Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!floyd!harpo!decvax!ittvax!allenm From: allenm@ittvax.UUCP (Allen Matsumoto) Newsgroups: net.rec.ski Subject: Re: skis Message-ID: <1343@ittvax.UUCP> Date: Fri, 16-Mar-84 09:27:39 EST Article-I.D.: ittvax.1343 Posted: Fri Mar 16 09:27:39 1984 Date-Received: Sat, 17-Mar-84 03:19:10 EST References: intelca.228 Lines: 34 How quickly we forget! The long channels on the bottom of skis are called "grooves" and were, indeed, intended to add stability during straight running. This was considered necessary in the old days (say, 20 years ago) when skiers used mushy leather boots (remember longthongs?). With the advent of "good" boots there is now a tradeoff to be made between grooves for straight tracking and flat bases for swivel turns. Skis with flat bases became popular when ballet skis came out about 10 years ago. Downhill skis still have grooves, some models have 2 grooves per ski. These are typically hard to turn quickly. Ballet skis are short, double tipped (tail turns up), flat or beveled skis. These are unstable at even moderate speed. Now, what about intermediate, advanced, or slalom/ GS skis? If you like to ride a flat ski at any speed, grooves will help track. However, if you aren't going too fast, good laterally rigid boots would be more important. If you like to swivel your turns, e.g. in (softer) bumps, a groove introduces a slight inconsistency into your turning and you might prefer flat bases. Most skiers nowadays ski roughly from edge-to-edge. For such skiing, I don't think it really makes any difference. What you have to decide, then, is how much straight running and how much swivelling you will be doing. Obviously, other characteristics of skis are much more important in determining whether a ski is suitable for you. (I also have skis with flat bottoms, but that did not influence my decision.) Allen Matsumoto ITT Advanced Technology Center Stratford, CT decvax!ittvax!allenm