Photo gallery: How the WorldSkitest works

Every year, the WorldSkitest puts the best-known ski brands' new models for the next season under the microscope. The tests are carried out for alpine skiing, freeriding and ski touring. We were allowed to take part in the AlpineSkitest at the Mölltal Glacier in May 2021 and show you how the WorldSkitest works.

After an initial briefing, the testers receive the number of the first ski to be tested and take it to the changing station.

The models are neutralized in black. Thus, the testers do not know which model they are currently riding and can test the ski completely unbiased.

At the changing station, the testers receive the ski assigned by number, which is then individually adjusted to the skier. To adjust the binding correctly, the technicians need the sole length of the ski boots and the DIN-setting.

Before the tester sets off, the technicians check whether the binding really clicks into place and everything sits securely. Sometimes adjustments have to be made.

Once everything is set up correctly, the test run begins on the test slope. The testers only have one run per ski. The aim is not to get to the bottom as quickly as possible, but to use the ski properly to test its handling characteristics in both long carving turns and short turns.

Each ski is only run once. Only the first run is repeated again at the end. The run with the first ski serves as a so-called calibration run, during which the skier familiarizes himself with the slope, but also gets a benchmark for evaluating the following models.

Immediately after the ride, the test sheet is filled out. The name of the tester and the number of the tested model are already entered here. The skier now assigns points from 1 to 10 for five different characteristics. The best rating that a ski can achieve per category is 10 points.

The skiing characteristics "long turn", "short turn", "edge grip", "running stability" and "overall strength requirement" are evaluated. For the freeride ski test, the turning ability of the ski is evaluated instead of edge grip. For the touring ski test, the attribute "Handling and function of the skins" is used instead.

The signed test sheet is now handed in at the test station. A ski test employee checks off the tested ski in the list and gives the tester a new test sheet. On this, the skier finds the number of the next ski he will test.

With the new number, the tester goes back to the changing station, where he hands in the ski he just tested and gets the next one. The whole process is repeated until the tester has tested all the skis in his category. Depending on the category, this means around 10 different models.

In total, more than 10 different categories are tested. In addition to High Performance and Allround - each for women and men - there are also the categories AllMountain and, alternating annually, Race GS and Race SL for the Alpine Skitest. The freeride models are tested in the categories under and over 100 millimeters under foot. The touring ski tests for men are also divided into two groups according to waist width. For women there is only one touring category.

Since in addition to the technology, the appearance also plays a role when buying a new ski, there is also the SnowStyle award at the WorldSkitest. Here, all skis that are tested on the slopes covered in black are exhibited completely without neutralization. The testers choose their three favorites for each category and award the models bronze, silver and gold for their design.

We were at the WorldSkitest 2021 at the Mölltal Glacier and tested the models of the categories Ladies High Performance and Ladies Allround. Check out what we experienced there in our video! >> To the video

The results of the WorldSkitest will be published in our magazine in autumn, at the start of the World Cup in Sölden. >> To the Skitest results of the last years

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