Getting the Goods on the Goods
Given this vast array of options, you are likely teeming with questions
and uncertainty when it comes to choosing skis - whether the goal is to have one pair of go-to, do-anything skis or several
from which to choose, depending on conditions and terrain. To help you narrow your choices and match the ski relative to your
style and desires outcomes, this article examines five design parameters - waist, width, sidecut radius, ski taper, rocker,
and tail shape - and how they influence ski performance in three condition/terrain categories: groomed, all-mountain and soft
powder/crud.
As we all know, Ski Company websites and your local ski shop personal are
a good way to educate yourself about skis and equipment in general. But to solidify yourt selection, use the following insights
in combination with information gather from above. As you ponder your ski selection, reflect on what you want out of a ski.
The more specific you can be, the more likely you are to find a ski that meets your expectatioins.
Waist Width: Waist width is the width of the
ski under the foot, which determines how quickly or slowly a ski goes from edge to edge and how well the ski will float in
soft snow. Narrower waists offer better quickness at initiation and edge-hold on firm snow. A trade-off with quickness is
that the ski can become more finicky, rewarding good turns but generally being less forgiving and consistent when skied all
day. The wider the waist the better the ski floatation in soft snow or crud.
Sidecut Radius: Is
the turn radius a ski would make if you placed it on its side - flexed into an arc - and then continued to extend this arc
into a full circle. The radius of this circle is defined in meters as the turn radius of the ski.
Taper:
Refers to the difference between the tip width and the tail width. This number tells youhoww a ski will exit a turn and how
it will track in a straight line. A ski with a 10mm to 15 mm difference will exit the turn easily. The closer the numbers
are, the more closely the tails will follow the tips through the arc of the turn. As the taper increases, the aft section
of the skis has less impact on turn completion, The taper is usually widest at the tip and most narrow at the tail.
Rocker: Has to do with a ski's camber. If you place skis with traditional camber together, base to
base, the tips and tails touch but there's a small space between the center of the skis. In other words, each ski arches
a bit underfoot. This helps distribute a skier's weight along the whole ski surface when he or she is standing on the
ski. Without canber a skier's weight would be predominantly on the center of the skis, with the tips and tails bearing
almost no weight.
Tail Shape: Tail shape is another design parameter with several varieties. Fot
the most part there are three different categories: Ski tails are flat, Slightly upturned and rounded, similar
to the tip. All effect how the ski finishes the turn. The slightly upturned tail and the twin tip allow the ski to release
easily out of the turn by curving up and flexing, which reduces the pressure on the tail as you finish a turn. While this
can be a plus for all-mountain skiing and skiing in challenging conditions, it has its downside if you love to arc the last
bit of the turn off the tail or develop rebound and acceleration out of the tail at the completion of the turn.
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