Pikes Peak Region Trail Finder

Lindsey Vonn raced on men's skis for downhill and super-G in recent years, but this season she plans to use men's skis in slalom and giant slalom as well.

"It's just a beefier ski," Vonn told John Meyer of the Denver Post, comparing men's skis to women's. "It's stiffer, it's longer. I also use a heavy-duty plate, which none of the women are using."

That may have been a factor in Vonn's first career giant slalom victory two weeks ago in Soelden, Austria.

"I just like that stability," Vonn said. "What I need in the technical events is to feel comfortable. If I can have a ski that allows me to feel comfortable, then I can make the type of turns that I want, which equals fast skiing. I don't think I've ever been comfortable in GS, so I feel like I've finally stumbled across something that could be really good."

Read more about Vonn's choice and which men's ski team member loaned her some skis to try out during preseason runs.