SkiBanter - View Single Post

**Rod** · December 13th 12, 08:02 PM posted to rec.skiing.resorts.europe

On Thu, 13 Dec 2012 19:41:52 +0000, PipL wrote:

On Wed, 12 Dec 2012 18:48:55 +0000, (The Older
Gentleman) wrote:

Ace wrote:

My first skis, in ~1994, were 205s. Seems incredible, but there really
was a general belief that longer was better, although very few people
could demonstrate why that should be the case, except at racer level.

Back in the day, when wooden skis demonstrated a remarkable coefficient
of friction, you needed long skis if you wanted to move at all.

As regards later plastic skis, I do remember my Rossignol Drac 210s
(late 1970s vintage) having remarkable straight-line stability, but all
the turning ability of a supertanker.

I've still got my 195 Kastle skis - a few years ago, as I was driving to the
Alpes, I brought them along wiht the carving skis & snowboard.

Wow, what a difference: while they were docile enough and turned as requested,
I could /not/ get them to carve properly. They just felt sort of lifeless.
Also, I'd got into the habit of starting a slow turn by weighting the outside
ski and rolling that knee in: on the old skis, they immediately started to
diverge and I nearly did myself an injury a couple of times.

I must admit as a long time "plateaued" intermediate skier of dodgy
fitness I have no nostagia watchsoever for the days of "longer is
better" skis. I remember those 6 day ski holidays where by about day
3 I was running our of steam. These days I can pick shorter carving
skis and know that I can still be going well on day 6...

Rod