Thread: help me understand sidecut

I have recently bought a new pair of skis with my largest sidecut to date. I understand a few things about sidecut but I am trying to put it all together and need some input. I have searched and read chupa's post about sidecut to length ratio but it did not fit my needs. Here is what I know,

1 the less sidecut the bigger the turn edged turn
2 the less sidecut the more stable at speed
3 running length affects the arc of the turn as well.

here is what i would like to know. the shorter the running length the quicker the turn in relation to the same radius with a longer running length? stiffer ski will hold you on edge firmer? in genreal, I need you guys to tell me what i am missing, I am having a hard time phrasing the question.

I am going from rossi bandit xxx 195's 30* radius i think
also have b3's in 195
and jah loves 30* radius

the new ski is 191cm 35mm back tip rocker(kinked) so it is a short rise early rise tail
146-128-133 turn radius 40m i dont know the running length but it looks short, super stiff in the running length, soft tail and 1/2 the tip

some of you know what ski this is, and specifics would be great but i am looking for an in general responce.

links?/thanks

bob

Originally Posted by bobbuilds

the shorter the running length the quicker the turn in relation to the same radius with a longer running length?

Do you mean you'll complete the turn faster, as in the ski will have a higher speed due to a shorter running length? I don't know for sure but I believe not. In fact I think it will be slower? But, again, I don't know for sure.

Originally Posted by bobbuilds

stiffer ski will hold you on edge firmer?

Generally, yes

Why don't you check out this review and see if you can get a feel for an answer to the question you don't really know. Or help you frame it better/at all.

Originally Posted by bobbuilds

the shorter the running length the quicker the turn in relation to the same radius with a longer running length? bob

It seems to me, that any ski with a specific turning radius, regardless of the running edge length is going to make that radius turn when put on it's edge and held there. The only thing that will make it quicker or slower is the speed the ski is traveling.

Cheers

Don't take turn radius too seriously. Any ski will make any radius carved turn if you know what your doing. What more sidecdut does is let you make a tighter turn with less tipping of the ski which means you can make a tighter carved turn at a slower speed. Same thing applies to softer vs stiffer--it's the bend (reverse camber) that allows the ski to carve--the softer the ski the less speed needed to bend it. As far as length vs radius--many ski manufacturers will give a longer turn radius for the longer ski in a given model. So the shorter ski in a given model will make a little tighter turn than the longer. And stiffer means better edge hold. But my son can take his old soft park skis down steep ice a lot better than I can on my stiff skis. It ain't the ski, and I'm sorry but this stuff belongs on Epic.

Sidecut can be measured in turn radius. A large turn radius (ie 40 metres) = a small sidecut. A short ie 165 ski with 15m turn radius will carve a turn like a 190 ski with a 15m turn radius - although the longer ski will feel more stable at speed. A small sidectu/large turn radius means the ski won't turn very quickly, and so will feel more stbale in a straight line or big gs carve turns. A totionally (so sidewyas across the ski) ski will have better egde grip.

Originally Posted by old goat

Don't take turn radius too seriously. Any ski will make any radius carved turn if you know what your doing.

I disagree, you will not be carving slalom turns on a 193 Monster 103, 194 Squad etc. Skis are designed with a specific shape and radius in mind to excel in a given turn. Which is why you have slalom skis have ~13m radius and big-mountain chargers ~40m. This isn't to say big skis can't make small turns but you'll notice that you'll start skidding turns if you push the radius too tight because they're just not designed to carve that tight a turn.

http://www.epicski.com/forum/list/9 JONGS!!!

seriously, I prefer TGR. I know most of you are advanced skiers who know alot of this, but I ask because I KNOW you know, so I'll take that. alot of the responces are making sense. Time will tell.