It depends on whether you're a beginner or intermediate skier and what you want to get out of your skis. Here are some tips that will help you choose the right length and width:

• Narrower skis create sink or drag.
• Longer skis are more stable but don't allow for great performance.
• Shorter skis allow for better performance but aren't as stable.

A good rule of thumb is that longer, wider skis are better for beginner skiers, and shorter, narrower skis will give accomplished skiers the performance they're looking for.

Skis are generally wide at the top and narrow toward the tail. This has to do with the turn of a skier. When the turn is initiated, the tip of the ski is positioned slightly higher out of the water than the rest of the ski. The result is that the tip forces the skier to stay back on the ski, and this helps prevent the skier from falling forward. In the turn itself, the tail is used. The tail of the ski rides deeper in the water, keeping the ski from skipping/sliding out of the turn when crossing the wake, the skier is typically riding from mid-body to the tail of the ski. By doing so, the tail end of the ski is riding lower in the water.