Think back to your last race when you had to decide about your race skis. The forecast is not going to make up its mind anytime soon, and you are already stressed with other pre-race routines—ski selection is the last thing you want to worry about. How do you decide which ski is the best and feel confident about it?

For double pole races, you often can choose from classic, skate, or double pole skis. Depending on your experience and profile, this choice can be simple. Much of the time, it is not. Ski marathons challenge skiers to push limits, and ski selection can be the difference between a personal best and a frustrating grind.

This article dives into the art and science of ski testing to help you make the most informed decision for your race.

Why Ski Testing Matters

Snow conditions and ski structure interact like a lock and key; the right combination provides glide efficiency, while the wrong match can sap your energy. Whether dealing with freshly fallen snow, transformed granular ice, or artificial snow, a well-tested and correctly chosen ski pair can give you a significant competitive edge.

Ski testing is also about understanding the nuances of your equipment. Even within the same ski model, minute differences in construction and flex can affect performance. By systematically testing, you not only discover which skis are fastest but also gain confidence in your choice—a vital psychological boost on race day.

The How

The Setup: Start with a Clean Slate

The foundation of effective ski testing begins with preparation. Apply the same wax and brushing method to each ski. In most cases, your standard travel wax paraffin will do the trick. (Yes, you should always travel with your skis covered in glide wax for mechanical protection and to prevent the ski base from drying out.)

Testing Methodology

Pair Comparisons: Testing Side by Side

A great and fun way to test ski performance is to pair up with a partner and ski side by side on a downhill. You’ve probably seen some scenes from TV. Here’s how it generally works:

1. Mark the ground where you start, release, and take a measurement.
2. Both skiers start at the same time, each on a different ski pair.
3. Push off a couple of times to reach a median race speed.
4. Hold the most static part of the other skier (a pole or a flexed arm) and gently let go at the release point.
5. The skier who is behind notes the difference between the two (best practice is to have marks on the skis from 0 to the length of the ski in 10-centimeter increments and mark the difference).
6. At the bottom of the section, switch skis with your partner and repeat the same track.
7. Note down the average difference and which ski won.

By switching skis, you eliminate factors like track inconsistencies or personal skiing technique from influencing results. If results are too close to call, trust your instincts. In such cases, go by the feel of the ski underfoot—how stable, responsive, or smooth the glide feels during testing. Ski feel is subjective but often the deciding factor when performance metrics are tied.

Timing Gate Testing

Another version is to set up a timing gate (many different providers exist) and measure the time a ski takes to cover the distance. Similar place and setup start, measurement initiation, and measurement end. Then, write down times and do it 2-3 times for each ski. Rank according to average time.

Other Performance Measures

Time each test using a GPS watch, snow friction sensor, or a specialized app. Record split times across different sections of your course to see how each pair performs under various conditions, similar to a timing gate. With a GPS watch, you can look at max speed for the split, for example.

Keeping Track of It All: Percentage is Your Friend

Ski testing can generate a lot of data, and staying organized is essential over time to bring long-term results. In your test write-ups, include details like:

• Place
• Snow temperature and type
• Results for each ski
• Subjective notes on feel and responsiveness

By writing down the differences in pair testing, you simply compare distance away from the best ski to each ski and calculate the percentage of this. You can also compare the percentage from a timing gate or a GPS watch. By calculating this, it gives you an insight into how good a ski was, which lost in the first round to the best one, and provides one detailed number more insightful than a simple order of skis.

Read More: Waxing manager skeptical: “We can’t bring anything at all”

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