"Thank you for developing the best ski site on the web. I used to subscribe to every ski magazine on the market. Now I turn to your outstanding site for the information I need to enjoy my passion for skiing."
     —Mark P., September 2011

What We Do

We provide technical support to alpine skiers: frontside technical skiers, masters and citizen racers, relaxed groomer cruisers, all mountain carvers, big mountain carvers, free riders, bumps, tree and powder skiers. (Park and pipe riders will probably find better help on other sites)

Think of us as the interactive alternative to ad-supported magazines and websites—we are skiing's version of Consumer Reports®.  Or, to put it slightly differently, we work for you, not for the ski companies.

Your subscription includes personal consulting—send us your question on skis, technique, boots, etc., and we respond by email or telephone. We believe this service to be unique and available only here by subscription.

who we are | what subscribers say

No ads — 100% subscriber supported

Subscriptions are 1995 for one year. That's a calendar year, not merely a season.

This is an independent project and, like Consumer Reports, we accept no advertising. We are responsible only to subscibers.

Member services are geared to all levels of skier from beginner to casual to instructor to masters' racer—we help everyone.

Realskiers is unique

We offer 1-on-1 personal consulting.

Product reviews are based on tests by non-professional skiers during the entire winter and across the U.S.

We have by far the most reviews, including reviews of past models, than any other site. Period.

Ski reviews

Reviews of many hundreds of skis from 1999 through 2012, including more than 300 current 11/12 models.

Our reviews are different from others—here's why—and our ski review database is the most complete available anywhere.

Whether you're assembling a wish list of skis to demo, want to know about a specific model or need reviews of older skis, chances are you'll find what you need in our reviews.

Skis of the Year

Skis of the Year are skis we judge to be at the top of their respective genres, based not only on scores but also on tester interviews and personal experience. They are our picks and may not be yours, or even the "best" skis for every skier, but all are in the hunt and we are confident that, for the right skier, they will not disappoint.

Subscribers tell us this is among the best features on the site.

Skis by Use - The Right Ski

After our consulting service, this may be the most valuable feature for skiers who want the right ski, not just a ski!

About ski reviews

While ski reviews can be interesting in and of themselves, can provide a broad look at the "ski-scape" and are useful to make the first cut in a buying decision, it's not all about reviews and definitely not about how many models are reviewed. Our goal is to help subscribers find not just a ski, but the right ski.

We strongly suggest that the best approach is to consider terrain, conditions, skill level, energy requirements, improvement goals and skiing speeds relevant to the individual skier.

This approach, as we have found in our "real life" coaching, is more likely to provide a good solution than the questionable approach of predetermining this or that model based on peer pressure, well-meaning but perhaps ill-informed advice, or corporate marketing, promotion and advertising. We especially urge caution when a retail store employee or "expert" insists that the best ski for any skier is a model or type they like, regardless of the skier's personal situation. We have a growing list of top quality specialty shops where this is less likely to be a problem.

We are available through our subscriber consulting service to help focus the choice.

Ski instruction

Complete ski lessons that can be printed out for on-hill reference— get results immediately, the first day:

  • Wedge Blocker©: Harald Harb
  • Clendenin Ski Method™ (11-part lesson): John Clendenin
  • Shapeshifter© - learn to carve in one morning : Peter Keelty
  • more, including personal technique consulting, either on line or phone or, by special arrangement, on-hill here in the Wasatch.

Personal consulting 

Other review sites offer "one size fits all" ski finders.

We provide 1-on-1 personal consulting by email and telephone. We answer equipment and technique questions. We can help you find the best equipment for your skiing style, physical build, skill level, preferred terrain & conditions and budget and we help accelerate your technical skill development.

We have been able to save many members substantial amounts of money by recommending past years' skis that perform as well as newer models and often are identical except for cosmetics.

We often ski with subscribers who visit the Wasatch.

subscribe

How-to articles

A growing "skipedia" of unique reference articles by top pros. Unlike magazines, our content is chosen for its permanent applicability rather than "ad value" and short shelf life.

Top shops and teachers

One source of frustration faced by many skiers centers on the reliability and expertise of ski shops and instructors—does this shop really know what it is doing?  Is that boot technician a true expert? Can this teacher actually help me improve? These questions are of special importance when the skier is away from home base, for example visiting a resort for the first time.

Realskiers maintains a growing list of shops we know to be expert and of teachers who get results.

Total links

Direct links to all major suppliers, top ski sites and portals, snow cams and conditions reports, organizations and institutions, including hard-to-get direct telephone numbers for North American suppliers.

More

We are constantly adding features and product reviews; Realskiers provides technical support for virtually any skiing problem, issue or circumstance.

subscribe

ski utah abb