Ski Feel

Often new skiers do not know how various ski perform.
They do not know what a slalom ski feels like or how a de-tuned ski feels like.

I have found a great site which can simulate ski performance! It is a ski racing "game" in which you can define the ski performance parameters. I have been trying one race course with changing ski performance characteristics. Then it it me! You can feel when this ski skidds or goes sideways because I had placed ski performance on speed only.
When I re-defined ski parameters with more carving,,,I really felt ski cut into the hill.

I suggest you all try this site/game. It is free and like airplane pilots who use "simulators" to learn how to fly specific planes, you can learn this ski "feel".
The site ishttp://skichallenge.orf.at/sc08/.
Just Google: orf-ski challenge 2008

I did not register myself on net. I just used "practice" option.

Have fun!

Pavel (or anyone),

Maybe you can give me a tip on ski selection. I have until now always (25 years) skied on my own "old school" (2 meter long) straight skis. They are now so worn that I want to hire some, but this will be my first time on carve skis.

My style is very much the old type of knees-together parallel skiing, so I want skis that will allow this whilst experimenting with a carve technique (I have already done the latter on my straight skis - it sort of works). Any tips on length and type? I am 1m90 myself.

Thanks,
Arthur.

http://skichallenge.orf.at/sc08 :mrgreen:

Arthur,
I am same height, and same knees together bit, and it still looks the best technique! I also have 2m K2s, previously was on 210s. With regard to carvers, suggest you avoid wide shovels, unless you are planning to be mainly off piste. Also, look at the shapes, there are some carvers that are more extremely cut than others, suggest you don't go for an extreme radius at first.

Lengthwise, you will find that you can probably handle 165 to 185, suggest 175 to start with.

I believe that the most important aspect is stiffness. Avoid racing skis, these will be too stiff. If you do ski quickly, avoid soft skis, they are likely to "chatter", during a fast turn on the steep, and on a fast schuss. A medium stiffness would be about right.

When you are renting, talk to the people, and say that you will want to change skis during the week ~ it is a learning period for you. Most good renters will be helpful.

Just hired some Rossignal carvers in 3V last week, good for closed knee, open knee swing, downward unweighting, skidding. Interestingly, on the first run, the left ski kept turning into the right. I swapped skis and had no further problem ~ then marked skis L & R. Conclusion ~ one ski was stiffer than the other. (There are other possible reasons)

Good skiing.

pavelski wrote:....Have fun!...

Noooooooooooooo. It's addictive. :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

Dave,
Thanks for the tips. 1.75 sounds about what I had in mind. Apart from general touring of the 3 Vallees region with a group of friends (all of them learnt skiing after the carve revolution), I will try to seek out the powder and the moguls as those parts of my repertoire need some serious improving. Especially seeing some of the videos posted on this site!

Since netiher of those require any carving I will try to get a "low carve" ski. Is there any particular term for that (such as Grand Slalom?)

I must admit I never took great care of my skis, especially in the last few years after the development of deep gouges and exposed metal edges. That's what skiing with poor snow at Xmas does for you. Curious to feel how those sharp edges work again...