What Are the Best Beginner Skis for Women?

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Are you a woman looking to get into skiing? Well, you're in luck because there’s never been a better time. More and more women’s skis are entering the market that make it both easy and fun for beginner skiers to hone their skills on the slopes. Many beginners think that they don’t yet possess the ability level that warrants the purchase of their own pair of skis. But, if you’re serious about wanting to improve not only your ski technique, but also your level of skiing, you’ll definitely want to invest in your own equipment.

Choosing a ski that will fulfill the needs of a beginner skier is not as easy as it may seem. On the one hand, the ski needs to be soft and forgiving enough to allow developing skiers to gain confidence. On the other hand, if the ski is too much of a noodle, meaning that it is too soft, any progress out on the hill will quickly outmatch the performance capabilities of the ski. The key is to choose a pair of skis that can keep up with your development as a skier, and provide a satisfying ride for seasons to come.

At Jans we test over 140 pairs of skis a year to determine the best options based on ability level, terrain, and skiing style. Here are a few of our favorite beginner skis for women:

Volkl Yumi

When it comes to easy maneuverability and turn initiation, the Volkl Yumi is a great choice. The beauty of this ski lies in its ability to be skied with minimal effort—making it a great option for progressing beginners and intermediates alike. What's more, the Volkl Yumi is also extremely versatile when it comes to on- and off-piste exploration thanks, in part, to a lively multi-layer wood core and fiberglass frame to keep the ski relatively stable without adding unnecessary weight.

Atomic Cloud 9

When talking about skis that readily fulfill the needs of both beginner and intermediate skiers, the Atomic Cloud 9 is the first one that comes to mind. This system ski comes with Atomic’s M 10 GripWalk bindings, and features Piste Rocker in the tip. The result is a women’s all-mountain ski that links together smooth and easy turns through a wide range of conditions. With a lively feel, the Cloud 9 is best put to use by women who have learned to confidently pull their skis up on edge.

Liberty V82

The Liberty V82 provides the smooth and predictable ride that helps beginner skiers gain confidence out on the hill and quickly progress. At 82 mm underfoot, and with a 10% tip rocker, this ski comes the closest of the three mentioned to boasting true all mountain capability. Forgiving enough for beginners, yet energetic enough to entertain intermediates, the Liberty V82 is one of our favorites to recommend to progressing women skiers.

By no means are these the only skis out there for beginner women skiers; these are just three models that continue to impress from season to season. The only way to truly know if one of these skis is right for you is to swing by Jans and take advantage of our ski test program.

By: Nate Tomlinson, Content Writer

Updated on December 1, 2020