text: what are good skis (characteristics) for a beginner to novice skiier?   do not get big feet or snowblades as suggested by the person above, they have an incredibly high rate of injury on the mountain, most often incidents lead to head trauma. person number two is right, you are looking for a forgiving flex, the degree to which it is soft for you is determined by your weight.  so don’t go out and get a super soft ski unless you weigh ninety pounds. i would suggest a low level salomon scrambler 5, 6, or 7 series, or the k2 omni 4.5 to 5.5. these will last you a couple of years and offer significant value and performance.