I use different radius skis for different things, mostly depending on speed.
I was interested to see what radius range people prefer.
Trencher
Do you have a favoured radius ?
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Not quite. The radius given on the ski is the radius of the curve on the side of the ski when it is flat.
This is becomming more of an approximate figure nowadays because it is actually a compound curve. It may be a 12M radius at one end of the ski and a 13M radius at the other end. This one way manufacturers tweak the way a ski peforms and why two different skis with the same radius and simmilar charecteristics will perform differently.
Having said that, the radius is a good guide to type of turn a ski will make.
It also is important to understand how the radius will affect the way a ski will turn at speed. It is for this reason that the compound sidecut is important. By making the sidecut directional, the ski will behave better at a higher speed than it would with a regular radius sidecut, but might not give you the hook up to make tight carved turns at lower speeds.
Trencher
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Started by Trencher in Ski Hardware 14-Mar-2008 - 13 Replies
Poll - What radius skis do you use ?
| 10/11M | 0% | 0 | |
| 12/13M | 50% | 3 | |
| 14/15M | 33% | 2 | |
| 16/17M | 17% | 1 | |
| 18/19M | 0% | 0 | |
| 20+M | 0% | 0 |
Total Votes : 6
Trencher posted Mar-2008
because I'm so inclined .....
Edited 3 times. Last update at 15-Mar-2008
Souldrive
reply to 'Do you have a favoured radius ?' posted Mar-2008
hello trencher, can you (or anyone else) descibe what a radius is? i can relate the term to geometrics but don't fully understand it with regard to skis.
Generally I just put them on and go, by the end of the day i'm acustomed to the skis potential. Maybe understanding a ski's radius will help my future selection? (ref: volkl P40s that wiped me out :shock:)
Generally I just put them on and go, by the end of the day i'm acustomed to the skis potential. Maybe understanding a ski's radius will help my future selection? (ref: volkl P40s that wiped me out :shock:)
Bandit
reply to 'Do you have a favoured radius ?' posted Mar-2008
souldrive Set a ski on edge and let it turn naturally. The distance it takes to complete an arc from one direction to another is the radius. Skis with a small radius like slalom skis, say 11/13 metres will turn much tighter than big mountain skis 19-23 metres. Choice can be down to how you prefer to ski, big lazy turns down the fall line, or tight carved arcs?
Hint....the folks in the Verbier Comp, were'nt using skis which have a small radius )
Hint....the folks in the Verbier Comp, were'nt using skis which have a small radius )
Bennyboy
reply to 'Do you have a favoured radius ?' posted Mar-2008
yeah depends on what im skiing. My 4frnts have a 25m radius but are as much fun in their correct usage as my Nordica's with a 14m radius.
Skis that are narrow underfoot and wide at tip and tail generally have a tight turning radius. Skis that are fatter underfoot and not comparatively wider at tip and tail have a long turning radius. For totally different usage but both are extremely fun!
Skis that are narrow underfoot and wide at tip and tail generally have a tight turning radius. Skis that are fatter underfoot and not comparatively wider at tip and tail have a long turning radius. For totally different usage but both are extremely fun!
Trencher
reply to 'Do you have a favoured radius ?' posted Mar-2008
bandit wrote:souldrive Set a ski on edge and let it turn naturally. The distance it takes to complete an arc from one direction to another is the radius. Skis with a small radius like slalom skis, say 11/13 metres will turn much tighter than big mountain skis 19-23 metres. Choice can be down to how you prefer to ski, big lazy turns down the fall line, or tight carved arcs?
Not quite. The radius given on the ski is the radius of the curve on the side of the ski when it is flat.
This is becomming more of an approximate figure nowadays because it is actually a compound curve. It may be a 12M radius at one end of the ski and a 13M radius at the other end. This one way manufacturers tweak the way a ski peforms and why two different skis with the same radius and simmilar charecteristics will perform differently.
Having said that, the radius is a good guide to type of turn a ski will make.
It also is important to understand how the radius will affect the way a ski will turn at speed. It is for this reason that the compound sidecut is important. By making the sidecut directional, the ski will behave better at a higher speed than it would with a regular radius sidecut, but might not give you the hook up to make tight carved turns at lower speeds.
Trencher
because I'm so inclined .....
Edited 2 times. Last update at 15-Mar-2008
Bandit
reply to 'Do you have a favoured radius ?' posted Mar-2008
You may have more tech speak, but my spelling is so much better :D
From Ellis Brigham.com today.....
Between us, we should be able to confuse souldrive enough to turn him to the demon drink :lol:
From Ellis Brigham.com today.....
Jargon Buster
Radius
The phrase “radius” used in this catalogue/website refers to a ski’s sidecut radius and can be thought of as the ‘natural’ turn size of that ski. Assuming that due to its curve, the edge of a ski could be one part of a circle, then the sidecut radius would be the radius of that circle. These figures are given in metres. Factors that will affect the sidecut radius are the ski’s length and sidecut depth. The phrase turn radius is slightly different as turn radius is variable and depends on the person using the ski - applying more reverse camber or bend will create a smaller turn radius.
Typically, skis designed for on-piste skiing will have a short radius of 10 to 18m so they will initiate a turn and carve easily, whilst skis designed for maximum off-piste use will have a 25m+ radius. Freeride skis are somewhere in between as they need to function both on and off piste. New for this season are the all terrain hybrid skis such as the Atomic Metrons and Salomon Scramblers that have a small radius but can still be used off piste due to their wide waist.
Between us, we should be able to confuse souldrive enough to turn him to the demon drink :lol:
Trencher
reply to 'Do you have a favoured radius ?' posted Mar-2008
Yer, we gotta get speel chek on this forum. :lol:
So just to be clear...
"Assuming that due to its curve, the edge of a ski [when laid flat]. could be one part of a circle, then the sidecut radius would be the radius of that circle"
It's such an important part of understanding how skis work that it should always be the first question to ask about a ski.
Trencher
So just to be clear...
"Assuming that due to its curve, the edge of a ski [when laid flat]. could be one part of a circle, then the sidecut radius would be the radius of that circle"
It's such an important part of understanding how skis work that it should always be the first question to ask about a ski.
Trencher
because I'm so inclined .....
Souldrive
reply to 'Do you have a favoured radius ?' posted Mar-2008
I need a drink just trying to read it, to understand it i'd have to be hammered!! thanks anyway!
Topic last updated on 17-March-2008 at 12:24