2023 Head Worldcup Rebels e-Race Pro

[Andy Mink]

As with other tech, I think it would be interesting to ski one with and one without to feel the difference. A Renown without Vibestop. A Moment with and without Triple Camber. A Head with and without the electro gizmo. Elan with and without Amphibio. And so on.

 

[Bruno Schull]

Research articles investigating the effect of damping control technology have circulated on this site. I'd bet money that the solid and stable feel and race sucess of Head skis has everything to do with the density and shape of the core, the additional layers of fiber glass and carbon fiber, the sidewalls, the edges, the binding agents, high quality race construction, and so forth...and absolutely nothing to di with mechanical-electrical effects. Ridiculous. For me, the shear marketing hyperbole makes them loose a good share of credibility. Stockli, for example, makes a famously stable ski with no need of electrical damping...

 

[François Pugh]

From my understanding, IIRC, the skis that have the gimicks are built to be less stiff when skied at lower speeds or lower energy levels, but stiffen up - but not quite up to the levels the skis built for speed and speed only are. This allows the ski to work for non-high performance skiing, without sacrificing as much high performance as they would have to without the "gimmick". I think Head used to have the piezo stuff on one model, but not on an otherwise simialar model.

Some gimmicks just don't do enough - e.g. The old antique Dynastars "chicken heart" SL skis - Paint shakers on crack at high speed.
I susupect the modrun UVO is a similar gimick - has an effect, but not nearly enough.

 

[Bruno Schull]

I stand corrected and apologize to all parties for my scandalous slander--it seems that piezo electric damping is real. I love science...always interesting stuff to learn.

A Google search for piezo electric damping turned up this paper for a quick start.

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2019.00064/full

I am still highly suspicious that it would/could do anything in skis, but it is theoreticvally possible at least.

Hmm....maybe this season I will rent those Head skis I've ben wanting to try....

 

[DocGKR]

The e.Race and Rebel e.Speed are among the best sport carving skis I have ever tried--quick, fun, versatile, capable, stable, with a high speed limit for that class of ski.

 

[Zrxman01]

I believe DocGKR. He has a LOT of skis!!!
(BTW marketing hyperbole or not…I miss the absence of Salomon’s “edge amplifier”…..) I have two pairs of I-Rallys in the family. Interested in the e-Race Pros.

 

[James]

@markojp--I agree. Certainly my loss and my personal issue. It's just such complete BS. Don't want to support as much as I know I would probably like the skis

K2 had this perception problem back when the K2 Four, Merlins, etc were made. They incorporated piezo electric powered dampening circuits that came from similar usage in military gun sights on moving vehicles. But…they put a little light in the ski to show it was working.

And everyone focused on the light and how ridiculous it was. It became all about the light.

It’s hard not to balk over the ridiculous naming of various mundane items in the ski industry. They don’t do themselves any favors.

 

[tomahawkins]

@Bruno Schull , I’m also averse to marketing BS on top sheets. But the @James test of tapping the tips together on the lift produces a distinctive note I haven’t heard or felt with other skis. And the on snow feel is exceptionally.

 

[Andy Mink]

If you like the way a ski skis does it matter what electro non-Newtonian magic is in or on the ski? Now ski color and top sheet design, those are entirely different matters!

 

[markojp]

If you like the way a ski skis does it matter what electro non-Newtonian magic is in or on the ski? Now ski color and top sheet design, those are entirely different matters!

I don't look at the topsheets anyway.

 

[tomahawkins]

I don't look at the topsheets anyway.

https://content.skiessentials.com/2023-ski-test/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2022/08/2023-Black-Crows-Corvus-Freebird-3-studio-scaled.jpg

 

[James]

^ If you can read that you could be skiing staring at your skis. All too common.

 

[markojp]

Next year's top sheets are beautiful.

 

[tomahawkins]

Next year's top sheets are beautiful.

Yeah they do. And tip shapes looks different. New design?

 

[tomahawkins]

Probably taking the Protector thing too far. Then again, maybe not. Curious to see how they ski without a plate. They have such a smooth flex, could make bumps even more fun. I did try to order a Superflex PR Base (on Supershapes), but Tyrolia was out of stock.

 

[James]

Stand height 50mm?

 

[tomahawkins]

Stand height 50mm?

Both are about 27mm, measured at the toe AFD, Protector and Twin PR Base vs FreeFlex 16 and the RP-WCR-14 plate.

 

[markojp]

Probably taking the Protector thing too far. Then again, maybe not. Curious to see how they ski without a plate. They have such a smooth flex, could make bumps even more fun. I did try to order a Superflex PR Base (on Supershapes), but Tyrolia was out of stock.

View attachment 189307 View attachment 189308

This ski NEEDS the race plate.

 

[DocGKR]

Yup--no fun without a plate....

 

[tomahawkins]

Yup--no fun without a plate....

Nope! Still fun!