Well Loved - A well loved topsheet shows significant signs of wear and tear including chipping, scratching, and scuffing on a majority of the ski’s surface area.

Fair - A fair topsheet shows some signs of wear and tear on the ski. This includes chipping, scratching and scuffing on high impact areas like ski tips and tails or just in front of the toe piece.

Good - A good topsheet shows minor signs of wear and tear with little tip and tail scratching or chipping, some minor cosmetic scratches across both skis, but no major damage.

Excellent - An excellent topsheet shows almost no signs of wear and tear with no chips, and only a handful of very small scratches or scuffs.

Well Loved - A well loved base shows significant signs of wear and tear. This includes but is not limited to a significant number of long but shallow scratches, multiple deep scratches or gouges that have been repaired, a large scratch or gouge that is inconsistent with the rest of the base condition, or significant edge wear and tear. 

Fair - A fair base shows some signs of wear and tear on the ski. This includes some shallow to medium scratches, a few medium scratches or gouges, and some edge wear and tear.

Good - A good base shows minor signs of wear and tear with little or no shallow/medium scratches, no medium to core depth gouges, and little to no edge wear and tear. 

Excellent - An excellent base shows almost no signs of wear and tear on the base material or edges of the ski. 

Groomers - Groomer skis have a skinnier waist width (typically below 85mm wide) and feature a cambered profile. With a cambered profile, groomer skis have a longer point of contact with the snow, making them more suitable for carved turns on smooth snow. A skinnier waist width allows for quicker transfer from edge to edge, but decreases flotation in new or soft snow. Groomer skis are typically constructed to be stabler than a true all mountain ski, making shorter, sliding pivot-style turns harder to initiate.

All Mountain - All mountain skis have a wider waist width (typically 85mm - 108mm wide) than a groomer ski and often features some form of early rise in the tip. An all mountain ski is well suited to make both carving and sliding pivot-style turns on groomed runs or variable terrain like bumps or trees.

Freestyle - Freestyle skis have a skinnier waist (80mm - 95mm wide) and feature a twin tip for skiing backwards or “switch”. These skis see the most “switch” riding of any ski category and thus are constructed with a more symmetrical width profile so that the skis turn similarly when skiing forwards or backwards. Freestyle skis are generally built to be light but durable so they can withstand larger airs and grinding rails or boxes.

Big Mountain/Powder - Big Mountain/Powder skis have a wide waist width (108mm - 125mm wide) and feature some aspect of rocker in the ski’s profile. Skis in this category are built to float in deep, soft snow, but can vary in stiffness.

Backcountry - Backcountry skis can range widely in waist widths (75mm - 125mm wide) and are built for uphill and downhill travel. These skis are built with weight savings in mind and are less suited for the wear and tear of skiing in-bounds at a resort.

Rocker type refers to the profile of a ski or snowboard from the side view. This refers to the difference in height of an unweighted ski/board at the tip, tail and waist. The rocker type is typically described with the tip profile first, the underfoot profile second, and the tail profile third - TIP/WAIST/TAIL. 

Camber - A cambered ski or board rises in the center when placed on a flat surface, like an “n” shape. Camber provides more resistance when a skier or rider exerts downward forces on the center of the ski or board. This translates to more power, stability and precise edge grip. A cambered ski or board provides better performance on harder snow. 

Rocker - Rocker was first introduced as a way to provide better float in deeper snow. Essentially the opposite of camber, rocker describes a ski or board shape where the center of the board or ski touches the ground and progressively rises towards the tip and tail, like a “U” shape. It is often referred to as “early rise” in the tip. 

Hybrid - Modern skis and boards often incorporate a combination of rocker in the tip and sometimes the tail. A combination of the two provides the maneuverability of rocker with the edge hold of a cambered profile, making the skis or board much more versatile. 

Sandwich Construction - A ski with a sandwich construction uses sidewall material around the entire outside of the ski. Sandwich construction provides the most durability and torsional stiffness, but is heavier than a ski with a cap or half cap construction. 

Half Cap Construction - A ski with half-cap construction utilizes sidewall material in the center area of the ski to provide strength and rigidity where the most energy is transferred to the ski. Half cap construction is used to cut down on overall weight of the ski while still providing higher durability and torsional stiffness than a full cap construction. 

Cap Construction - A ski with cap construction uses no sidewall material at all. Instead, the topsheet material folds over the top and around the sides of the core. Cap construction provides the least torsional stiffness and is found on softer, more forgiving skis. Cap construction also creates an overall lighter ski than half-cap or sandwich constructions.