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By Anna Wallner and Kristina Matistic

Feb. 27, 2007 — For skiers, the end of winter spells both bad news and good news. The bad news is there are only a couple more months left to hit the slopes. The good news is ski equipment tends to go on sale at the end of the season, which is typically sometime in March, though a low snowfall year will often mean earlier sales. So if you're looking to upgrade your skis, now is the time to start shopping.

• If you ski mainly in the East or in icy or hard-packed conditions, consider a carving ski. Powder or fat skis are ideal for the more powdery conditions in the West. If you ski in many types of conditions, an all-terrain or all-mountain ski is your best bet.

• If speed is what you're after, opt for racing skis. Mogul junkies should go for freestyle skis.

• The softer or more flexible the ski, the easier it is to turn. You should be able to flatten the ski when standing on it. Beginners and women (who are generally lighter than men) will want a ski with more flex. The heavier or more advanced you are, the less flex you need.

• The ski should stand somewhere between your forehead and your nose. Beginners might want something shorter, as shorter skis are easier to maneuver.

• Check the side-cut. The more cut out or shaped the ski is, the easier it will be to turn. That said, absolute beginners may find skis with a large side-cut more difficult to control.

• Wood-core skis are stronger and last longer, but they are more expensive than foam-core skis. Foam is often used in women's skis because it is lighter. Make sure the foam is not injected, as that tends to break down sooner. Foam reinforced with fiberglass is a good bet.

• Skis reinforced with titanium or carbon give a smoother ride at higher speeds.

• Shop at stores that will let you rent demo skis. If you buy them there, the rental fee should be deducted from the retail price. Manufacturers also often hold demo days right on the mountain.

(Anna Wallner and Kristina Matistic host The Shopping Bags. Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service.)