I can put a structure in a ski from edge to edge then apply the base bevel, resulting in no structure in the edge and an edge to edge structure. Most speed skis have edge to edge structure and I'd wager a beer that not one of those edges (on the WC at least) has structure in them.
Well, you can verify this by use of simple trigonometrics. If you have a structure of 50 µm, how do you have to apply the base angle to polish the structure out of the edge? If you use a base angle of 1°, you will have 17 µm at the outer edge of the metal (I assume that for speed disciplines you will have an edge not thicker than 1mm, so tan(1°) * 1mm = 17 µm). Thats not enough, right? So you decide to grind into the base, as you can see in the photo of Travis Ganongs ski. For example one millimeter more. Then you get 35 µm. Or with the use of 1.5° you get 52 µm. Gotcha! With the use of a magnifier you may see structure in the edge, but maybe thats enough. And of course they use 1° or more in speed disciplines because it makes no fun when the edge bites into the snow at a speed level of 80 mp/h.
But Travis Ski has never seen a normal service robot. This structure can only applied with a precise world cup machine that has been prepared very carefully for this ski. It is almost impossible to achive such a result with a service robot that runs with a standard setup. And as far as I know they also use different structure depths. With a maximum in the middle of the base, and a finer and not so deep structure at the outer side.
And for short turns you have other requirements and preconditions. Less speed but aggressive short turns. World cup skiers frequently have 0° right under the binding. In this case you can not polish the structure out of the edge. So the structure must be applied as you can see in the photo of the first post.
