| Carve skis, also known as carving skis, carvers, | | | | When originally developed carve skis were quite basic |
| parabolic or shaped skis came into being in the early | | | | with a universal design and all had a similar sidecut. |
| 90's after the advent of the snowboard. Previously | | | | Today, however, there is a huge variety of options |
| skis were typically long with straight parallel edges | | | | to suit the different styles of skiers and snow |
| that were the same width from end to end. Skiers | | | | conditions. If you prefer doing shorter turns you |
| who took up snowboarding experienced the | | | | would want carvers with a deeper sidecut as the ski |
| exhilarating sensation of carving that had been | | | | will be quicker to turn. If you prefer longer turns, |
| previously unknown to them. | | | | especially at high speeds, a shallower sidecut carve |
| To stay competitive in the marketplace ski | | | | ski would be more suitable. |
| manufacturers were forced to radically re design skis | | | | Different shapes and styles are also more suited to |
| with a carve shape similar to that of snowboards so | | | | different conditions such as powder, ice, groomed |
| that skiers could also experience the wonderful | | | | runs, bumps etc. These days some dedicated skiers |
| carving sensation when on the slopes. The skis | | | | might have what is called a "quiver of skis" which is |
| needed to be wide at the tip and tail and narrower at | | | | several pairs, each for a different purpose. Others |
| the waist (the middle). This is called the sidecut. They | | | | however don't ski enough to warrant this or don't like |
| also had to have flexibility to make turning easier | | | | to bother with changing their skis for different |
| combined with tortional stiffness for good edge | | | | conditions so they go for a pair of "all mountain skis". |
| control whilst carving. | | | | These styles of carving skis were not popular initially |
| Initially the manufacturers struggled as skis had been | | | | as they had their limitations. In an effort to make |
| traditionally made of wood which wasn't suitable for | | | | them suit all situations they were often OK at most |
| the design and qualities needed for carve skis. | | | | things but not great at anything. Today, however, |
| However, after developing new and complex internal | | | | there are some excellent all mountain carve skis to |
| structures and embracing new components and | | | | suit all skiers. |
| composite materials the carve ski evolved into skis | | | | These days, regardless of the style of ski you |
| as we know them today. They are easier to learn on | | | | choose, all skis are actually "carve skis". Skis are, |
| and make turning simpler. They are also generally | | | | more often than not, called by one of the many |
| shorter than the earlier skis. A person who would | | | | styles of skis available so the term "carve" is not |
| have skied on 190cm skis on the old style may ski on | | | | really necessary anymore. |
| 160cm carvers today. | | | | |