Torsional Flex.

[scoke]

From this inspired thread: http://www.ballofspray.com/vanillaforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2639&page=1#Item_0

It's really primarily about Torsional Flex. We can flex test the skis all we want but if the ski is not torsionally strong enough, or has given out torsionally, we are toast. Another problem is the baseline of torsional flex. As a skier and tester we truely have no idea the "numbers" for the skis. Most torsional flex by design, is to failure or to a level of damaging the sample. If there is a way to flex torsionaly without destroying the sample, hallejuah! Would love to see it.

 

 

It's really a shame there is such a small number of waterskiers compared to the snow skiers. They are generations ahead of us due to the pure R&D they can spend (and do spend) on their gear.They are also all about torsional flex as well.

[eleeski]

Waterskis are not under extreme torsional loads. There is water on the entire bottom of the ski pressuring nearly evenly. The ski rotates relatively slowly when switching edges. The torsional stiffness of the binding limits how much tortional load can be applied to the ski (while some hardshells are somewhat stiff, they are much softer than a snow ski boot).

Snow skis on hard snow are riding on one edge with the center of pressure in the middle of the ski. That is a torsional load!

One waterski set involves 60 turns and bumps (assuming 10 passes). Four sets a day is a massive training day. Four months is a long season. 7200 turns and bumps is a slalom skis total load for a really agressive season. I turn 25 times in the bumps for every 100 feet of alititude drop in the zipper line. I skied 20,000 feet on Wednesday. OK only about half of that was bumps. Three days of snow skiing works the skis as much as a season of slalom. And how many cliffs did my slalom ski huck?

Waterski equipment is reasonably robust. Trust it.

Eric

[Deanoski]

Snowskis at least good snowskis have a milled vertical laiminated wood core.

foam core snowskis suck!!!! they loss there camber (break down) and are bouncing

waterskis have a foam core so they break down faster. only the glass or carbon holding it together. (Fact)

Deano