Yes, and I picked up a pair of the inexpensive V82s and am not smitten. They have a fresh tune on them, too.
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Why are skis so wide?
- Thread starter WynnDuffy
- Start date
I thought about this thread when I skied at Killington yesterday, 55deg and mostly sunny. I had three skis in the box. Race skis (72mm), Carving skis (78mm), and twin tips (101mm). Figured I ski my Laser AX's (78mm wide) since they are a very versatile ski. I started a bit late, and took one run on them in the very soft snow that was on its way to melting into slush. The AX's were controllable and skiable, but they were cleaving the snow and sinking into it. Didn't feel great in those conditions. Quick trip to the car and out came the 101mm wide Ski Logik Chariots. An oldie but goodie. A fully cambered twin tip with very wide tips and tails to go along with the 101mm underfoot. Perfection. They rode on top of the snow, no cleaving on carves, just smooth turns, and all the small clumps of snow on the trail were hardly felt.
That is why skis are so wide, even on the ice coast, we still have spring on our coast. Granted you have to get it while it lasts, and it can change quick. One of the skiers in my group was on 85mm skis and asked what does it take to make skiing more enjoyable in this heavy mushy snow, my answer: wider skis. Its about the right tool for the job and deciding how big a tool box you want to have.
That is why skis are so wide, even on the ice coast, we still have spring on our coast. Granted you have to get it while it lasts, and it can change quick. One of the skiers in my group was on 85mm skis and asked what does it take to make skiing more enjoyable in this heavy mushy snow, my answer: wider skis. Its about the right tool for the job and deciding how big a tool box you want to have.
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2015
- Posts
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I've done it quite often when staying ski in/out, particularly in a trip back to the condo for coffee or lunch or pick up a straggler. Something useful about having a couple of hours on SLs while it's boilerplate then getting on something wider or a snowboard when it starts to corn up. I've done it a few times when parked conveniently in the US - Mammoth at the Mill or Far East at Squaw or Kweed generally spring to mind but generally dirtbag parking options are making it less and less feasible and its often not really worth the transit from where you are.
With the growth and improvement in grooming by resorts. Most runs had been transformed into a slightly tilted two dimensional canvas for skiers. Great for two dimensional turns.
The advent of fat skis allows the skiers to float on top of the soft snow. Reducing the 3D snow to 2D snow. Basically all that is required of the skiers being on top of the snow are two dimensional turns.
The proliferation of two dimensional turns is adequate for most skier to deal most in resort snow conditions. What really screws the pooch is when the terrain turns 3D. Then a true 3D turn is required.
The advent of fat skis allows the skiers to float on top of the soft snow. Reducing the 3D snow to 2D snow. Basically all that is required of the skiers being on top of the snow are two dimensional turns.
The proliferation of two dimensional turns is adequate for most skier to deal most in resort snow conditions. What really screws the pooch is when the terrain turns 3D. Then a true 3D turn is required.
Hmm not sure if V76 ski differently then V82? I also went shorter on mine too. I got 172 cm, though it;s on a shorter side of things for me (I'm 6'1"), not sure if the length makes a difference. To each their own I guess.
I went short, too. It could be the bindings I put on which have more delta than I care for. I’ll ski them again before I give up on them.
