Tips Splay

I just purchased a pair of Atomic RS10s (off the web) for my wife who weighs 120lbs (54.5kg).

I tested the skis according to Nat Brown's guidelines (from his ski prep book). When I squeeze these skis together (base to base) I find they splay about 5mm at the tips. I checked my Atomic RS10s (old RS10 like new RS11) and got no splay.

Could this be because my skis are much stiffer? How much splay should be tolerated? Are these skis going to be slow and unstable?

Jim Howe wrote:
I just purchased a pair of Atomic RS10s (off the web) for my wife who
weighs 120lbs (54.5kg).

I tested the skis according to Nat Brown's guidelines (from his ski
prep book). When I squeeze these skis together (base to base) I find
they splay about 5mm at the tips. I checked my Atomic RS10s (old RS10
like new RS11) and got no splay.

Could this be because my skis are much stiffer? How much splay should
be tolerated? Are these skis going to be slow and unstable?


Tip splay generally means the skis will be faster in wetter or warmer
conditions. I had a pair of Karhus with significant tip splay and they
were rockets in the 20s F, but slow around 0 F. The new Fischer 902 wet
classic ski has significant tip splay. The idea is to reduce the
contact zone and suction in warmer snow. I hear Freeman also uses the
902 for non-klister conditions.

Jay Wenner

See: http://www.fasterskier.com/opinion1889.html

"Bjorn A. Payne Diaz" wrote:

Jim Howe wrote:
I just purchased a pair of Atomic RS10s (off the web) for my wife who
weighs 120lbs (54.5kg).

I tested the skis according to Nat Brown's guidelines (from his ski
prep book). When I squeeze these skis together (base to base) I find
they splay about 5mm at the tips. I checked my Atomic RS10s (old RS10
like new RS11) and got no splay.

Could this be because my skis are much stiffer? How much splay should
be tolerated? Are these skis going to be slow and unstable?


Tip splay generally means the skis will be faster in wetter or warmer
conditions. I had a pair of Karhus with significant tip splay and they
were rockets in the 20s F, but slow around 0 F. The new Fischer 902 wet
classic ski has significant tip splay. The idea is to reduce the
contact zone and suction in warmer snow. I hear Freeman also uses the
902 for non-klister conditions.

Jay Wenner

Thanks for the response Jay. This won't be much of a factor for my wife who is a recreational skier.

Jim