by Frank V. Persall
Essentially, mogul skiing is a freestyle form of skiing in which skiers have to carry out well-timed runs through tight bumps and zipper linings. The main focus with mogul skiing, sometimes shortened as a mogul, is precise turns, skilled aerial maneuvers as well as speed. People either do mogul skiing for fun or for the competitiveness that mogul skiing comes with.
Whether you are a casual mogul skier or an athlete who does mogul skiing as his or her job, it is important to get the right type of ski. This would ensure optimal performance and an amazing experience while on the slopes.
Mogul skis are very different from standard skis. They are usually shorter, narrower, and even lighter to allow for smooth aerial maneuvers while still having a stable core to land back on. As a result, choosing the best mogul skis is very important.
There are several things to consider when choosing a mogul ski and we will discuss this some more in this guide. First, let's review some of the best skis for mogul skiing available on the market today.
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Best features
Made of wood material, the K2 244 mogul ski is specifically designed for expert mogul skiers. It comes with extreme stiffness which increases the overall strength of the runs and the power of the aerial maneuvers and landings. It also comes with a wood core which makes it a dedicated mogul ski for competitive mogul skiing.
The skis themselves are stiff and are made for traversing even the tightest of zipper lines that you can find on the mountains and slopes.
One of the things users love about the K2 244 Mogul skis is that they are easy to control in any type of condition. They feature patented strands of fiberglass that are interlocked around its wooden milled core. The benefit of this is that the skis come with increased torsional strength without losing the natural flex patterns that come with the wood.
The sidewalls of the skis feature DuraCap construction which makes it lightweight and easier to wear for extended periods. The DuraCap construction also increases its durability.
The skis also come with a fir and aspen combination that improves the impact absorption capabilities of the core.
Best Features
There are so many things to love about the Blizzard Rustler 9 Skis 2023. The blizzard rustler 9 is just one of a series of intuitive skis designed for experienced mogul skiers. The responsiveness and stability of the skis ensure you can push through the obstacles with ease.
Although the 2023 Blizzard Rustler 9 skis are designed with a blend of wood, carbon, and metal, it has a multi-layer wooden core. It comes at 180cm in length and features a tip and tail rocker.
One of the things we love about these skis is that they are designed for advanced and intermediate skiers. The skis feature a light and dynamic design so you don't have any movement restrictions due to the skis being too heavy. Like most skis for moguls, the Blizzard Rustler 9 skis also feature sidewall construction. This construction improves the durability of the skis as well as power transmission during aerial maneuvers.
Due to its unique radius and dimensions, it is suitable for standard and freestyle skiing. That said, the skis perform excellently well on bumpy slopes used for freestyle skiing. They feature Dynamic Release Technology by Blizzard with titanal and taper towards the head and tail so that the skis are lightweight. This technology also ensures there is no sacrifice in the stability of the skis.
The skis also feature a sidewall made from a sandwich compound which significantly improves the durability and power transmission of the skis. The carbon frame of the skis also enhances its lightweight performance.
Best features
The Nordica 2020 Navigator 80 Skis were originally designed as versatile all-mountain skis and are also fun to look at. The skis guarantee fun skiing regardless of the type of skiing you plan to do.
When swiveling, the skis are lightweight enough so you can effortlessly land without focusing too much on keeping your balance. The design of the skis makes them naturally easy to turn and smoothly responsive.
The Nordica 2020 Navigator 80 Skis are slimmer than typical skis for mogul skiing. This design ensures they have more maneuverability compared to other skis while still retaining their strong edge under icy conditions.
The tail is flat and there is an early rise at the tip which helps you absorb bumps and vibrations while performing aerial maneuvers. The design of the skis also features a titanal layer that improves stability without any compromise in weight.
The core is made using laminated poplar and beech wood which makes it a great choice for intermediate and professional mogul skiers.
One big drawback of the Nordica 2020 Navigator 80 Skis is that they are only good on the on-piste.
Best Features
The Volki brand is one of the most popular brands that you can always rely on to provide skis for precise and creative performance. They have a series of skis dedicated to standard skiing as well as freestyle skis. The Volki 2023 Kendo 88 Skis is one such ski for freestyle skiing.
The Volki 2023 Kendo 88 Ski is made from a blend of wood, metal, and carbon. The skis are designed for advanced mogul skiing. The skis feature a titanal frame that provides top-notch skiing performance without you having to worry about extra weight during aerial maneuvers and turnings.
They come with full-length sidewalls that provide optimal power transmission to the skis from your legs. The skis offer precise movement and stability thanks to its titanal frame. The titanal frame also reduces the overall weight of the skis while allowing them to have more flex. The skis come with carbon tips that enhance stability and make turning easy.
The Volki 2023 Kendo 88 Skis come with a unique sidecut feature that provides maximum turning maneuverability to skiers. The tip and tail taper also improves balance and precision.
Mogul skiing is quite different from standard skiing. As a result, one can't simply buy skis for the sake of buying one. Before going to buy mogul skis, it is important to keep some things at the back of your mind.
To help you make an informed decision, we already compiled a review list of the best mogul skis on the market. However, if you are having a difficult time choosing from any of the skis reviewed above or want to be able to select the best mogul skis that fit your requirements, this buying guide is for you.
Without further ado, here are some tips to keep in mind to help you choose the best skis for mogul skiing;
The first and one of the most important things you need to consider before buying any ski is the length. Mogul skiing requires accurate and precise turning on bumps and well-angled landings on zipper lines. The implication of this is that if you use oversized skis, you are greatly in danger of wrecking crashing, thereby injuring yourself.
The best skis for moguls are generally shorter than the usual standard skiing skis. The reason for this is that they allow for easier maneuverability and ensure more precise turning when navigating the various bumps on the slopes. The short length also ensures they have a small turning radius which gives you more control of the skis at varying speeds.
NOTE: While on higher speeds, standard skis offer the best stability compared to shorter skis. However, they are very difficult to control which makes them dangerous for mogul skiing since there are lots of bumps on the course.
The width of the ski you are getting is also important since skinny skis offer the best performance for moguls. This is because such skis provide more control, thereby offering you better tuning ability while navigating the bumps. Standard skis make it difficult to perform knee angle turns which is an important technique in mogul skiing. As a result, although any ski would get the job done, skinner profile skis offer skiers the best chance to smoothly maneuver on mogul runs. They also come with flex that improves balance and stability while carrying out aerial maneuvers.
The weight of the skis also plays an important role in the overall performance and experience while skiing. Due to the delicate turns and jumps involved in mogul skiing, the skis used must be nimble and lightweight enough to make the turns and jumps easy. That way, your knees do not overextend or perform too much work. Thus, reducing the occurrence of injury that might be caused due to overworking your muscles. Lightweight skis also ensure you can ski for long without quickly getting tired.
NOTE: Although lightweight skis are necessary for moguls, they are also less stable compared to standard skis. The implication is that depending on the type of flex the skis come with, they are usually not suitable for all-mountain terrains or conditions.
The profile of a ski more often than not determines whether it will be a good ski or not. This is especially true for mogul skis. The shape or design of most skis is generally the same; be it standard skis or freestyling skis. All skis are U-shaped but they come with different and sometimes unique curvature designs.
While buying skis for mogul skiing, you need to look for skis with rocker tips and tails. This type of skis usually comes with a titanal layer that makes them well-balanced and lightweight. This type of skis also makes it possible to perform quick turns while maintaining good control with its solid underfoot camber.
Lastly, you need to consider user feedback of any product you want to buy. Unless you have read a review of the product that itemizes everything you can expect from the product, reading user feedback will do you a world of good.
For the most part, it gives you a better idea of the longevity of the skis you are buying. If you are lucky, users who have had experience with the skis might especially tell you whether to buy the skis or not.
In our review list above, we provided detailed information about the skis so you can choose the skis that best fit your budget or specifications.
One of the most important gears you need to ski is the skis. Without them, you simply can't ski. And since the skis do not come cheap, it is important to maximize their performance by taking care of them through proper maintenance.
In this section, we will discuss two different methods to take care of your skis. First, let's talk about ways to care for your skis while the skiing season is on:
1. Dry the skis after each run
The first thing you need to do after you are done is wipe off the skis using a clean towel. This is important since it helps remove melted snow which would otherwise react with the metal layer on your skis to cause rust. Doing this also prevents your buckles and bindings from fraying over time.
It is quick to complete and does not require any technical expertise
2. Smooth any nick or scrape using a pocket stone
Burrs are inevitable since skis are always susceptible to being damaged by rock hidden in the snow. Smoothening them out can improve the overall appearance of your skis while also ensuring the tiny nicks and scrapes do not become too big.
3. Wax your skis periodically
Ski waxing is a delicate topic since most skiers do not have any idea when to do it. Unfortunately, there is no specific answer to how often you must wax your skis.
The only thing to keep in mind is that you should do it whenever you can. One way to know is to check the base of your skis regularly. Once the colored base starts to look cloudy, it is best to hot wax it. There are a ton of DIY tutorials on the internet to follow when hot waxing your skis.
4. Sharpen the edge of your skis regularly
The general theory is that regularly sharpening the edges of your skis can improve its lifespan. For a regular skier, you should carry out edge sharpening of your skis every couple of weeks. This is because icy snow quickly dulls the edges of skis while performing turns and jumps.
NOTE: You also don't want to sharpen your skis too much. This is because you remove some metal from your skis every time you sharpen them.
Also, to be on the safe side, you can always take your skis to a ski shop to pay professionals to handle the edge sharpening for you. The only drawback is that it might take a while to get your skis back. s
1. Wax the skis before storing
Off-season means you won't be skiing for a long time. As a result, it is recommended to wax as well as sharpen the edge of your skis.
One of the cool things about waxing during the off-season is that you do not even have to spend time scraping off the wax after hot waxing. You can simply leave it since you won't be using it until the next winter.
2. Store your skis in a cool and dry place
After waxing, the next thing is to choose a cool and dry place to store your skis. You don't want to store them in a warm or humid environment. You also don't want to store them in a spot where they are in direct contact with the sunlight.
3. Adjust the bindings on your skis (OPTIONAL)
Although this is not necessary, some ski shops recommend customers ease the DIN settings on the bindings when they won't be using the skis for a while. This helps take pressure off the springs on the skis. Most recreational skis come with relatively low DIN settings so you might not need to do this before finally storing your skis for the summer.
Mogul skiing is delicate and a freestyling form of skiing. The best skis for moguls feature a parabolic shape. They must also come with a slight rocker in the tip and tail which greatly improves the response of the skis while turning and performing aerial maneuvers.
Such skis also come with underfoot camber that gives turning control to skiers and precise control of the speed of the skis.
Mountain skis are specially designed for high-speed runs and big turns. They are essentially the most popular type of skis on the market since they are little to no obstacles to worry about while on the course. They come with great balance and offer amazing stability due to their long length.
The implication of this, however, is that they are not designed for the quick turns and jumps that are required to properly hit a mogul slope or trail. In other words, while you might get away with it as a professional, it is not recommended for intermediate skiers to ski on a mogul trail using regular mountain skis.
Mogul trails or slopes are some of the most demanding and physically exhausting terrains when it comes to skiing. The trails are usually a series of bumps, snow mounds, and zipper lines that skiers have to make sharp turns to pass through. No two runs are the same. This is because there are so many irregularities and obstacles on the runs that you simply have to be ready for each bump as soon as you see it. It requires a lot of concentration but is quite rewarding if you can react to the obstacles the right way.
Usually, mogul skiers tend to have a strong torso and a high level of flexibility.
Rossignol Experience 80 CI Mens Skis 158 W/Look Xpress 11 GW Bindings Black/Red - Walmart Link
Rossignol Experience 80 CI Mens Skis W/Look Xpress 11 GW Bindings Black/Red - Walmart Link
K2 244 Mogul Skis - 2023 - Men's (163) - Walmart Link
K2 244 Mogul Skis - 2023 - Men's - Walmart Link
Nordica Navigator 80 Skis + Compact 10 - Men's - 2023 (179 cm) - Walmart Link
Nordica Navigator 80 Skis + Compact 10 - Men's - 2023 - Walmart Link
Volkl 2020 Kendo 88 Skis w/Tyrolia Attack2 13 GW Bindings (177) - Walmart Link
Volkl 2020 Kendo 88 Skis w/Tyrolia Attack2 13 GW Bindings (163) - Walmart Link
2021 Blizzard Rustler 9 Skis w/Tyrolia Attack2 13 GW Bindings (164) - Walmart Link
Nordica 2020 Navigator 80 Skis wTyrolia Attack2 11 GW Bindings (179) - Walmart Link
2021 Blizzard Rustler 9 Skis w/Tyrolia Attack2 13 GW Bindings (172) - Walmart Link
Rossignol Experience 80 CI Mens Skis 158 W/Look Xpress 11 GW Bindings Black/Red - eBay Link
Rossignol Experience 80 CI Mens Skis W/Look Xpress 11 GW Bindings Black/Red - eBay Link
K2 244 Mogul Skis - 2023 - Men's (163) - eBay Link
K2 244 Mogul Skis - 2023 - Men's - eBay Link
Nordica Navigator 80 Skis + Compact 10 - Men's - 2023 (179 cm) - eBay Link
Nordica Navigator 80 Skis + Compact 10 - Men's - 2023 - eBay Link
Volkl 2020 Kendo 88 Skis w/Tyrolia Attack2 13 GW Bindings (177) - eBay Link
Volkl 2020 Kendo 88 Skis w/Tyrolia Attack2 13 GW Bindings (163) - eBay Link
2021 Blizzard Rustler 9 Skis w/Tyrolia Attack2 13 GW Bindings (164) - eBay Link
Nordica 2020 Navigator 80 Skis wTyrolia Attack2 11 GW Bindings (179) - eBay Link
2021 Blizzard Rustler 9 Skis w/Tyrolia Attack2 13 GW Bindings (172) - eBay Link
Mogul skiing is increasingly gaining more fans due to the sheer adrenaline rush and fun experience it offers. Essentially a form of skiing where skiers can freestyle as much as the slope they are on allows, there is so much to love about Mogul skiing.
As fun as it is, it can also be quite dangerous. Of course, every sporting activity comes with its risk if performed without wearing proper protective gear or following the best style of play. One important gear to have before you should even attempt mogul skiing is the skis.
Mogul skis are different from standard skis because they are generally shorter and more lightweight. They mostly come with flex or blended core which helps improve their balance. In this guide, we highlighted four of the best mogul skis on the market today. To help you make an informed decision, we also prepared a buying guide.
Happy shopping!
About Frank V. Persall
Frank is originally from the UK, but he has a passion for skiing that knows no bounds. He has made it his life's mission to visit the best ski resorts across the USA and the World. Frank loves spending time with his wife and three children on ski slopes, as they all share his love for the activity.
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