Today's skis have style and substance; and after finding the right ski, it's all downhill.

• Author: Skoy, Jenie
• Position: Executiveliving

IN your parents' day, you'd be laughed to shame if you rode the mountains on a ski like K2's Phat Luv--hot blue with a Hawaiian design and almost as wide as two straight skis together. But when it comes to riding on the West's famed powder, the "fatter" the ski, the better. The equation goes something like this: surface area equals flotation--imagine surfing--which equals greater control and a smoother ride on the slopes.

When snow flies this year, if you're on the market for new ski equipment, remember skis are fatter than they've ever been, more curvaceous and softer--but with more brawn, and even brains. The change reflects ski manufacturers' understanding of how to make skis more comfortable, and new technology that enables them to build what they imagine.

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Racing down the mountain isn't a cheap pursuit. Skis run from $300-1,000 for a ski and binding package and an extra $200-700 for boots, so getting the right kind of help when choosing is important.

Soft, fat and sassy

Though the type of ski you buy depends in part on your level of experience and your riding preference (whether skiing on groomers or off trail), skis have changed in a few ways. Remember the first time you heard about parabolic skis? Thought they were a passing fad, thought your 6'5" straight ski would always be hip? The hourglass shape is gaining popularity because it actually allows skiers to turn more easily.

"The new shape is like having power steering rather than using both hands to turn. It's like turning on rails, which makes it a lot more fun," says Ramsey Moore, hard goods supervisor at Jans Mountain Outfitters in Park City.

In addition to a new shape, skis increasingly sport a new feel. "See how soft this ski is," says Matt Hodson, salesman at the Sports Den. Hodson pushes down on the middle of a Rossignol World Cup 9X GS race ski, demonstrating that even race skis--the highest of high performance skis--are soft. He then tips the ski up and turns the tip side to side; it doesn't budge. Though the ski is soft, it has great torsional strength, which makes it more stable at high speeds.

If you're looking for one ski that performs well in all types of snow conditions, Hodson suggests trying any in the "mid-fat" range. All the major companies now make "mid-fats," which...