Why are so many touring skis so damn stiff? (downhill)
-
lowangle al
- Posts: 2752
- Joined: Sat Jan 11, 2014 3:36 pm
- Location: Pocono Mts / Chugach Mts
- Ski style: BC with focus on downhill perfection
- Favorite Skis: powder skis
- Favorite boots: Scarpa T4
- Occupation: Retired cement mason. Current job is to take my recreation as serious as I did my past employment.
Re: Why are so many touring skis so damn stiff? (downhill)
In reality they are used all season and there may be breakable crust or deep powder.
-
Woodserson
- Posts: 2987
- Joined: Wed Feb 11, 2015 10:25 am
- Location: New Hampshire
- Ski style: Bumps, trees, steeps and long woodsy XC tours
- Occupation: Confused Turn Farmer
Re: Why are so many touring skis so damn stiff? (downhill)
Sure, I get that. But these things are RIGID. They just don't seem fun except on hardpack, and at that moment why be on something well over 100mm
European spring touring on refrozen snow? SURE! With a 75-90mm waisted ski and the stiffness to match. I go to Europe. I ski Europe. I see what they are on. It's not big huge wide boards in the springtime. I had a ski like this (K2 Wayback 82-- stiff as hell and light) it was great for this application.
But when I start seeing 97mm-106mm skis, which are clearly for softer snow, and I can barely flex them on the shop floor, it makes me wonder. None of these skis scream to me: I'm fun and easy! A skier would have to stay on top of them at all times to not get kicked into the backseat and taken along for the ride. In the BC horsing-around on a ski is de rigueur. An accomodating ski is necessary, IMO. If I'm a PRO ATHLETE or 25 and on top of my game, sure, but most people are not this.
Again, not looking for a noodle, but looking for some flex to be more workable more gentle.
I think part of it is people are forcing this issue that 100mm waisted skis are "mid-fat" and thus expecting 50/50 application on hard groomed surfaces, and the skis are then flexed for that. Which is ridiculous, because an 85mm ski, with the same flex, is just so much better on groomed surface. It doesn't mean you can't ski a 100mm waist on hardpack, plenty do, it's just that there is a better tool for the job.
European spring touring on refrozen snow? SURE! With a 75-90mm waisted ski and the stiffness to match. I go to Europe. I ski Europe. I see what they are on. It's not big huge wide boards in the springtime. I had a ski like this (K2 Wayback 82-- stiff as hell and light) it was great for this application.
But when I start seeing 97mm-106mm skis, which are clearly for softer snow, and I can barely flex them on the shop floor, it makes me wonder. None of these skis scream to me: I'm fun and easy! A skier would have to stay on top of them at all times to not get kicked into the backseat and taken along for the ride. In the BC horsing-around on a ski is de rigueur. An accomodating ski is necessary, IMO. If I'm a PRO ATHLETE or 25 and on top of my game, sure, but most people are not this.
Again, not looking for a noodle, but looking for some flex to be more workable more gentle.
I think part of it is people are forcing this issue that 100mm waisted skis are "mid-fat" and thus expecting 50/50 application on hard groomed surfaces, and the skis are then flexed for that. Which is ridiculous, because an 85mm ski, with the same flex, is just so much better on groomed surface. It doesn't mean you can't ski a 100mm waist on hardpack, plenty do, it's just that there is a better tool for the job.
-
lilcliffy
- Posts: 4147
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 2015 6:20 pm
- Location: Stanley, New Brunswick, Canada
- Ski style: backcountry Nordic ski touring
- Favorite Skis: Asnes Ingstad, Combat Nato, Amundsen, Rabb 68; Altai Kom
- Favorite boots: Alpina Alaska BC; Lundhags Expedition; Alfa Skaget XP; Scarpa T4
- Occupation: Forestry Professional
Instructor at Maritime College of Forest Technology
Husband, father, farmer and logger
Re: Why are so many touring skis so damn stiff? (downhill)
ThisWoodserson wrote: ↑Sat Jan 23, 2021 9:38 amI think part of it is people are forcing this issue that 100mm waisted skis are "mid-fat" and thus expecting 50/50 application on hard groomed surfaces, and the skis are then flexed for that. Which is ridiculous, because an 85mm ski, with the same flex, is just so much better on groomed surface. It doesn't mean you can't ski a 100mm waist on hardpack, plenty do, it's just that there is a better tool for the job.
Cross-country AND down-hill skiing in the backcountry.
Unashamed to be a "cross-country type" and love skiing down-hill.
Unashamed to be a "cross-country type" and love skiing down-hill.