Race ski info

Wayne Kerr · 17-04-2012, 06:59 PM

Can you chaps tell me if your ski has a 'tunnel'?
If so , what is the advantage, more grip? Where does it start, does it taper towards the rear and where does it finish?

Rebel Skier · 17-04-2012, 08:06 PM

depends on how you define a tunnel? from what you are saying that it tapers to the end i would guess that the ski you are on about is a slalom ski?

race skis are flat on the bottom along the entire length and square at the tail end (although the ski does taper slightly from tip to tail). i think the reason it is flat is so that the ski is more stable at speed.

a slalom ski has the concave or 'tunnel' so that it will turn well and hold on in the turn (i assume, I'm no expert in slalom but it seems to make sense to me!) another telling characteristic is that a race ski is the best part of 7ft and a couple of inches long, a slalom ski is closer to 5 or 5 and a half ft

hope this answers your question?

Wayne Kerr · 18-04-2012, 10:32 AM

Rebel;
You've answered the question in full. Thanks.
I've got a 7' 3" one and was wondering if they had developed or evolved throughout time.

Rebel Skier · 18-04-2012, 11:30 AM

over the years i don't think there has been an awful lot of development, say for perhaps different bevels down the edges which may or may not have an effect on how the ski behaves.. people have experimented with different ways of making skis with different additions or even materials. the two major manufacturers of race skis around the world are Maherajah in the USA and DC waterskis in Austraila, both have made fibreglass skis etc, but seeing as many many skiers still use the wooden ones, the traditional method seems to have stood the test of time!

Wayne Kerr · 24-05-2012, 08:26 PM

That's the info I required, thanks.
Looks like the superglide "plank" I have from Bert Williams (BJW Marine) is up there with the rest of them.

Again, thanks.

freedom · 25-05-2012, 08:40 AM

Skied on both a DC and a maha, a custom, but not the ski you speak ok... The custom, IMO handled like a pig and tried to track on it's edges an pulled you in everytime you tried to turn. I also have a 70" maha 360 fibreglass ski which I use as a training ski which you can easily ski at 60 on in a sort chop. Skis are very individual and can also be drastically changed by the position of the bindings aswell. Best just get out and try it and see if it worksfor you

freedom · 25-05-2012, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freedom

Skied on both a DC and a maha, a custom, but not the ski you speak ok... The custom, IMO handled like a pig and tried to track on it's edges an pulled you in everytime you tried to turn. I also have a 70" maha 360 fibreglass ski which I use as a training ski which you can easily ski at 60 on in a sort chop. Skis are very individual and can also be drastically changed by the position of the bindings aswell. Best just get out and try it and see if it worksfor you

forgot to say the 360 does have a tunnel but does not taper towards the end