After first falling into the snow, first turn, first successfully lift leave, you may experience ski rental or not yet. People would love to have their first own skis to upgrade their performance and saves time in the rental shops. But, what are the points for beginner skis? When looking for a beginner ski, the value of balance, turn, and control are essential.
Great beginner skis should have soft flex and be easy to turn at a slow speed. I recommend beginners start with Atomic Vantage 75 C, Rossignol Experience 78, Rossignol Experience 76, Rossi Black Ops Smasher, or K2 Disruption.
Table of Contents
What is Beginner Ski
Beginners need skis with easier turn initiation and narrower dimensions because they will go most skiing groomed. Also, a lower price with suitable value materials in the construction will help beginners have a more leisurely start without breaking their budget. Moreover, beginner skis often get an integrated binding, making beginners even more convenient. Generally, the best beginner ski set (includes skis and binging) price will be USD 500 on average.
Beginner skis are defined hit these characteristics:
Skis Size for Beginner
We basically choose skis size from our height. Sometimes, our weight and ability will make it different.
The easiest way for beginners to find the size is to measure the current height and check the ski size chart. Then, size down 3cm from your ski size measurement for beginners.
Beginner Ski’s Waist Width
Generally, we choose ski width by snow powder conditions and ski types. The wider skis provide more stability, but it does not mean wider skis are better for beginners. Narrower waist widths skis perform better at edge turns.
The idea for beginners should choose between 70mm to 85mm skis that will work well.
Rocker or Camber Skis Good for Beginners
There are three main ski profile types: rocker, camber, and flat. The rocker tip will make it easier to complete short, slower-speed turns. Camber tip and tail make it easier for the skier to catch an edge.
Beginners should look for rocker tip skis for easier maneuverability, increased float in the powder, and help to initiate turns.
Ski Camber and Rocker Explains>>
Are Stiff Skis Suitable for Beginners?
Stiffer skis are more suited to medium speeds. Usually, you will need stiffer skis when you start skiing faster on steeper slopes.
Beginner skis typically have a very soft flex, making it easy to get the tip to engage and turn at slow speeds.
Choose Ski Radius for Beginners
Ski beginners will need skis to help with control on turns and stability at speed. And ski turn radius will help to make fluid turns. Although speed can affect ski turn radius, we generally look at ski turn radius (sidecut) when buying skis. A short turn radius will make quick turns, while a long turn radius will turn more slowly and is typically more stable at high speeds.
Therefore, ski beginners will want skis with a small to medium turn radius.
Should A Beginner Buy Skis?
People have discussed the matter long time. When we are thinking of buying or renting, we generally People have discussed the matter long time. When we think of buying or renting, we typically think of the value. Value means different things to different people: some believe the price, usage frequency, or more.
If you plan to ski within 7 days, renting will be better for your wallet. In contrast, buying your own skis is the best if you will ski for over 7 days or longer.
Let’s put our differences aside and make a fresh start with the explanation. Buy vs Rent Ski Gear>>
Best Skis for Beginners
It lists in no particular order.
| Atomic Vantage 75 C | Rossignol Experience 78 Ca | Rossignol Experience 76 Ci | Rossi Black Ops Smasher (Men’s) / Rossignol Black Ops Dreamer (Women’s) | K2 Disruption 78C (Men’s) / K2 Disruption 78 C Alliance (Women’s) | Salomon QST 92 (Men’s) / Salomon QST Lumen (Women’s) | Atomic Maverick 86 C (Men’s) / Atomic Maven 86 C (Women’s) | |
| Ability Level | Beginner-Intermediate | Beginner-Intermediate | Beginner-Intermediate | Beginner-Intermediate | Beginner-Intermediate | Intermediate-Advanced | Advanced-Expert |
| Price on Official Website (USD) | $499.95 | $499.95 | $399.95 | $399.95 | $599.95 | $499.95 | $499.99 |
| Buy on Amazon | – Official Website>> | Women’s>> | Men’s>> Women’s>> | Men’s>> Women’s>> | Men’s>> | Men’s>> Women’s>> | Men’s>> Women’s>> |
| Terrain | All-Mountain | All-Mountain | All-Mountain | All-Mountain | Carving / All-Mountain | All-Mountain / Groomers | All-Mountain |
| Turn Radius(M, @162cm) | 15.1 Short | 12 Short | 13 Short | 23 Medium | 15.6 Short | 16 Medium | 15.5 Short |
| Sidecuts dimensions (Tip-Waist-Tail, mm) | 115-75-100 | 125-78-111 (170cm) | 123-76-109 | 119-91-109 | 125-78-112 | 129-92-112 | 121.5-87-105 |
| Rocker/Camber | Tip Rocker | Tip Rocker | Tip Rocker | Tip and Tail Rocker | Camber | Tip and Tail Rocker | Tip and Tail Rocker |
| Bindings | ✓ Included | ✓ Included | ✓ Included | ✓ Included | ✓ Included | Х Available | Х Available |
| Bindings System | Atomic M 10 GW Bindings (DIN Range 3 – 10) | Xpress 10 GW Bindings (DIN Range 2.5 – 10) | Xpress 10 GW Bindings (DIN Range 3 – 10) | Xpress 10 GW Bindings (DIN Range 2.5 – 10) | M3 10 Compact Quikclik Bindings (DIN Range 3 – 10) | Depend on your choice | Depend on Retailers |
Atomic Vantage 75 C
Pros: Easy to control, low price, lightweight
Cons: Foam core, unstable at higher speed
Experience: The narrow 75mm waist width makes this ski easy to manage. I rented Atomic Vantage 75 C once to experience skiing. Getting the tip to engage and start the turn at slow speeds on groomed is easy. And it can hold the edge well, great to learn to turn. Also, the skis have a rail system attached. So you can slide the bindings on easily. The downside is it can’t go fast. I found that it chattered and became unstable when I picked up speed. Once you learn basic ski skills, you will need better skis to ski Intermediate. However, for only $400, including bindings, the Atomic Vantage 75 offers beginners excellent value money and construction. I would recommend ski newbies who never get on boards if you have experience on snowboards, skateboards, etc. This one will be too easy for you very soon.
Rossignol Experience 78 Ca
Pros: Easy to manage, low weight
Cons: Narrow for freeride
Experience: I was struggling between Rossignol Experience 75 and Rossignol Experience 78 to start. My husband told me the difference between a true beginner and an early intermediate could be as little as three days on snow. Mainly, I’m an experienced snowboarder, and I’m likely to improve quickly. Also, I experienced skiing before in the park next to my house. (And I love how the ski feels like.) Therefore, I will grow out of them very soon if I buy the 75. So I ended up with Rossignol Experience 78 Ca, and it worked well. Same as Atomic Vantage 75 C, it has a perfect edge hold for a beginner-friendly build. I felt a bit unstable and flappy on intermediate fast runs. It’s OK to continue on intermediate runs. After that, you’ll have an idea of what type of skiing you like doing as you get better.
Rossignol Experience 76 Ci
Buy on Amazon – Men’s>>, Women’s>>
Pros: Low price, easy to manage, low weight
Cons: Narrow for freeride
Experience: Since my great experience with Rossignol Experience 78, I recommend it to my friend, new to skiing. Somehow, she bought the Rossignol Experience 76 by mistake (Lol). However, she gave it a try, and it resulted pretty well. Quite similar to 78, easy to turn and hold the edge well. Notably, it’s not stable when getting fast on speed identical to 78, too.
Buy on Amazon – Men’s>>, Women’s>>
Rossi Black Ops Smasher / Rossignol Black Ops Dreamer
Buy on Amazon – Men’s>>, Women’s>>
Pros: Low price, easy to manage off-piste, lightweight, great to explore all mountains
Cons: Too vast for beginners, slow to turn, easy to get damage
Experience: Rossi Black Ops Smasher is stable and has a broader waist so that you can go off-piste with effortless control. The downside is also because the waist width is 91mm, too wide for beginners. The wider waist width is excellent at low speed and may be too slow to turn for many people. Also, it’s straightforward to get scratches and nicks to the top design art. So it will be like a brand new smasher that has only been used one day and looks like it used for over six years. ( My husband was heartbroken after the first time used.)
Buy on Amazon – Men’s>>, Women’s>>
K2 Disruption 78C / K2 Disruption 78 C Alliance
Pros: Good for carving, solid on speed, lightweight
Cons: Little bit less forgiving
Experience: K2 Disruption 78C has a narrow base of 78mm for a modern and versatile ski. It’s soft, playful, stable, responsive at speed, and well-finished. K2 Disruption 78C gives a pleasant feel on the snow and don’t make a sound—great value for money. Recommend to people who want to ski both on-piste and moguls, trees, steeps, etc.
Salomon QST 92 / Salomon QST Lumen
Buy on Amazon – Men’s>>, Women’s>>
Pros: Quite light, works in all-terrain, carving well
Cons: Too vast for beginners, not so stable in open off-piste
Experience: My friend, experienced in snowboarding and only skiing once, bought these skis with Marker Griffon Bindings. It’s a light and versatile ski. Salomon QST 92 made him a better rider, carving turn in off-piste and piste better than before. The stability in the flatter off-piste is not well. We found later that it is easy to control in tighter spots, has a very high-speed limit, and is suitable for aggressive and expert skiers. These skis DO Not include bindings. However, both work well with Marker Griffon Bindings (it suits heavier people) and Salomon Shift Bindings (it can ski hard and tour efficiently.).
Buy on Amazon – Men’s>>, Women’s>>
Atomic Maverick 86 / Atomic Maven 86
Buy on Amazon – Men’s>>, Women’s>>
Pros: Easy to manage, grow with you, stable on speed and variable snow condition
Cons: Require bit ability
Experience: One day, My friend sent me a message that she would try to ski that winter. Because she just moved to Sydney, Australia. She said she was not a sporty girl. She skied in Hokkaido a few times and considered between the Atomic Vantage X 75 C and Rossignol Experience 78. After a while, she told me a new model, Atomic Maven 86. It looks pretty and looks versatile. And she bought it. Although it’s for the Advanced to Expert show on their official website. The result is it’s effortless to control. She started to add speed after 4-5 hours of practice. It allows you to ski faster and harder. That means it will progress for years with you.
Atomic’ Maverick(men’s) and Maven(women’s) replace their Vantage lines. If you’re looking to go from carved turns on-trail to searching out fresh snow, this ski will take you further. I recommend beginners who have little experience skied this one because you can progress with it longer.
Buy on Amazon – Men’s>>, Women’s>>
Rossignol Experience 76 Vs 78
Rossignol skis are suitable for beginners. They are a famous and trusted sports brand globally, especially Rossignol Experience 76 and Rossignol Experience 78. They are very similar. Both are:
- Adapted for entry-level skiers
- All-Mountain skis
- All Trail sidecut that provides fast engagement and fluid carving
- Absorb vibration for control
- Lightweight
- Wood cores are PEFC™-certified
- Xpress bindings system
- Rocker tip
- Flat tail
The main difference is that Rossignol Experience 76 have a slightly softer flex. Rossignol Experience 76 is made of fibreglass, which offers more elasticity. On the other hand, Rossignol Experience 78 is made of both fibreglass and carbon. The carbon fibre slightly enhances stability, strength, and ski-snow contact.
In short, Rossignol Experience 76 is slightly closer to beginner skis but not as soft as it. Rossignol Experience 78 is more like intermediate. The level would be like this:
FAQs
Here are some questions I often thought of when I was a skiing newbie.
Conclusion
Atomic Vantage 75 C and Rossignol Experience 76 Ci are good choices for a ski beginner.
People have experience onboard and want to progress their ability. Rossignol Experience 78 Ca, Atomic Maverick 86/Atomic Maven 86 and Salomon QST 92/Salomon QST Lumen can grow with you.
It’s exciting to hit the slope while receiving your own pair of skis. Don’t forget to buy a ski helmet. Safety is always the No.1 thing to concern. If you enjoyed this, don’t miss other ski equipment reviews—Click here>>
