Buyers Guide: Best Beginner & Intermediate Slalom Skis 2027

Our picks at a glance

Every ski here comes as a package with a boot and a rear toe plate, so you can ride it out of the box.

The beginner and intermediate range, ski by ski — 9 minutes 18 seconds.

Social cruiser or social carver?

On our site, slalom skis are sorted by how you ski. This guide uses the same categories, so you can keep browsing from here.

Social cruisers are for learning to slalom and relaxed skiing. They usually carry more width, so they're easy to get up on, stable, and comfortable at slower speeds. Most beginners start here.

Social carvers are for when you're up every time and want to start linking turns. They give you more bite in the turn and a ski to progress on, while staying predictable.

Still working on your deep water start or getting comfortable on one ski? You're a cruiser. Up every time and wanting to carve harder across the wake? You're a carver. Running the course or skiing fast and aggressive is our performance range, which is beyond this guide.

Each ski also has a recommended speed range, listed in the table above. Pick one that covers the speed you're comfortable skiing at now.

Best beginner slalom skis: social cruisers

For your first slalom ski, or the ski you learn to carve on. These are easy to start on and stay predictable when your technique isn't.

Connelly Outlaw with Shadow boot

The Outlaw has the hourglass shape Connelly made popular: wide tip, wide tail, and narrow under the bindings. The width at each end gives you lift for the deep water start. The taper at the boot and a fuller edge-to-edge concave let it turn harder than a wider beginner ski.

The Shadow boot is Lycra lined at the toe and heel, with a stretch panel in the toe and a soft EVA footbed.

Sizes: 65", 67", 69" · Boot: Shadow, US 5–11, 9–14

KD C6 with Axcess boot

If you remember the old Radar P6, the C6 comes from the same mould. It's a hybrid width shape: wide through the forebody for an easy start, then straight, parallel lines from the front boot to the tail. That gives you a smooth, fast turn and a ski that carries speed across the wakes.

It runs a tunnel base, bevelled rails and a fibreglass and PU foam build that flexes through the turn. The Axcess boot has a lower cuff, a floating toe and a single lace.

Sizes: 65", 67", 69" · Boot: Axcess, US 8–13

Radar Session and Womens Session

The Session is carbon over Radar's all-terrain core, a polyurethane core with a timber stringer, and that core is what makes it forgiving. Grip Rails 2.0 bring it through the turn smoothly and hold it steady in chop. Like the C6, it runs parallel lines to the tail.

It has the slowest speed range in this guide, 34–49 km/h (20–30 mph), so it suits learners and anyone who likes to ski at a relaxed pace. The mens package comes with the Prime boot. The womens comes with the Lyric BOA, which you tighten with a dial.

Sizes: 65", 67", 69", 71" · Womens 65", 67" · Boots: Prime US 5–8.5, 7.5–11.5, 10.5–14.5 · Lyric BOA US 6–9, 8–12

KD Xenon (womens) with Bliss boot

The Xenon is a womens ski and good value for money. It's the old Radar Theory shape, a little narrower than the wider skis in this guide, and it's fun, easy and very predictable. You get smooth turns and straight lines through the boots to the fin.

A shallow, rounder bevel and concave let it roll from edge to edge without a fight, and the fibreglass build soaks up chop crossing the wakes.

Size: 66" · Speed: 39–55 km/h (24–34 mph) · Boot: Bliss, US 5–8, 7–10

Best intermediate slalom skis: social carvers

For skiers who are up every time and linking turns, and now want a ski that grips harder and will keep up as they improve.

HO Omni with Stance boot

The Omni is one of the best skis for a skier who's actively working on technique, and it comes down to one feature: the clean edge tail. It adds lift in the tail and almost locks the ski on edge coming out of the turn. That means you can concentrate on getting your hips up and into a stacked position, and let the ski run through the wakes to the next turn.

There's still extra width in the front, so it's easy to get over the front of the ski to start a turn. It has the widest speed range here, 39–55 km/h (24–34 mph). The XL is a 69" wide for bigger skiers.

Sizes: S 65", M 67", L 69", XL 69" wide · Boot: Stance, US 4–8, 7–11, 10–15

Connelly Concept with Shadow boot

The Concept is back with a new shape for this season. It's wider from edge to edge, so you can get up over the front of the ski and start the turn instead of fighting for it. Connelly's V-Tech shaping cuts drag, and low drag is what makes it easy to ski long runs up the river without your legs giving out.

A widened tunnel and concave help it sit on edge through the turn. It has a closed-cell polyurethane core and is built for open water carving at 45–51 km/h (28–32 mph). The Shadow boot is Lycra lined with a stretch panel in the toe.

Sizes: 65", 67", 69" · Boot: Shadow, US 5–11, 9–14

KD Krypton and KD Neon

The Krypton is the mens ski and the Neon is the womens version of the same ski. Both are fibreglass over a polyurethane core, compression moulded. It's balanced and predictable: you can stand anywhere on it, ski almost any style, and it'll work with you.

The feature to know about is the step in the tip. It breaks the water in front of the ski, keeping drag low so the ski runs smoothly through the tunnel, and that's what gives you a smooth, predictable turn. It suits skiers who like to ski at 48–55 km/h (30–34 mph). The Krypton comes with KD's Flex boot and the Neon with the Bliss, both dual lace.

Sizes: Krypton 65", 66", 67", 68" · Neon 65", 66" · Boots: Flex US 5–10, 9–13 · Bliss US 5–8, 7–10

Radar Union and Womens Union

The Union is a wider version of the Senate, with extra surface area outside the tunnel and a fuller edge-to-edge concave. That gives it a sharper, more aggressive turn while still riding well at slower speeds, 40–52 km/h (24–32 mph).

It's the pick if you want more bite from your ski but prefer to ski at slower speeds. The tunnel also makes deep water starts easy and grips in rough water. Both mens and womens packages come with the Prime boot.

Sizes: 65", 67", 69", 71" · Womens 65", 67" · Boot: Prime, US 5–8.5, 7.5–11.5, 10.5–14.5 (womens 5–8.5, 7.5–11.5)

Radar Senate Alloy and Lyric Alloy

The Senate Alloy (mens) and the Lyric Alloy (womens) are for the skier who wants a ski that will grip and rip: more speed, deeper in the turn, and maybe a go at the course. They're crossover skis rated 43–55 km/h (26–34 mph).

What keeps them usable for a skier who's still progressing is the same all-terrain core as the Session, wrapped in carbon. The core makes them forgiving, so when you make a mistake, the ski doesn't bite your head off. The Senate comes with the Prime boot and the Lyric with the Lyric BOA.

Sizes: Senate 65", 67", 69", 71" · Lyric 65", 67" · Boots: Prime US 5–8.5, 7.5–11.5, 10.5–14.5 · Lyric BOA US 6–9, 8–12

Mens and womens skis

The Session, Krypton, Union and Alloy each come in a mens and a womens version. The womens versions come in the shorter lengths and some come with a different boot. The Xenon is womens only. If you're a lighter skier, look at both. Your size comes from your weight, not the label.

Getting the size right

Slalom skis are sized on your weight first, then your height and how fast you ski. Our slalom ski size calculator takes all three and gives you a length.

If you're between sizes, going one size longer gives you more stability and easier starts, but the ski sits higher in the water and is less responsive. If you're learning, you're better off on a ski built for beginners than on a longer advanced ski. The full charts are on the slalom ski size guide, boot sizes are on the slalom ski boot size guide, and every brand's own chart is on the product page.

Try one before you buy

Not sure between two skis? Our Sports Program covers the beginner to intermediate slalom range: $100 for a 5-day hire. Buy a ski within 4 weeks and we'll refund up to four hire fees off the price. Call the shop on 07 3379 6933 to book.

Common questions

What is the best slalom ski for a beginner?

The Connelly Outlaw, KD C6 or Radar Session, and for women the KD Xenon. They are easy to start on and forgiving while you learn. The Session suits skiers who prefer slower speeds, rated 34–49 km/h (20–30 mph), and also comes in a womens version.

What is the difference between a social cruiser and a social carver?

A social cruiser is for learning to slalom and relaxed skiing. It usually carries more width, so it's easy to get up on, stable and comfortable at slower speeds. A social carver is for skiers who are up every time and want to start linking turns, with more bite in the turn and room to progress.

When should I move to an intermediate slalom ski?

When you're getting up every time, linking turns, and want a ski that grips harder. That's when you move from a social cruiser to a social carver. The HO Omni, Connelly Concept, KD Krypton and Neon, Radar Union and Radar Senate Alloy are the next step.

What speed should I ski at?

Whatever you're comfortable at. Learners usually ski slower and increase speed as they progress, so pick a ski whose range covers the speed you ski at now. The skis in this guide run from 34 km/h (20 mph) on the Radar Session up to 55 km/h (34 mph) on the HO Omni, KD Krypton and Neon, and the Radar Alloys.

Which slalom ski suits skiing at slower speeds?

The Radar Session for beginners, rated 34–49 km/h (20–30 mph), and the Radar Union for intermediate skiers, rated 40–52 km/h (24–32 mph).

What size slalom ski do I need?

Size on your weight first, then height and how fast you ski. Use the slalom ski size calculator. If you're between sizes, going longer gives more stability and easier starts but is less responsive.

Can I try a slalom ski before I buy it?

Yes. The Sports Program demo is $100 for a 5-day hire, and if you buy within 4 weeks we refund up to four hire fees. Call 07 3379 6933 to book.

Related guides

• Slalom ski size calculator
• Slalom ski boot size guide
• The Breakdown: Slalom Ski, for how width, concave, bevel and rocker change the ride
• How to set up your slalom ski, for fin and boot position once it arrives
• The Breakdown: Water ski ropes and handles
• The Breakdown: Water ski gloves
• Wide body slalom skis, if you want the easiest possible starts
• Buyers Guide: Best Combo Water Skis, if you're still on two skis
• Buyers Guide: Best Kids Slalom Skis
• Buyers Guide: Ski-Doc slalom ski accessories
• Buyers Guide: Best Life Jackets

Or see the full slalom ski range.

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