College club race GS ski choice

[S.H.]

Eliminate the 30m regulation, what would be the fastest ski for WCers?

Probably about what they're on now, somewhere around 30m, assuming setting trends are similar.

In the >21m and >27m eras, the top men were typically on something with an actual TR of 29-32m. No reason to think that would change.
Would it change for women? Maybe a bit? I'm not sure what the women were actually skiing in the >21m and >23m eras. Maybe somebody who does can chime in. But I think the radius would stay around where it is now (sort of 27-32m); it's workable. Still work to be done on layup, etc. IMO.

I believe @ScotsSkier and I (and some others) had a discussion about this a year or two ago. Maybe somebody can dig that up.

TBH, flex pattern is more important than the radius of the ski, but ... most "normal" people don't really get a choice in flex patterns

 

[bbbradley]

Probably about what they're on now, somewhere around 30m, assuming setting trends are similar.

In the >21m and >27m eras, the top men were typically on something with an actual TR of 29-32m. No reason to think that would change.
Would it change for women? Maybe a bit? I'm not sure what the women were actually skiing in the >21m and >23m eras. Maybe somebody who does can chime in. But I think the radius would stay around where it is now (sort of 27-32m); it's workable. Still work to be done on layup, etc. IMO.

I believe @ScotsSkier and I (and some others) had a discussion about this a year or two ago. Maybe somebody can dig that up.

TBH, flex pattern is more important than the radius of the ski, but ... most "normal" people don't really get a choice in flex patterns

Thanks! I am still committed to (trying) to make my 30m skis work in Masters races, but wonder if a shorter ski/smaller radius would drop my times more/faster. When i get some coaching this year, if the laughter is noticeable before I get to the bottom it might accelerate my plan.

 

[ScotsSkier]

Probably about what they're on now, somewhere around 30m, assuming setting trends are similar.

In the >21m and >27m eras, the top men were typically on something with an actual TR of 29-32m. No reason to think that would change.
Would it change for women? Maybe a bit? I'm not sure what the women were actually skiing in the >21m and >23m eras. Maybe somebody who does can chime in. But I think the radius would stay around where it is now (sort of 27-32m); it's workable. Still work to be done on layup, etc. IMO.

I believe @ScotsSkier and I (and some others) had a discussion about this a year or two ago. Maybe somebody can dig that up.

TBH, flex pattern is more important than the radius of the ski, but ... most "normal" people don't really get a choice in flex patterns

Yes, that is my understanding as well @S.H. . What the 30/35m regs did was really accelerate R&D, particularly wrt the blend of softer flex while still having torsional stiffness. And ~30m seems to consistently come out as the sweet spot

 

[Swede]

Looked miserable to me. Made me think that the shorter radius would be a lot friendlier.

Sölden is a bit different to the rest and a "stivot-fest" by comparison on the WC. Some turns are impossible at speed at that hill/set w/o a little skid to correct the line. So, don't read in too much to that single race, because it does not apply to your daughter's reality.

 

[ted]

Sölden is a bit different to the rest and a "stivot-fest" by comparison on the WC. Some turns are impossible at speed at that hill/set w/o a little skid to correct the line. So, don't read in too much to that single race, because it does not apply to your daughter's reality.

That’s good to hear!

 

[MNskier]

Oh boy, that's hat's a blast from the past. I skied with WPI a couple of years in the mid 90s. Pam Fletchers brother was skiing in the same division at the time. Lots of fun (and a great school).