Detuning rockered skis

[LC]

I couldn't find much from the past 3 years on the subject: what is the current collective view on detuning of rockered skis? Specifically for me, Automatics (rocker/camber/rocker) which will be mostly for soft snow but do need to grip well on hard snow when needed. The tip splay begins around 18" from the tip, but the widest point is 12" from the tip. I guess when layed over on hard snow the edge engages to the widest point, even though that's in the rockered section. The factory edges are just slightly detuned from about 15" from the tip.

For sure I'll be skiing them as they are and detuning gradually over the first few weeks, but opinions would be good to hear.

[adrenalated]

No experience with detuning the Automatics. But, my general method for rockered skis is press the bases of the skis together, make a mark on the sidewall with a Sharpie at the tip and tail contact points. Detune fore and aft of these points. The first day out I keep a gummi stone in my pocket and may or may not detune a little more if needed. More often than not, they're good to go as is.

[AlpiNord]

Here's a few past threads:
Altering base bevel to play with camber profile
detuning of rockered skis
new ski tuning - setting base bevel
Tuning Rockered Skis For Best Hardpack Behavior?

[Johnny Deep]

Ski them in low snow conditions and let nature detune those bad boyz.

[Vinman]

I run a 1 deg base and side bevel, and detune well beyond the rocker maybe 2-3 inches. I definitely keep a stone in my pocket for additional detunes as needed on inital shake down runs.

[pfluffenmeister]

^^^ or you can take them to the park and practice your butters.


ideally try and find a triple kink rail that starts with a low grit kink and finishes with a nice high grit kink.

[whyturn]

I leave them sharp, and let nature take its course. then i sharpen them

[huhh]

I just detuned the tapered tips of my S7's because they were hooky in deep moguls. I don't see a reason to detune the rockered section of the ski, you need those edges on hardpack and you wont notice sharp edges in powder anyways. If you're catching edges just because of the rocker section alone, maybe you should re-evaluate your skiing and not your skis.

[XXX-er]

I didnt detune the JJ's or DPS 112's and I didnt find them catchey, but I usually don't detune traditional skis

With a twin there isnt much ski on a packed piste so what little there is I want sharp

[stuckathuntermtn]

I know there are people here both for and against detuning.

Just to clarify: why I hear/read detuning, I think rubbing with a gummy stone on the tip and tail (or length of rocker).

WTF are you guys talking about?

[SiSt]

Personal taste: I detune the living shit out of anything which is not sidecut on my skis. Anyone on Down skis can send me a pm for the exact numbers.

If it ain't sidecut, no reason to keep it sharp.

[iggyskier]

If it ain't sidecut, no reason to keep it sharp.

^^

We are now detuning every ON3P on a scotchbrite wheel and, as a general rule, if it is not within the ski's sidecut/effective edge, the edge is knocked completely down (particularly important on any tapered skis). We then detune 2-3" into the actual sidecut. Sometimes a touch more of it is a heavily rockered ski that has a lot of sidecut in the rocker portions (C&D or pre-12/13 Caylor). Then follow it up with a gummi over the whole length a couple of times.

Edit to add - this was done with a file before the scotchbrite wheel. Dealing with a bit of catchiness is fine with a gummi, but I'd be less than thrilled if I had to use just a gummi to detune a freshly ground & edged ski by itself, as it would take awhile. At least it is hard to overdo it though...

[undertow2]

Personal taste: I detune the living shit out of anything which is not sidecut on my skis. Anyone on Down skis can send me a pm for the exact numbers.

If it ain't sidecut, no reason to keep it sharp.

^^^^^What he said... I have several pairs of rockered skis (most of which are ON3Ps) and do exactly what SiSt does... I purchased a pair of first gen ON3P Viciks and on my very first run on them I thought I made the absolute biggest mistake as I like driving skis and when I did this with the Vicik the ski was catching like crazy... I checked the ski after a couple of runs and realized when I had the skis mounted and tuned the tech sharpened the shit out of the entire ski... Took them into the shop where I was skiing and had the tech detuned and have been in love with the ski ever since... I also have Billy Goats and Wren's and never ever had any problem like this, but the ski was detuned before the maiden voyage... I truly do not know how you all are skiing rockered skis that are not detuned and are not having any issues with them "catching"... But to each his own...!

[Sessiøn]

I just detuned the tapered tips of my S7's because they were hooky in deep moguls. I don't see a reason to detune the rockered section of the ski, you need those edges on hardpack and you wont notice sharp edges in powder anyways. If you're catching edges just because of the rocker section alone, maybe you should re-evaluate your skiing and not your skis.

Funny how your similar reply was a ton less cunty in this thread. And a bit different.

http://www.epicski.com/t/114543/detu...-rockered-skis

[huhh]

Funny how your similar reply was a ton less cunty in this thread. And a bit different.

http://www.epicski.com/t/114543/detu...-rockered-skis

On my phone at work, was at home for that one...suppose I could have copied and pasted it but didn't think of that.

[LC]

We are now detuning every ON3P on a scotchbrite wheel and, as a general rule, if it is not within the ski's sidecut/effective edge, the edge is knocked completely down (particularly important on any tapered skis). We then detune 2-3" into the actual sidecut. Sometimes a touch more of it is a heavily rockered ski that has a lot of sidecut in the rocker portions (C&D or pre-12/13 Caylor). Then follow it up with a gummi over the whole length a couple of times.

Straight from the horse's mouth. This is the kind of knowledge I was looking for. Thanks.

[stuckathuntermtn]

what is a scotchbrite wheel? That buffing thing you can do a quick wax with?

[gregL]

I enhanced the detuning on the top 11" and bottom 5" of my 186 Automatics using a 10" mill bastard file (meaning rounding them even more). That part of the edge will never touch hard snow anyway. For the rest, I checked the bevel (1 and 1 degrees), smoothed them out with 200 and 400 diamond stones and will wait to ski them before doing anything else.

[Bobcat Sig]

what is a scotchbrite wheel? That buffing thing you can do a quick wax with?

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=scotchbrite+wheel

[Rob Stokes]

I really went to town on my L120's Lorn....everything that doesn't touch hard snow got fucked with a big dirty file at 45degree's.

[jaobrien6]

But, my general method for rockered skis is press the bases of the skis together, make a mark on the sidewall with a Sharpie at the tip and tail contact points. Detune fore and aft of these points

We are now detuning every ON3P on a scotchbrite wheel and, as a general rule, if it is not within the ski's sidecut/effective edge, the edge is knocked completely down (particularly important on any tapered skis). We then detune 2-3" into the actual sidecut. Sometimes a touch more of it is a heavily rockered ski that has a lot of sidecut in the rocker portions (C&D or pre-12/13 Caylor).

So just to be clear, unlike what adrenalated mentioned up top, you guys don't go off the rocker contact points normally (except for your "Sometimes" note), you go off the side cut instead?

[userA]

I really went to town on my L120's Lorn....everything that doesn't touch hard snow got fucked with a big dirty file at 45degree's.

hit my praxis bc the same way being sure to use the big dirty file as well. tried to go the techy method with fine stone but ran out of patience, saved a ton of time and some sketchy hooking at medium speeds.

[iggyskier]

So just to be clear, unlike what adrenalated mentioned up top, you guys don't go off the rocker contact points normally (except for your "Sometimes" note), you go off the side cut instead?

Yes we go off sidecut. Lots of functional edge beyond the rocker contact points. Even models in the "sometimes" category have basically the same thing, usually just slightly (less then 1.5") further into the sidecut.

We always try to do a progressive detune, so it is maximum in the areas outside the effective edge and starting at the effective edge, then decreases in intensity as it moves towards the center of the ski. For skis in the "sometimes" category, we really make sure to emphasize this as the detuned sections are longer than we normally run. As far as the number of skis that are actually in the "sometimes" category, I think it is 2 out of the 40+ models/sizes in our line.

I think the general guidelines I listed above - all edge not in the effective edge and 2-3" into the sidecut (w/ a file) + full length gummi - should pretty much be all anyone needs as a baseline. Then just tweak it for your personal preference.

[jfost]

I really went to town on my L120's Lorn....everything that doesn't touch hard snow got fucked with a big dirty file at 45degree's.

That's funny, you are writing that thinking you are some bad ass because you can file your L120 fat skis.....nice one, any retard can file on their edges and manage that, including the OP (I imagine). But really you just sound like you know nothing about skiing if you are really suggesting that detuning rockered skis is going to give similar results to filing a dedicated piste carver at 45 deg.

Go file your cock somewhere else

[LC]

That's funny, you are writing that thinking you are some bad ass because you can file your L120 fat skis.....

LOLZ, what a doucher.