Recreational Skier  , this is a skier just out to be on the snow a couple times a year. They don't care if they improve that much. This also covers first time beginners who usually will rent but not always. Sport Skiers  , tend to be more concerned with the whole experience at the resort than the equipment their skiing on. Your idea of a great experience is a sunny day, great food, and a lot of fun with family and friends. This skier is usually a beginner thru intermediate, sticking to green and blue runs. You want comfortable feet and skies that will get you down the hill safely and with ease. Performance Skiers  , this level is not necessarily defined by ability levels but more by the desire to improve your skiing. An aggressive beginner thru advanced skier could be classified here. If you find yourself first in the lift line and still skiing in the dark at the end of the day and if you have a passion to ski and get better this probably is you. High Performance or Pro Skier  , You ski fast and very aggressively. The equipment is very important to you. Function is usually more important than convenience and looks. If you are seeing yourself here, have we got the equipment for you?
The following are descriptions off our groups and whom we purchased them for. If you find something that sounds like you or where you want to be as a skier just click on to the underlined wording and go to those groups direct. If you can't quit figure out where you should be stop on in to the store and the staff will help figure out what ski is appropriate.
Big Mountain
 This group contains skis our test team considered the best at skiing any mountain, anywhere, anytime, at varying speeds. They all have big profiles of at least 80mm to 98 mm waists, but allow skiers to handle most terrain they will run into with confidence. You will find different ability levels in this category so don't be shy if you are a good average skier to try a couple of these models. Some of their constructions come from the race room or are totally new modern all mountain skis that will handle groomed runs well but really shine in the deep stuff. These skis are great for the skiers who know they will have a lot of snow or who spend most of their time searching the mountain for the best stash of snow. There are bigger, fatter skis available which we will special order if you would like.
Cruiser All Mountain
This group of skis has the tendency to search out the groomed packed runs and contains most of the new technology you will find in today’s skis. Keep in mind that most skies still spend 70% of there ski day on groomed or packed slopes. These skis make unbelievable carved turns, the way the new generation of ski is suppose to. They all handle speed well and a couple could be used as club or NASTAR race skis. Again the skis we have chosen in this group cover an array of ability and comfort levels and cover waist widths from 65mm up to 76mm. Don't be mislead by the terms groomed runs only as a most of these are some of the best bump and off piste skis we skied. Most of these skis are the choice of ski instructors and pro patrol people around the world.
Performance All Mountain
This group contains the skis our test team considered the best 50/50 skis that are available. These skis do very well both on and off the groomed runs and in many different snow conditions. Most of the magazine best of tests will be found in this group. There is a wide array of comfort levels available. This category generally covers waist widths from 74mm to 80mm. We can help you out in the store as to what ski might match up to your speed and ability level.
Sport All Mountain
With improving technology this group of skis gets better every year. If you're stepping up from rental skis or are on a budget there will be some great sticks in this group. The improvement you will find here is stability at higher speeds and a great feel of better balance. You don't have to ski them fast to turn easy but it is there as you improve. Most of these waist widths will be from 70mm to 78mm. You might want to stop in and see what kind of deals we have on skis, bindings, boots, and poles as a package.
Twin Tips
This heading says it all for this group. They're not for the faint at heart by any means. You might be surprised by the versatility of a couple of the selections. We have purchased some great price point here and have some of those big mountain skis with twin tips for the super parks in the backcountry. Tighten up your helmet straps and get it on.
Ladies Performance All Mountain
Ladies skis are not just a paint job or a different binding mounting position any more. These skis have been engineered to help a woman's different physical shape be more at ease on the ski and through out the turn. These skis are generally lighter weight, they have a more forgiving tip section, some have entirely different side cuts than the men's, and do have different binding mounting positions. This group contains ski especially designed for the high performance and technically proficient female skiers or those who hope to get to this level. The choices vary for different terrains. If you are a female high performance skier or racer there are some skis in the unisex groups that will ski very well in the shorter sizes.
Ladies All Mountain
Like the performance skis this group is not just a paint job or a different binding mounting position. These skis have been engineered to help a woman's different physical shape be more at ease on the ski and through out the turn. These skis are generally lighter weight, they have a more forgiving tip section, some have entirely different side cuts than the men's, and do have different binding mounting positions. This group contains skis especially designed for skiing all the terrain you will run into at speeds you are comfortable with. The choices vary for different terrains and comfort levels.
Ladies Sport All Mountain
This group is more for the sport level female skiers. These are very comfortable skis designed to ski at moderate speeds on mostly groomed green and blue runs. There are also some exceptional skis in our ski package program that fit into this group including some for recreational skiers.
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The products you read about on our web site are available in our store only. |
The Vertical Drop has been testing skis to assist in the selection of our stock since our opening in 1979. We have always sent our employees and selected customers to various demos around the country. This always gives us an edge when it comes to selecting the proper ski for our customer and making sure we don't have a ski in stock that we just don't believe in. These ski days combined with feedback from some of our pro skier friends has always allowed for a good solid selection of skis on the rack. 
