What exactly are freeride skis?
Freeride skiing is just how it sounds. It’s an awesome feeling of freedom on the mountain. Freeride skiing is off-piste skiing, where the deeper the snow is, the better. It’s where you show your skills at glade skiing, freestyle jumps, and big turns in fresh pow. Freeride is skiing how and where you decide.
Freeride skis make it possible for free spirits to explore the mountain. They’re extremely versatile because they are…
- extra wide - Freeride skis are typically 90-100mm wide at the binding, often even wider. For example, our Ranger 115 FR proudly sports a 115mm waist. The basic idea is that the deeper the snow, the wider the waist you’ll need to float near the top.
- designed with rockers for versatility - Free skis have tip and tail rockers, meaning those areas are curved downward, so they are the only areas contacting the snow with no weight on the ski. This reduces the amount of edge contact, allowing for more precise turning.
The key features of freestyle and deep-snow skis
A good freeride ski is designed to get you down though a variety of off-piste conditions safely and as fast as you want, with these key features:
- Rockers - The longer the rocker, the more the ski is curved down towards the snow for less contact, and the further towards the binding area the support is. This downward rocker curve results in the tip and/or tail pointing upwards, preventing the ends of the ski from catching in deep snow, frontwards or backwards!
A pronounced tail rocker allows easier landings in deep snow and easier release from turns. A full rocker describes a ski that is essentially flat in the middle, with tip and tail rockers. The Ranger 102 FR and Ranger 115 FR are examples of skis with full rockers.
The trade-off of more pronounced rockers is better float and versatility versus the increased skill and strength needed to steer. Freeride skis are generally aimed at more skilled, advanced skiers.
- Shape and agility - A freeride ski’s sidecut is much less drastic than a carving ski, for example. A freeride ski’s wider waist provides much better float in powder or loose, deep snow, which is one element that makes freeride skis so versatile.
The sidecut is also a major factor in a ski’s turning radius. Fischer freeride skis have turning radii from 13m for the Ranger FR to the 22m radius of the Nightstick.
- Appropriate weight - Weight is an important factor in deciding which performance benefits are important to you. A heavier ski, for example, has better steering and stability through its improved grip. However, that benefit may not be worth the added weight if you’re climbing on a tour or to reach an off-piste run.
A lighter ski also floats better, which would be another advantage when you reach that run. We hope some of the weight you’re already carrying is avalanche safety gear, which makes sense for aggressive freeride skiers.
What to look for when buying freeride skis
Determining the optimal length of your ski is among the most important factors for fully enjoying your Fischer freeride skis. Since a wide variety of snow conditions await freeride skiers, choose a longer ski than you would for your typical alpine ski. The longer ski will offset the reduced snow contact of the rockers to give you better float in deep powder or unpredictable crud.
Use your body height, or even several centimeters over, as a guide for ski length. For example, a 168cm (5’6”) tall woman could easily ski a 173cm freeride ski.
Fischer All Mountain skis do it all
All-mountain skis are extremely versatile. They maintain their top performance when you decide to leave the tracked-out frontside and explore untouched, off-piste powder. The Ranger 90 TI, for example, has a moderately wide sidecut shape to handle a wide variety of snow conditions.
The right boots
Freeride boots offer the same versatile performance as freeride skis. A balance of efficient power transfer, stability, and control makes these boots competent on any part of the mountain. They offer alpine boot stability with reduced weight and ski/walk capability to let you be free to explore.
Women’s freeride skis
Our testing and research have shown that the subtle difference between women’s and men’s centers of mass means that positioning the binding slightly forward offers women enhanced control and balance. The change is minor, but has major benefits for our women’s-specific skis, such as the My Ranger 85.
Power to the powder people with deep-snow skis from Fischer!
Enjoy the powder whenever you can. If you have to go looking for it, or you have to make the most of whatever you find, Fischer Freeride or All Mountain skis and boots let you maximize your fun anywhere on the mountain.
See you in the deep stuff!
