Selecting Skis with OutThereNordic

Bjorn and Kris Hansen, of OutThereNordic are changing the game for U.S. Skiing. They work with some of the top Athletes in the U.S., not only helping them with their equipment, which is a daunting task on it’s own, but they also are mentors in the Nordic Industry- helping athletes and coaches alike navigate the world of skiing.

The OutThereNordic Race Service crew works with hundreds of skis in an average race weekend

Despite constantly navigating the smallest details to make fast skis for professional athletes, the Hansens believe in simplicity in their approach, and have years of experience helping athletes pick the best skis for their needs. Here’s Bjorn’s take on helping a big group of skiers get the right skis on their feet.

Bjorn Hansen of OutThereNordic

With the breathe of the world wide web, often we see folks getting lost when it come to racing skis. Goodness, do we need these flexes, with these grinds and this base or we see " Well these should work."

Ultimately for skiers who are racing we need to be in the middle. 

Ski technology slides down the line fairly quickly these days. So a top end ski from say 10yrs ago is now similar to a mid level ski. 

For the vast majority of skiers (Middle /High School racers) they need to have a warm up or training ski in both skate and classic (can certainly be a skin ski) and a race pair. 

The racing pairs do not need to be the very top end, but more importantly a ski that fits the skier for the type of conditions they are most often racing in. 

Having multiple race pairs with different grinds does the athlete no good if they do not understand all of the perimeters of where and why that ski is performing.

Training, racing and not being worried about " oh should I have picked the warm ski today" is much more important at the development and recreational levels.

If you don't put in the work, the ski or wax can not fix it.