Long skis vs. Short Skis that short skis are easier to turn because of thier lower

[Mark Mendel]

Ski turns come in two flavors, carved and
windshield-wipered (most turns are some combination
of the two). In a windshield-wipered turn, the ski skides
laterally as it turns, following trajectory not unlike the
automobile part named after this turn.

Carved turns are harder to understand, but it is
worth the effort. Following the description in How the
Racers Ski (by Whitterell, if Im not mistaken) if you put
a ski on a flat surface and tilt it onto one of its edges,
because of its sidecut (i.e. the ski is wider in the tip and
tail) the edge will only touch down only at the tip and
the tail. Now bend the ski backwards into reverse
camber (by wieghting the ski) and keep bending
until the whole edge makes contact with the flat
surface. Guess what? The line of contact of the
edge with the surface is actually an arc. Turn the
flat surface into snow, and start moving the ski forward
and will follow that arc, making a wonderful turn with
no lateral motion (i.e. no sliding sideways). Turn the
snow into ice and it still works just fine. You cannot do
that with a windshield wiper.

So, the difference between short skis and long
skis is: Long skis carve, and short skis windshield-wiper.

[Jay Miazga]

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

.......... fair description of the range
of turns skiis make deleted...............

So, the difference between short skis and long
skis is: Long skis carve, and short skis windshield-wiper.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I can't help but disagree with the summary: The amount of
carving vs. skidding is somewhat affected by the characteristics
of the ski, but by far the biggest influence is the skill
and preference of the operator.

jaym