What is dampness in a ski?

Dampness is simply the ski's ability to absorb the natural vibrations inherent in the interaction between the ski and the snow. A "damp" ski will absorb those vibrations making for a smooth ride (think big Cadillac).

What promotes dampening in a ski?

A wood core is typically sandwiched between structural layers, which give the ski its torsional rigidity (stiffness while twisting) and can add vibration damping. Common types of structural layers include fiberglass, Titanal (which is actually an aluminum alloy), carbon fiber, aramid, and rubber.

What does a poppy ski mean?

Poppy / Energetic: Skis that rebound / bounce back when you bend them. This could be after the apex of a hard-carved turn on groomers, or when flexing the ski before the takeoff of a jump or drop, in order to get more air.

What makes a ski good in crud?

What I like in a crud ski is a little bit of tip rocker, but not too much rocker. I like it to be stiff enough to power through the crud, but nimble enough that I can work it without having to muscle it. Point your skis where you want to go. If that doesn't work, go where they're pointed.

What does a Surfy ski mean?

A surfski (or: "surf ski", "surf-ski") is a type of kayak in the kayaking "family" of paddling craft. It is generally the longest of all kayaks and is a performance oriented kayak designed for speed on open water, most commonly the ocean, although it is well suited to all bodies of water and recreational paddling.

What is a death cookie?

During the day, the warm spring sun turns snow to mush. Then, if grooming machines work a run before there's a deep freeze, they chew up the slope's surface, leaving chunks in their wake. When the chunks freeze, they turn into what are affectionately known as “death cookies.”

What is the most stable surf ski?

The BlueFin is the most stable Fenn surfski. It's designed so that you can surfski immediately without having to spend a lot of time learning to balance the ski. It offers very good surfing, downwind ability and is similar speed, if not faster, than the XT, Fenn's previous stable surfski.

What is corn snow?

Large-grained, rounded crystals formed from repeated melting and freezing of the snow. Under Corn Snow or Melt-Freeze conditions, a crust forms on the surface that will support your weight when frozen, but turns to deep slush during the heat of the day.

What is crust snow?

a hard snow surface lying upon a softer layer; crust may be formed by sun, rain or wind, and is described as breakable crust or unbreakable crust, depending upon whether it wil break under the weight of a turning skier. snow.

What is a forgiving ski?

A "forgiving" ski simply allows for grosser body movements without instantaneous reactions. Say you regularly let your hips fall behind your feet; a forgiving ski will give you time to regain your balance without repercussions, while an unforgiving ski will dump you unceremoniously on your rump.

What is aggressive snow?

Abstract. Background/Aim Aggressive ski-snow interaction is characterised by direct force transmission and difficulty of getting the ski off its edge once the ski is carving. This behaviour has been suggested to be a main contributor to severe knee injuries in giant slalom (GS).

What is a snappy ski?

Playful skis are not designed to go top speed in the worst conditions, but rather for playing around in any condition. Damp | synonym: floppy | antonym: poppy, snappy Damp refers to the skis rebound when going over bumps. A damp ski will rebound more slowly, giving the ski a smooth “damp” property.

What is the bottom of a ski made of?

The base of your skis are built of a material called ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE) and are generally only a millimeter or two thick. Ski bases utilize a “sintered” UHMW that has tiny pores that accept wax, allowing an improved glide across the snow.

Are carbon skis worth it?

The bottom line here is that going with a carbon ski does in fact affect your downhill performance. It may be lighter, but it is drastically less damp which can lead to chatter in harder conditions. If the allure of carbon skis is enticing you to buy a pair, just know what you're getting yourself into.

What is the core of a ski?

Ski cores are constructed as laminates; thin pieces of wood/composites adhered together to form unique flex characteristics. Some skis use only one type of wood and mill the wood to make it thicker in parts that need rigidity and strength.

Why is skiing in powder difficult?

One of the biggest challenges for novice powder skiers is getting them to stop twisting their skis sharply and abruptly too far across the hill, says Stephen. Powder skiing is all about control through resistance (flexing and extending), rather than turning.

What are the bumps on ski slopes called?

What are Moguls? Moguls are bumps that you'll find on some groomed slopes at downhill ski areas. They can be constructed purposely by the ski area, but more often they form naturally as skiers carve turns down a slope.

How do you ski bumpy snow?

10 Tips on How to Ski in Choppy Conditions

1. Keep moving and fighting for your rhythm. ...
2. Unless the slope is very steep, avoid making sharp V-shaped turns. ...
3. Look ahead & aim for your next turn. ...
4. Use wide skis if the snow is choppy and fresh. ...
5. If you are really stuck, then you can opt for 'mountaineers turns'

What does mashed potatoes mean in skiing?

MASHED POTATOES: Mushy spring snow often found at busy trail crossings or near the base area at the end of a warm day. MOGUL: What a “bump” used to be called. NOODLE: A ski so old or so poorly built that it won't stay rigid enough for fast skiing. OFF-PISTE: Ungroomed snow, usually beyond or between marked trails.

What is frozen granular?

Frozen granular is a hard surface formed when melted and refrozen snow forms granules that freeze together after rain or warm temperatures. Frozen granular is noisy to ski, but will support a pole plant or allow you to hold an edge.

What is hot POW?

Hot pow: Fresh spring powder that, if caught at the right time, can provide great turns with the benefit of warmer weather on the mountain.

How fast can a surf ski go?

Once the initial familiarization with the craft and sport occurs, a large appeal of the Surfski lies in the speeds you can reach. “You can paddle in any conditions with a top speed of 56 km/h on an ocean wave,” says Chalupsky.

How fast can an outrigger canoe go?

Speed will be greater if the canoe is sailing on a beam reach (wind coming from the side); less if the canoe is close-hauled or going downwind. Hokule'a can sail up to 10-12 knots on a beam reach in strong winds (30 knots), with a following sea.

Is surf ski hard?

You may not be as fast as an elite pro, but you can still ride it. Paddling a surfski, equipment/boat makes a huge difference in performance. It is very hard for athletic people to understand this concept since most of their previous activities weren't the case.