn smoothly. It's an all-around super-high-achieving ski. While there are many freeride skis with diverse personalities depending on the style, the QST series skis are a ski that will suit a wide range of skiers!
Reviewer: Ishii Sports Yodobashi Kofu Store Staff / Yuki Amari
LINE | PANDORA 104
Intuitive operation, lightweight, and easy to use for female skiers
The PANDORA series is a freeride ski series that is intuitive to use and lightweight, making it easy for female skiers to handle. In addition to the 104, the 94 is also recommended
This is an all-around ski with a slight preference for powder. The PANDORA series consistently receives high praise every year, regardless of the model. The snow quality is particularly good at ski resorts around Morioka, so the width isn't a concern even on groomed slopes. That's why I chose the 110. The exquisite rocker balance and gentle flex of the nose provide easy handling in everything from powder to rough conditions.
The tail has a longer contact area and effective edge, allowing for a solid finish in the latter half of turns. However, it's also very easy to slide, so control isn't a problem when needed. First, try skiing with your body upright and relaxed; you'll get a feel for the position.
It has been significantly redesigned for the 2023-2024 season, and is now more solid than last year's model. I think it's much easier to ski sharply on packed snow as well as in powder. It's relatively lightweight, but the swing weight feels even lighter, making it very easy to control in powder and moving well. I would also recommend the 180cm size for energetic women!
This ski is recommended for women who want to try freeskiing for the first time. It's lightweight and easy to handle even if you're not very strong. Its flexibility makes it easy to flex and enjoy some playful maneuvers a standard waist width that works well on various courses , it's a ski that makes it easy to experience the true joy of freeskiing. The price is also reasonable and easy to get your hands on! There are other brands with similar concepts, so it's fun to explore different designs and find one you like.
Despite being a major brand, ELAN possesses a unique originality and creativity that sets it apart from other brands. It boasts the experience and quality expected of a long-established brand. ELAN has long produced excellent skis, and in recent years, its freeskiing potential has been remarkable.
In particular, the RIPSTICK is exceptionally easy to handle off-piste thanks to its lightweight design, carbon rods for increased stability, and SST sidewalls! On-piste, the Amphibio system (which balances maneuverability and stability by varying the amount of rocker on the inside and outside, also used in ELAN's alpine models!) provides performance comparable to demo models! And yet, its lightness makes it an all-mountain freeski especially recommended for women!
The RIPSTICK 94W is an asymmetrical ski with camber on the inside and rocker on the outside. This shape allows for extremely smooth turns. It also uses carbon underfoot, making it lightweight and stable at high speeds. Because it's light and easy to turn, it's a recommended model for women
These skis feature the maneuverability of SL skis and are highly versatile, handling everything from groomed runs to powder. Though the waist is modest at 105mm, the 150mm top and fish-fin-like tail shape work together to provide more buoyancy and maneuverability than you'd expect in powder. The skis are light, not too stiff, and have a cute top sheet design, making them a great choice for those who are worried about whether they can handle a board that's too wide, but also feel unsatisfied with a board that's too thin, or for those buying their first freeski
