Which freeride skis should I choose?
Which freeride skis should I choose?
All-mountain or powder: two skis, two experiences. Find the one that’s right for you.
You leave the trail. The snow is no longer groomed. The terrain unfolds in real time: powder, crust, forest, open slopes. Freeriding begins where the resort ends. And the skis under your feet determine what you can tackle.
The ZAG freeride lineup is built around the SLAP family—skis designed in Chamonix, crafted for the terrain surrounding the workshop. If you want to understand the technical aspects of freeride skiing in detail (rocker, flex, width, weight), we’ve written a comprehensive guide that covers it all.
→ Complete Guide to Freeride Skiing
Here’s a question: which freeride ski is right for which skier?
The Right Question
When it comes to freeriding, it all boils down to one thing: how often do you ski in deep powder?
If you head out as soon as there’s off-piste skiing—whether it’s 5 cm or 50 cm of fresh snow—you want a ski that can handle anything. Light powder, transformed snow, crusted snow, dense forest, open slopes. You need a versatile freeride ski.
If you’re waiting for those big days—the real powder alerts, 30 cm and up—you want a ski that’s up to the task for those rare moments. Absolute float. Big, fluid turns. Natural speed in deep snow. You need a powder weapon.
SLAP 100
You ski all over the backcountry
You don’t limit yourself to powder days. You hit the slopes as soon as the terrain is good—and sometimes even when it isn’t. The forest one day, the open slopes the next, a couloir when the conditions are right. You want a responsive ski that adapts to anything without forcing you to change your rhythm.
The SLAP 100 is the versatile freeride ski in the lineup. 100 mm waist width. Medium camber, double rocker, medium flex, Adaptive Pivot Control. From 1,640 g (166 cm) to 1,900 g (187 cm). Wide enough to float in light powder, nimble enough to pivot through the forest. Its pivot point lets you switch from carving to skidding in an instant; this is the ski that never limits you to just one style. Available in 166, 174, 181, and 187 cm.
Who it’s for: the all-conditions freerider. Anyone who wants a single freeride ski for the entire season, from the first snow in November to the last spring run. Men and women.
SLAP 112
You're waiting for the big days
You don’t take your freeride skis out every weekend. You wait for the right moment: 40 cm of fresh powder, the wind dying down, the sky clearing. On days like that, you want a ski that turns the mountain into a white wave—one that floats effortlessly and accelerates when you let yourself be carried along.
The SLAP 112 is the ultimate powder weapon. 112 mm at the waist. Medium camber, double rocker, medium flex. From 1,970 g (182 cm) to 2,010 g (188 cm). Its lift in deep snow is exceptional; the ski stays on the surface where others sink. Wide turns are fluid and natural. You reach cruising speed effortlessly. This isn’t an everyday ski. It’s the ski for those days when you take a day off. Available in 182 and 188 cm.
Who it’s for: the powder hunter. The skier who already has an all-mountain ski in their quiver and wants a dedicated ski for those days when there’s nowhere else to be. Men and women.
What if you're on the fence about all-mountain?
If you spend as much time on the piste as you do off-piste, a freeride ski might not be the first one to add to your quiver. The SLAP 92 is an all-mountain ski: 92 mm, dual rocker, Adaptive Pivot Control—but its SLAP DNA gives it a natural feel for light off-piste skiing. It won’t replace a SLAP 100 or 112 in 30 cm of powder. But for skiers who split their day between the piste and off-piste, it’s often the best place to start.
→ See the SLAP 92
→ Which all-mountain ski should you choose?
What about the size?
In freeriding, the trend is to ski on longer boards than on the slopes or in all-mountain conditions. The length provides lift in powder and stability at high speeds. A good rule of thumb: choose your usual size or go 5 to 10 cm longer. The SLAP 100 is available in lengths from 166 to 187 cm. The SLAP 112 ranges from 182 to 188 cm; just two sizes, both long, because this ski is designed for speed and float, not for tight turns.
→ Freeride Ski Size Guide
It all comes down to the field.
Freeriding is about taking what the mountain has to offer. The skis you choose shape what you can experience. Versatile or powder-specific, responsive or stable—there’s no wrong choice. Just the skis that are right for you. And every turn off-piste either confirms or corrects your approach.
→ Complete Guide to Freeride Skiing
→ Guide to Touring , and Freeride Helmets
→ Freeride Gear Collection
