Everyone can test skis

People often draw the conclusion that because I test and review skis, I am an expert skier. I am not, nor have I ever claimed to be. Which makes me wonder: why do people assume I am an expert skier?

Frame of reference

Maybe it’s because most ski reviews out there, especially on Youtube, are ski tests conducted by expert skiers, ski instructors, ski professionals. And maybe, from that the conclusion is that since Gijs tests and reviews skis he must be an expert skier. For the record: I am definitely not.

But no-one ever stated that only expert skiers can review skis. Or that only expert skiers can feel the differences between skis.If anything, non-expert skiers should have more reason to test skis than expert skiers. Simply because non-expert skiers may lack the skills to look good on whatever ski they’re on. I happily use the ‘expert skiers can ski anything and make it look good’ for my own benefit here. I still do believe that even expert skiers would be happier on snow-appropriate skis though. And non-expert skiers even more so.

Feel the difference

A versatile skier may adjust his or her stance, balance, input, etc. to make a ski work. Maybe even without realising it. A non-expert skier, however, is likely to feel the differences between skis more and have a stronger feeling of that ski (not) matching his or her style. I would argue therefore that non-expert skiers experience the differences between skis more consciously than expert skiers.

That not only gives the non-expert skiers an advantage, it also makes testing skis more relevant for them. And because not everyone is in the position to test everything, we try to do some of the heavy lifting. Being non-expert skiers too, might just make our reviews a little more relatable, even. Just a thought.

Think again

For everyone complaining about us not being expert skiers: don’t blame us for an assumption you made. Secondly, the very fact that we aren’t expert skiers might just be an advantage, given our audience isn’t either.

And… breathe!