SKIS
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To begin our
section on skis, let’s start with the assumption that you know that there has
been a revolution in skis during the last number of years. Two things have
primarily fueled this revolution: Materials technology and the new breed of
“shaped” skis. If you are interested in the evolution of skis from their
humble beginnings, there is an interesting article at www.aspenhistory.org/tipchp2.html.
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If you are
interested in current skis, here is our take on things. The combination of
new shapes and new materials technology has developed a breed of ski that is
easier to ski on. These skis will make you a better skier almost from the
moment that you strap them on! As a skier, you probably have the same goals
as I do on the mountain – ski better and have more fun. The new skis will go
a long way towards reaching these goals.
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Part One:
Shaped Skis
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The modern
“shaped” or “parabolic” ski started out primarily as a tool to help intermediate
skiers learn to “carve” instead of skidding turns. A carved turn is more
efficient, graceful, controlled, and more gratifying than a skidded turn.
After a few lessons and lots of trips up the chairlifts the typical skier had
a burning desire to take their experience to the next level and learn to
“carve”. The new shaped skis allowed the intermediate to more easily
transition into carved turns due to its more pronounced side cut. When put on
edge, it naturally bowed into an arc and magically “carved” your turns into
the snow.
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As time passed,
this new style of ski was fiddled with and refined. Eventually they were
adapted for use by backcountry and off piste maniacs, powder hounds, groomer
cruisers of all abilities and even World Cup racers. Today there are very few
if any skis manufactured that are not made with the new “shaped” technology.
We certainly don’t sell them! The width, length, camber, and side cut
measurements vary for different peoples needs, but they all improve a skiers'
ability to ski in a controlled and efficient manner. A skier that dances
through turns in control simply has more fun than one that skids around to
change direction and speed.
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Part Two: Early
Shaped Skis
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To carve a turn properly a ski must be leaned over onto its metal edge. The edge is what bites into the snow and controls the direction that the ski will travel. It is your steering. Once on edge it can be bowed into a curved shape under the pressure of your weight and your muscular input (this is where shaped skis come into play- as soon as they are tilted onto their edge they are naturally in a bowed shape without any pressure needed!) This bowed shape “carves” you a new direction in the snow. Carving turns is fun! |
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To hold its grip on the snow along its edge a ski must not twist under pressure (like a licorice whip) at the front or rear. If it does twist, the front and back flatten out against the snow and it loses its grip. Then you are no longer carving…you are (yuck) skidding. In the past, to keep skis from flattening out, the ski makers made them very stiff. A stiff ski would not twist. This worked. Unfortunately a stiff ski was also harder to force into a bowed shape once the skier leaned it on its edge. Therefore, only the best and strongest skiers were able to force their skis into a bowed shape and carve turns. They won medals and became the stars of Warren Miller films. We watched them make the advanced runs look easy. We all wanted to ski like them. The rest of us could not force these skis into nicely bowed shapes and ended up skidding. Intermediate skiers bought softer skis. This allowed us to get them to bow. The soft skis unfortunately were soft in all respects and the fronts and backs flattened out. We ended up skidding. |
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Part Three:
Enter modern technology!
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The final part of the modern ski story has to do with materials technology. I will not get into much techno speak here but will try to explain why this is important. |
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What was the answer to the skidding turn situation? If we could have a ski that bowed easily on its edge (a soft ski) combined with a ski that did not flatten out at the tips and tails (a stiff ski) we could all be happier. Well they have done it! Skis now can be made that is soft along its length yet stiff across. Easy to turn and hard to skid! How do they do it? Well I said I wouldn’t get into techno speak (the manufacturers can do that for me on their web pages) but let me throw out some impressive words: piezio electronics, intellifibers, microchips, kevlar, carbon fiber, and titanium just to name a few. |
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We hardily endorse these skis and have aligned ourselves with the manufacturers that we feel are on the cutting edge of the new ski design. These companies understand the dynamics of skis and have the technological prowess to build them so that you and I can get the most enjoyment out of every precious day we spend on the slopes. |
843-A Gilman Street
Berkeley, CA 94710
510-527-6411