ski FAST

[zinalpowZ]

yeah so will a fat 189 ski (say 100 underfoot) make that much more of a difference than a 179 in terms of skiing fast in powder?

i understand the differences in tight areas like trees and chutes etc.

and yes i know i a jong, but does it really make that much of a difference?

[marshalolson]

yes, it does

[powderface]

Dumbest post ever?

[zinalpowZ]

is the difference huge is all i want to know... i understand theres a difference... i want to know whether its significant

[marshalolson]

yes, it is

[coach]

Um..yes, it's somewhat significant...

[strawjack]

yeah so will a fat 189 ski (say 100 underfoot) make that much more of a difference than a 179 in terms of skiing fast in powder?

i understand the differences in tight areas like trees and chutes etc.

and yes i know i a jong, but does it really make that much of a difference?


if you turn you'll go slower...just don't turn if you want to ski fast.

[72Twenty]

Is that why DH race skis are so long?

[lemon boy]

yes, but it cannot explain why they're so skinny.

[Brock Landers]

yes, but it cannot explain why they're so skinny.


Skinny = Less surface area = less friction = faster?

[vano]

Skinny = Less surface area = less friction = faster?

You are corret. This is the underlying principle behind snow blades...reduced surface area for high speed cruising.

[flip]

yes, but it cannot explain why they're so skinny.

Thin is in. Have you seen the nano? DHers are very fashion conscious.

[jfost]

Skinny = Less surface area = less friction = faster?

friction is not dependent on surface area.

they're long&stiff so they can withstand and provide stability to the high-g turns needed to make it down the course. They're skinny so Daron Rahlves doesn't go airborne at 90+








also, I don't know what I'm talking about.

[Brock Landers]

friction is not dependent on surface area.


Umm not the friction force, but overall friction is defintley dependent on surface area. The more ski touching the snow (actually a layer of water on top of the snow/ice) the more friction. Though it seems insignificant, when your talking about hundredths of a second making a difference, Id think a racer would want the skinny skis with a wee bit less friction underneath. Like wide race car tires, more friction (they have so much horsepower they need more tire gripping the road)

[jfk]

^^ alright, i'm a total (physics) jong, but doesn't a bigger surface area lead to a better weight per square inch or whatever and therefore reduced friction?
not doubting you, just wondering...

[jfost]

Umm not the friction force, but overall friction is defintley dependent on surface area. The more ski touching the snow (actually a layer of water on top of the snow/ice) the more friction. Though it seems insignificant, when your talking about hundredths of a second making a difference, Id think a racer would want the skinny skis with a wee bit less friction underneath. Like wide race car tires, more friction (they have so much horsepower they need more tire gripping the road)

I thought the wide tire thing was for increased rotational stiffness & heat management/dissipation...

I got a 'D' in physics, but I did enjoy the class... does that count?!?

[StormRider]

and yes i know i a jong, but does it really make that much of a difference?

Just ask your girlfriend if 10cm would make much of a difference.

[jfost]

Just ask your girlfriend if 10cm would make much of a difference.

probably more in circumference than length :yourock:

[hat]

^^ alright, i'm a total (physics) jong, but doesn't a bigger surface area lead to a better weight per square inch or whatever and therefore reduced friction?

Less weight per square inch, but more square inches.

[SkiED]

Longer skis still go faster even with more friction or whatever. Something to do with the longer skis melting the snow into water faster, or for a longer period, providing better lubrication...and more speed!

[Big Blue]

I believe the correct terminology is: "Short skis still suck."

[zinalpowZ]

yes 10cm would make a difference in penis size...

for some reason i just didnt think it would make a HUGE difference (specially from a 179 to a 189) in pow

yes im uber dumb

[golden powder]

for powder, I think the only "fast" issue is stability, driver skills (or cojones) and maybe wax. The more stable the more faster. They're not getting knocked around as much in variable or cut-up snow which lets them run and gives you more confidence which lets you run them straighter which makes them go faster. But powder is powder whether you going mach 1 or mach looney.

long skis truck. short skis suck.

[descender]

I thought the wide tire thing was for increased rotational stiffness & heat management/dissipation...

I got a 'D' in physics, but I did enjoy the class... does that count?!?

Friction Force = f * N

f = coefficient of friction. This is a production of the materials that are interacting (skis bases, wax, snow)

N = Normal force, which is the amount of force directed perpendicular surfaces that are sliding past one another.

So given this simple equation of the frictional force, the surface area has nothing to do with frictional force.

Well it isn’t anywhere near this simple, there are tons of other factors involved. It is true to a point. If you have more surface area you decrease the pressure which counteracts the effect of having more area in contact with the sliding surface. The frictional force of a block of wood is about the same no matter what edge you slide it on. Again this is way over-simplified, but still useful for making other predictions.

I always thought the length of DH boards has more to do with stability at speed and not dying when going 80 mph than friction. For that they wax the crap out of things.

[TurxSki]

Just get yourself fatter, if you want to go faster.
There's something somewhere (Dr Flake ?) on body-weight vs air-resistance. Fatter wins.

:confused: So, no sure answer on what speed difference ski-width makes, with the same ski length ?
Or is it wider=slower ?

[flytrip]

It might be short, but it sure is skinny!:D

[G]

Skiing fast is stupid. Stick to snowblades.