Alpine Skiing - Ski

Skis are the most crucial part of alpine skiing as they are the essential equipment that is generally long, made up of usually thin pieces of wood, plastic, or metal that you strap to your feet to glide across the snow.

Do the variations in the ski design affect the ski's performance?

Yes, choosing the right ski with the right design is like adding more value to your life. Usually, ski design depends on various factors such as:

1) Ski Length- Compared to skis based on length, longer skis usually require a more muscular steering effort but add on some stability at speed & float in deep snow rather than the shorter skis, which tend to be more manoeuvrable.

2) Longitudinal Flex- The ski's flexibility from tip to tail. Commonly a softer flexing ski is easier to steer but is often less stable at higher speeds. Moreover, the stiffer skis tend to be more stable at speed and grip the snow better but can be challenging to steer at the lower speeds & require more precision.

3) Waist Width- If the ski is broad, it will have more surface area, which is advantageous for floating well in the deep snow. But if the ski is narrower, it is sharp edge to edge & creates much less torque on your ankles, providing even better grip on harder snow.

4) Sidecut- This refers to the shape cut out of the side of the ski.

• If the ski is broadest near the tip, narrowest underfoot & then widen again towards the tail. Usually, the depth of this type of sidecut determines the radius of the ski's self-steering effect when tipped on the edge.


• Meanwhile, a shallower side cut may be ideal for more significant turns or deep powder.

5) Camber-  When the ski has no weight, the contact points are at the tip & tail, touching the snow, whereas the waist stays suspended in the air. But, once the ski weights it, the camber touches the snow allowing the whole grip.

6) Rocker- This type of bend usually resembles reverse camber, meaning that neither the tip & tail is involved with the snow until and unless it got submerged in deep snow.

7) Shovel- It is the part just below the tip whose primary purpose is to prevent your skin from getting deep into the snow rather than helping you contour the changes in the terrain.

How is a ski constructed?

The ski is complex, whether determined externally or internally.

• Core- The core of the ski is the wood. Nowadays, most manufacturers use a combination of different woods to create a perfect balance of weight, flex & strength.

• Types of Composite Layers-

1. i) Fibreglass- If the wood is the core of the ski, then the materials used for reinforcement are the reason behind the personality on the snow. Usually, the ski comprises two composite layers; the fabric and the epoxy.


2. ii) Carbon fibre- In the last decade, fibreglass got replaced with carbon fibre due to its extremely lightweight and stiffness. For this reason, carbon fibre is a more popular material in the manufacturing of backcountry and touring skis.


3.  iii)Titanal- An aerospace-grade aluminium alloy that does not add a lot of weight to ski but provides torsional rigidity, making it desirable for those who need super stiff ski as it is a metal.

• Base- The base of the skis is made up of a material known as ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE) that has tiny pores that accept wax for further improved gliding across the snow.


• Topsheet- It is the canvas for manufacturers to decorate it with various designs & colours by printing, sublimation or direct digital printing. It also protects the inside of the ski from water damage.


• Sidewalls- The sidewall is the area along the edge of a ski above the metal edge. The three types of construction sidewalls are-

1.  ABS Sidewall / Sandwich Construction-In this type of construction, each layer is flat and is placed on the sides to protect the core, and this design is used in racing skis.


2. Cap Construction-This is where the composite layer & top sheet are put down over the core to seal the edge. This design makes the ski lighter and prevents the top sheet from damage due to its curved shape.


3. Half-Cap Construction- This is a hybrid of the two constructions mentioned above, which provides a suitable pressure transmission to the edges and is light.

• Edges- Ski edges are commonly made up of steel or stainless steel and are held into the ski with T-shaped inserts placed between the lower composite layer & base.

 Types of skis-

• All-mountain wide skis - As the name suggests, these skis range from 90 mm to 109 mm. The all-mountain wide skis are robust and are capable of handling it all. These are known as mid-fats or fats. The elaborated waists enhance flotation over soft snow without compromising with agility over groomed slopes. The skis can effectively cut through sloppy snow and provide stability too.


• Powder skis are ideal for skiing on deep powder snow with a waist width of 109 mm and higher for men and 100 mm or higher for women. These skis have a fully rockered profile or tips and tails to enhance their floating tendency and manoeuvrability. It also keeps the edges of the ski from catching. Powdered skis are also known as super-fats.


• Racing skis - As the name suggests, these skis provide high speed and are ideal for racing purposes. These skis provide excellent edging ability at high speed but require a lot of strength for controlling, due to which Expert skiers prefer these skis as they demand maximum technique. The racing skis are easy to use on the groomed slopes with slim and rigid designs.


• Carving skis - These skis feature the narrowest waist ranging from 74 mm to 85 mm that adds quickness and edge holding capacity. These are ideal for ski groomed runs and suitable for all ability levels. These skis have a lesser amount of rocker, giving a snappy feel and good pop out of turns. Their narrow design makes these carving skis bog down and sink in softer snow and powder, but their performance on the more rigid surface is unmatchable.


• Twin-tips skis - These skis have two tips so that skiers can go backwards and perform certain tricks. It has a broader waist which offers stability on the rails and while landing jumps. The skis come with two different models like specific park-only models and versatile all-mountain versions.