Skis For Everyone

We are fortunate that over the years the ski manufacturers have come out with some new models or have made improvements over previous models. Now there is a ski for everyone. So if you are a just getting into skis, looking for a more comfortable ski, looking for a faster ski, or the combination of more comfortable and faster, there is a ski for you.

While I am always envious of the paddlers that can comfortably paddle in raging wind and surf, I am reminded that most of us paddle in the conditions that are most available to us depending on where we live and what kinds of water we are constantly exposed to. Around here in New England and where I live in Newport, Rhode Island, I paddle predomintly on Narragannsett Bay, the Sakonnet River(bay like), and Rhode Island Sound. While the conditions can be challenging, most often they are in the range of flat to 2-3ft seas with enough variety to keep things interesting. If we want true flatwater, we have access to a few rivers including the Narrow, Charles, and Sudbury Rivers.

While it would certainly be a more comprehesive review of the skis to critique them in every type of water, I can only critique them in the water I have available to me most of the time. I have paddled them in enough different types of water to be able to comment on them, except for the huge water that is often reserved for the West Coast paddlers, and other parts of the world. My guess is that most skis don't handle that much differently in 3ft seas or 6ft seas. The "feel" would be similiar.

So when looking for a ski, considerations are 1. fit, 2. purpose of buying a ski, 3. type of water you predomintly paddle in, and 4. cost.