Water ski is not only classified according to its use: combination, slalom, jump and tricks. The construction and design of ski is also varied. Ski nowadays are generally made of fibreglass material or fibreglass and graphite composites because these materials are known for to be more durable and waterproof.

The bottom designs of ski can be narrow or concave. Ski with narrow tunnels are appropriate for skiers who put their weight on the back part of the ski and those who are standing straight when skiing. The skis with concave bottom are recommended for skiers who are skiing with their knees bent where their body weight are concentrated toward the front side of the ski.

Other construction designs of ski that are worthy to understand are the fin, bevelled edges, rocker, flex and length. The fin of ski which is located on its bottom is the one that helped in making turns and manoeuvres while skiing.  The bevelled edges of skis are also varied. Ski with more rounded edges are easier to control while ski with sharper edges are hard to control. However, sharper edges allow skier to ski faster.

Rocker on the other hand is the extent of the curve on the bottom of the ski. Greater or more rocker yield more turn but less acceleration. The measurement of rigidity or stiffness of the ski is known as flex. More rigid or lesser flex is faster but harder to make turn. Less rigid or more flex is slower but gives easier turns.

Finally, skis are also of different length and as a general rule, longer skis which provide more stability, better control and slower speed is appropriate for novice water skiers. The body weight of the skier also matter in choosing the appropriate ski length. Heavier skier should choose longer and larger ski for better support.