Telemark Talk / Telemark Tips Forum

What factors of ski characteristic contribute to its flotation, or more generally, good performance in deep snow? I mean both in XC and D context. Of course, width at the waist, but what else - is it possible to say, what would make ski good for such conditions?

For me it's almost all about surface area. I don't think it's a coincidence that a 270cm or so forest ski has about the same surface area as my 185 x 110 powder skis. Certain shapes may make your tips rise but I think it is at the expense of the tais sinking.

lowangle al wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 05, 2022 7:17 am

For me it's almost all about surface area. I don't think it's a coincidence that a 270cm or so forest ski has about the same surface area as my 185 x 110 powder skis.

The amount of surface area that helps you float might be less than the total surface area, though.

I have some soft Rossi BC90 skis here that will have the tip and tail stick out of the snow, laughing at me, while I sink in. They would probably work fine for a skier who doesn't weigh as much.

My Ingstads are narrower, but stiffer underfoot, and have a larger effective surface area contributing to my flotation. The Åsnes USGI surplus skis are narrower still, but super stiff and they float even better.

Different ski design does matter how the ski floats. As an overgeneralized example, say on a soft ski your boots are a foot deep and your tips and tails are at the surface. On a stiff ski with the same dimensions your ski may sink only 6 inches but remain flat. Or worse yet a ski with the same surface area but a wide shovel and skinny tails and maybe mounted a couple cm back where the tips ride up and the tails sink leaving you unable to climb out of your own track.

What they said. Soft skis can suck breaking trail.

#1 factor = speed go for tit

randoskier wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 05, 2022 3:25 pm

#1 factor = speed go for tit

Hell yeah, but it then it runs out at the bottom of the hill.