Quite a few rental skis and entry- to intermediate-level models have early rise and a small degree of tail rocker to ease turn initiation and finish, making the skis more forgiving. Ample ski-to-snow contact in the ski’s forebody allows it to arc through a turn. Models with full rocker are designed with reverse camber throughout the whole ski (like the base of a rocking chair). Tese skis are easy to ski in powder or very rough conditions. Tey surf, pivot, and skid sideways in all types of snow. Teir specialty is big-mountain lines in ungroomed snow. Tey are fun and playful but not designed for traditional turn shapes where the skis work back and forth across the fall line.
TIP SHAPE
Ski tips are designed to perform in a specific way. Considerations for tip shape are width, the location and degree of rocker, and where the widest point is in relation to the upturn of the tip. Tere are three general categories of tip con- struction, although manufacturers may combine some of the elements. Te performance tip is designed with a low profile off the snow and blunt shape, and the ski’s sidecut continues into the tip area – with the widest part close to the top of the tip. Tis allows the ski
FIGURE 5.7: Ski tip designs PERFORMANCE ALL-MOUNTAIN
POWDER
tip to continue to pull into the turn as the ski is edged. Generally, these have a slight to small amount of tip rocker. With a tip that pulls this strongly, early rise is needed to help release the tip to move into the new turn. Found on race skis and high-performance groomer skis, turn initiation is very direct and powerful. An all-mountain tip is designed with a low profile off the snow and a slightly blunt, rockered tip, allowing the ski to float in various snow conditions. Te sidecut ends at the widest part of the ski, either where the ski tip starts to turn up or slightly farther up the tip. Te tip rocker is longer (starting farther away from the tip) than with the performance tip, allowing a more forgiving turn initiation and easier transition between turns. Tis tip shape tracks straighter under a wide variety of snow conditions. Since the sidecut goes to the base of the tip, the ski can make carved arcs, while still allowing it to handle cut-up snow and variable conditions without always wanting to turn up the hill. Two different powder tip profiles exist. Te low-profile tip shape with a long rocker allows the ski to float easily while still enabling the front of the ski to play a role in turn initiation and controlling turn shape. Te widest part of the ski is placed well back. With this ski, the tip actually starts to taper in and is noticeably more narrow. Tis allows the ski to track straighter and not get deflected in cut-up or crud snow conditions, and at the higher speeds seen in today’s off-piste skiing. Te high-profile tip shape with a long rocker has a more abrupt rise, allowing the ski to plane on top of the snow at lower speed. Te abrupt tip shape also means that the ski tip doesn’t pull the ski into a turn, and the ski pivots and slips easily in powder.
TheSnowPros.org
CHAPTER 5: SKI EQUIPMENT 75
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