This is an interesting topic, and brings back more than a few comments made to me on our recent trip to the Canadian Rockies with Gary and Alice.? Both he (the ever-observant one) and Alice, as well as my wife and daughters too(!), noticed that I was skiing far BETTER on my wider skis than my narrow carvers.? Exactly what mechanics were at play is a bit lost on me, but all I can relate is what I felt as I was skiing the two different skis.
The narrow skis were the Fischer Progressor 9, 70mm waist, 175 length, dual radius sidecut, but a nominal radius of 16m.? The wider skis were Dynastar Mythic Rider, 88mm wide, 178 length, about a 21 m radius, I think.? The latter are stiffer and heavier than the former.
On the Fischers, I always felt I should do edge changes and transitions in turns in a quick and snappy manner.? First of all because this is so easy to do on such a lively and fast ski, but also because I felt I had to just to keep up to their quickness, and finally because it is so much fun to do.? OTOH, I also noticed that I was doing stem movements quite frequently on these, esp. when tired or in broken snow.? The release of energy from the tail of the skis is pretty forceful, which I like.? However, all-in-all, low points from the judges for good style and technique on these, apparently.?
With the Mythics, being heavier, wider, and with a longer turn radius, I felt as if I had to be far more deliberate and measured in my movements.? I could not snap the skis from edge to edge as quickly, change turn radius as easily in mid-turn, and I had to be more gradual in transitions, letting the skis run flat for a titch longer between turns.? The energy release from these skis is also very smooth -- still lots of power in these, but a much more gradual, buttery smooth release that is very addictive, and is totally different in feel than my Fischers.
I skied the Fischers for the first three days, I think, but on the fourth day after a bit of fresh snowfall overnight, I took the Mythics out.? Within the first hour, nearly all were commenting on how much better I looked on these.? More fluid, better turn completion, better angulation, less jerky movements.? Interesting.......
What I take from this, is that I have to be far more patient and deliberate when I ski my Fischers. Let them take their time coming across the fall line a touch, and running flat just a mo longer before starting the next turn.? Try to make my movements more fluid, smoother, less aggressive and jerky.? This will be a wee bit of challenge, as these babies are so lively and freaky-fast, that it will take some self-restraint not to just let 'em run. On the technical side, I may try moving the bindings forward another 1cm on the plate to see if I can find a more balanced stance and get a tad more pressure on the tips. I'll do the BOF-CRS measurement first, though, and see where I'm placed at the moment (I've found this has worked well for me with other skis to find the sweet spot).
Any comments or feedback, anyone, on my observations? I would be most interested to hear some insight into what is going on.
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