2013 A3 Fin Settings

[Skoot1123]

Well, as I have just posted my summer's PB I also happened to hit a boat guide (the big hard foam kind) dead on and I think it knocked my fin out a bit. Since then I have been porpoising on my one ball (and others) like crazy. When I first got the ski I wasn't porpoising at all, so this is new territory. I'd like to make a change and get back to skiing normal! I didn't set the ski up to begin with, so I don't know the settings I started out with - though I believe they were close to stock - what settings should I go with? Background info: weight 155-160, skiing speed 34.2mph sometimes faster. Line length is 22 off to 32 off. Thanks a bunch!!!

[rod0041]

Stock settings

Dft - 0.73

Length - 6.845

Depth - 2.510

Wing - 8

 

Some prefer to move the dft up to 0.76... I have mine at 0.745

 

[MrJones]

I started at 2.500, 6.840, 0.775. Those numbers were from Trent and Willy who independently were within a couple of 1/1000's of each other. I trusted them.

I wound up at 2.511, 6.834, 0.770. Both work. The first set is a little more carvy, the second turns quicker.

[SkiJay]

@MrJones The way the last sentence reads, it suggests that more depth, less length and a shorter distance from tail turned quicker. Typo?

[MrJones]

No. To me, more tip makes the tip engage sooner and the turn at least "feels" like it takes longer. Shorter feels better to me so long as it will engage and then get across course.

[MrJones]

At least on this ski, with this binding placement, etc. On the Nano 1 longer than average felt better. Go figure.

[SkiJay]

Thank you tons for this feedback @MrJones because you are a perfect guy to make this observation. I've been on a bit of a rant this summer against setting up skis to be too easy to turn because super-easy turning comes at the expense of feel and consistency.

 

If the skier can be more aggressive with the ski without getting the surprise results so common with skis set up to turn too easily, then the skier can turn harder with more confidence and consistency. As counterintuitive as it sounds, in some cases, making the ski harder to turn (read "more stable") can actually result in tighter, harder turns despite what the charts suggest.

 

According to most "charts" out there, all three of the fin changes you made should make the ski turn slower, and they probably did. But I'm suggesting that the net result of this setup change was a ski that felt better, probably more secure and consistent, which in turn lead to the confidence to go after each turn more aggressively.

 

I certainly don't presume to know if this describes your personal experience in this case, @MrJones, but I have come across this phenomenon with other skiers. I just couldn't resist this opportunity to acknowledge that the skier is such a huge part of the overall performance package that making changes based on what the "charts" suggest can sometimes be quite out of context.

[Skoot1123]

@MrJones @rod0041 Thanks guys!

[Skoot1123]

WEll, turns out my fin was DEFINITELY knocked out of wack. My DFT was .724" and length was a bit longer, depth was 2.51" and wing angle was ~6 degrees. I used the first settings from @mrjones and set the wing angle at 8 degrees. I'm skiing tonight so we'll see what happens!

[Skoot1123]

Well the ski definitely performed well last night. I ran a 32 OFF pass. First one in two years. I used the first group of numbers that @mrjones suggested. I also have the wing set at 8 degrees. I was amazed at how well the ski came back under me after the turn - I NEVER had to wait for it. Only thing I am wondering about is if it is "too quick" to come back around? Can anyone comment on this? Should I try any other wing angle? It felt like it took a little more work to get cross course, but with the angle I was getting at the finish of the turn it seemed like it more than made up for it.

[ballsohard]

What should I change from stock on my 2013 a3 to achieve a better offside?