materials and ski shape to suit the skier's

Skis for mountain/backcountry/cross-country free range skiing are designed for skiing on unbroken snow where an established track is lacking. These skis are characteristically 10 cm or more in width and often fitted with cable bindings to provide general sturdiness, and to make it easier to extract one's feet from deep snow banks, in case it should be impossible to reach the bindings by hand. This is also the model used by military forces trained to fight in winter conditions, and the most closely related to the original ski. The widest backcountry skis are often called Big Mountain skis.

These skis are specifically designed for moguls. They typically have a different flex pattern, are narrower and have a smaller sidecut than a common carving ski. The differences in the flex pattern of the ski are made to let the ski absorb the impact of the moguls with the tip, and to have a tail stiff enough to push on the last mogul, while not being as stiff as it won't bend on it.

Most skis are mass-produced in large factories, with runs of 50,000 pairs of a specific model and size to achieve economies of scale. Since 2004 a few small companies have emerged in the United States dedicated to crafting custom-made skis, one pair at a time, each pair custom-designed for a specific customer. Best know of these shops are Wagner Custom (Telluride, Colorado),

Igneous (Jackson, Wyoming)and Folsom (Boulder, Colorado). The custom-design process typically begins with a detailed questionnaire and interview, which the designer uses to determine the skier's needs. The designer can change flex, materials and ski shape to suit the skier's skills, weight and target snow and terrain. Core materials, structural components, base and edge materials can be of superior quality and durability. Customers often design their own topskins.