The right flex for your weight and technique as well as the correct splay for the conditions are critical factors for performance. Finding those skis shouldn’t be like looking for a needle in a haystack. As the selection and properties of race skis evolve, trends and techniques for picking skis change. But it should be easy to pick good skis, and with accurate labeling it’s not rocket science. However, accurate labeling is only as accurate as the matching of the skis that carry the label.
“At Madshus, we are really anal about matching our skis closely. We can do that because we have very accurate ways to measure the skis, and use materials that are incredibly stable and thoroughly tested, so we know exactly how they will behave,” says Bjørn-Ivar Austrem, who is the Madshus Global Category Manager for skis. With such accurate matching within the pair, Madshus can easily label the skis with a fairly narrow range of racer weight, and
Madshus also spends significant time and resources working with retailers and service techs on how to identify the properties and match skiers with skis. More about picking the perfect skis HERE
(Article continues below)
Beyond racer weight and height
Previously, skis were often matched by ski length to racer length. While the charts still give a decent starting point, racer weight and proficiency is more important than the length of the ski.
For instance: According to the chart, a skier who is 180cm/6 feet tall should have a classic ski that is 205cm or 210cm long. But depending on weight, the skier might even consider a ski that is 200cm. If light and tall racers get skis that are too stiff, they won’t be able to get the wax onto the snow and get proper kick, and the skis will feel too slippery. Hence, it’s more important that skiers get the right flex for their weight, even if that means a shorter ski.
“You don’t get better glide on a longer ski. That’s a myth. And you definitely don’t get better kick,” Austrem notes.
“Also, keep in mind that with the new low-tip of skate skis, a ski that is 185cm will act like a 190cm with a regular tip in terms of how much base is touching the snow, but lowering the tip saves weight,” he adds.
Additionally, it’s important to get skis with the right splay for the conditions that you will encounter the most. Skis with a warm conditions construction won’t give proper glide in cold conditions, and vice versa. So you need to be honest with yourself about weight and technique, and also know in what kinds of conditions you plan to use the skis.
Flex and splay
The most important features to consider when picking skis are flex and splay. The flex needs to fit the weight and proficiency of the skier, while the splay determines how the ski will run in different snow conditions.
Flex: For classic skis, the flex should be about 50-55 percent of your body weight. That way, your wax won’t touch the snow and slow you down when you are standing on both skis, but you will get a secure grip when you are diagonal striding and pushing off with all your weight on one foot.
“If you go stiffer than that, you will have trouble getting a secure grip,” Austrem says.
For a klister ski, where the wax in the wax pocket will be applied thicker, you can go up to 60 percent of body weight. For instance, a skier weighing 100 kilos should have a klister ski flex of 55-60 kilos, and a regular ski flex of 50-55 kilos.
Splay: The splay determines the pressure points of the skis. A distinct splay found on the warm conditions models creates shorter pressure points to the snow, and helps shorten the of the water film that creates a suction effect in wet and warm conditions, and thereby improves the glide. Conversely, the slight splay on cold condition skis create longer pressure points. The longer pressure points help create a water film and reduce friction in cold snow, and thereby improve glide. In the Champion series, all models come in a cold version with a slight splay and a warm version with distinct splay.
“With the splay technology and the pressure point, we have achieved even better control of the ski properties,” Austrem explains.
Read more about pressure points and the physics of snow HERE