--- title: "Back to skiing after years away: what has changed and how to start again" description: "Back to skiing after years away? Carving and shorter skis, helmets, online ski passes and fitness: what has changed and why renting gear first makes sense." url: https://www.skiverleih.cz/en/guides/back-to-skiing-after-years language: en-GB published: 2026-09-25 updated: 2026-09-25 publisher: "SKI Rental Jiří Honců, Valteřická 1436, 543 01 Vrchlabí, Česko" --- # Back to skiing after years away: what has changed and how to start again Not been on skis for ten or twenty years? Here is what has changed in the meantime, from carving skis and helmets to online ski passes, how to prepare for your return and why it makes sense to rent your gear the first time. If you last skied on long, straight skis, you will find a few new things in the mountains. Several of them make coming back easier, such as the skis, which are easier to control today than they used to be. After years away, though, your body deserves a gentle start. Here is what is different, what to do with the old gear in your cellar and how to plan your first day back on the slopes, for example in the Krkonoše (Giant Mountains) around Vrchlabí and Špindlerův Mlýn. ## Carving skis: shaped and keen to turn Until the mid-1990s, people skied on long, straight skis. Then strongly shaped skis, known as carving skis, took over. The Elan SCX, launched in the winter of 1993/94, is considered the first successful shaped ski. A shaped ski turns more willingly on its edge and can be shorter and easier to control without losing stability. Today's standard downhill skis are carving skis. What does that mean for you? The ski helps you turn when you tip it onto its edge and put your weight on it. You do not have to forget your old habits straight away, just expect the ski to turn more readily than you may be used to. If you want to refresh your technique, an hour with an instructor can help, and you will find ski schools right in the ski areas. ## Shorter skis than before Skis got shorter with carving. According to Wikipedia, men's skis used to be typically 190 to 210 cm long and afterwards more like 160 to 170 cm. Today, a length between your chin and the top of your head is given as a rough guide, and if you are coming back after a long break, you will usually do well to stay in the lower part of that range. You do not need to work it out yourself, we choose the length based on your height, weight and how you ski today. [Ski length by height, weight and experience](https://www.skiverleih.cz/en/guides/ski-length-by-height-and-weight) ## Helmet and goggles Czech law does not require a helmet on the slopes, but the Czech Ministry of the Interior recommends one for children and adults alike. Whether a particular ski area requires one, you will find in its operating rules. We recommend a helmet for everyone. If you do not have your own, you can rent one from us separately, as well as goggles that fit with it. Try goggles on together with the helmet so that there is no gap between them. A thin hat or a balaclava works well under a helmet. ## Bindings, boots, ski passes and lifts - Bindings: mounting and adjustment are covered by the ISO 11088 standard, and the setting is based on weight, height, age, skier type and boot sole length. It should be left to a professional, and on your own skis checked before every season. - Boots: ski boot sizes are now usually given in Mondopoint, which is the length of your foot in centimetres. If you rent boots from us, your normal shoe size is all we need. - Ski passes: in Špindlerův Mlýn they have been sold much like airline tickets since 2019, online through the Gopass system, so the price also depends on when you buy. - Lifts: in Špindlerův Mlýn, a heated six-seater chairlift takes skiers up to Pláň, and according to the Czech news agency ČTK, the resort is preparing a new six-seater lift, Přehradní, from car park P1 for winter 2026/27. In the ski areas nearby, conveyor lifts take beginners up. ## Gear from the cellar Do you still have skis and boots from when you last skied? Have a professional look at them before you set off. According to ski boot specialists, the plastic of ski boots gets stiffer and more brittle with age, and cracks around the stress points are a sign of that. Bindings should be checked and adjusted before the season, especially if the skis have not been used for a long time. We adjust bindings, sharpen edges by hand and wax your own skis in our ski service too. ## Fitness and your first day back on the slopes - A few weeks beforehand, it is worth strengthening your legs, for example with squats and lunges. - Warm up before your first run and do your first runs on a blue slope, which is easy under the Czech standard. - Take breaks. A doctor quoted by the Czech news agency ČTK points out that tired, sleep-deprived people have less strength, poorer coordination and slower reactions. - Do you have problems with your knees or back, or another health condition? Talk to your doctor before the trip. - Brush up on the FIS rules: the skier ahead of you has right of way, and you stop at the edge of the run. > **Tip from the shop:** Your first day back does not have to be a full day. A few runs on a blue slope, a proper break and stopping in good time make a good start, and you can do more the next day. ## Why rent your gear the first time After years away, it is hard to guess how often you will ski and which skis will suit you. By renting, you can try modern skis without buying them. We choose the length based on your height, weight and experience, adjust the bindings to your weight, and check, sharpen and wax every item after it comes back. If you get hooked again, you can think about season-long rental or your own skis for next winter. [Rent or buy skis?](https://www.skiverleih.cz/en/guides/rent-or-buy-skis) You will find us in Vrchlabí, on the main road to Špindlerův Mlýn, with parking right in front of the shop. You can book your gear online at the latest the day before. Put your height, weight and shoe size in the booking and mention that you are coming back after years away, so that we can choose the ski length accordingly. [Book skis online](https://www.skiverleih.cz/en/booking) [Service and binding adjustment for your own skis](https://www.skiverleih.cz/en/ski-service) ## Frequently asked questions ### Can I use my old skis after years away? Have them checked at a ski service first, especially the bindings and boots. The plastic of old ski boots becomes brittle with age, and bindings should be checked and adjusted before the season. For your first days back, it is simpler to rent modern carving skis. ### What ski length should I choose after a long break? A length between your chin and the top of your head is given as a rough guide today. If you are coming back after a long break, stay in the lower part of that range. At the rental shop, we choose the length based on your height, weight and experience. ### Is a ski helmet compulsory in the Czech Republic? Czech law does not require one, but the Czech Ministry of the Interior recommends it for children and adults. Whether a particular ski area requires a helmet, you will find in its operating rules. You can rent one from us. ### How should I prepare for getting back on skis? Strengthen your legs a few weeks beforehand, for example with squats and lunges. On the slopes, warm up, start on a blue run and take breaks. If you have health problems, talk to your doctor. ### Is a lesson with an instructor worth it after years away? It is not compulsory, but it can help you refresh your technique on carving skis. You will find ski schools right in the ski areas, as we do not run one ourselves. --- SKI Rental Jiří Honců · Valteřická 1436, 543 01 Vrchlabí · +420 603 554 947 · skihoncu@gmail.com - [Book now](https://www.skiverleih.cz/en/booking) - [Prices](https://www.skiverleih.cz/en/prices) - [All guides](https://www.skiverleih.cz/en/guides) Other languages: [Čeština](https://www.skiverleih.cz/md/cs/navrat-na-lyze-po-letech.md) · [Deutsch](https://www.skiverleih.cz/md/de/wiedereinstieg-skifahren-nach-jahren.md) · [Polski](https://www.skiverleih.cz/md/pl/powrot-na-narty-po-latach.md) · [Українська](https://www.skiverleih.cz/md/uk/povernennia-na-lyzhi-pislia-perervy.md)