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Comparison of Ski Dimensions for Manufactured Skis
by
Jed Simpson
(forum login: hose-man)
November 11, 2005
Disclaimer: Contributed articles express the views of the author,
not necessarily the views of SkiBuilders.com. SkiBuilders.com accepts no
liability for the content of this document, or for the consequences of any
actions taken on the basis of the information provided.
Overview
This article studies trends in ski dimensions for manufactured skis. Data was compiled from many
manufacturers. The results presented here can be used as a guide for
designing skis.
So, What's the Problem?
Let's face it, ski design as most of us SkiBuilders have
experienced is a complicated process. A builder has to consider what
materials to use, the profile of the core, the appropriate amount of camber (if
there is such a thing), and, of course,
the shape of the ski. All these design issues can be complicated, and even
worse, they can be coupled -- changing one aspect of a design can drastically affect
something else.
To help clear some of the smoke, I decided to compare and
study ski dimensions for manufactured skis. The motivation to do this came
when I was trying to decide how much narrower the tail of a ski I was designing should be
compared to the tip. I conjectured there was probably some rule of
thumb for this so I started studying existing skis. I looked at websites and
read gear guides, but at some point I was so overwhelmed by the volume of
information, and I felt the need to compile it into a more manageable format and
present it in hopes that it will be useful.
I started by collecting tons of data and archiving it in MS
Excel. The first resource was from the SKIING Magazine’s Gear Guide
because it seemed very complete. The review even listed side-cut geometry for skis.
Many of the manufacturer’s websites don’t even list side-cut info, so this was
valuable information. Afterwards, I consulted Couloir Magazine’s Gear Guide.
To complete my list, I filled in the missing models from the manufacturer’s
websites and added some smaller companies listed on SkiBuilders.com (see the
links page). Additionally, I included some skis build by the Kams and
Kelvin.
To help simplify this endeavor I limited my data collection
to mid-fats and fats. These were the shapes of skis I wanted to design and
build. Specifically, I targeted greater-than 80mm waist skis, but the
ski mags had some all terrain type skis which were down in the 70mm range which
I included for reference.
After some work, I ended up with a list of 104 skis.
The numbers listed in the Excel spreadsheet didn't really tell me much at first
so I started sorting the data. However,
the volume of information was still too vast and further analysis was required.
Here's the list (you
can download the Excel file by clicking here; the data set
available here has a few of my formulas applied. These display the
tip/tail taper, and the side-cut depth. Once you’ve downloaded it
you can apply any formulas you’d like to view even more potentially useless data.):
|
BRAND |
MODEL |
CATEGORY |
TIP |
WAIST |
TAIL |
RADIUS (M) |
|
AK |
Pro Mountain |
Not in SKIING mag reviews |
110 |
71 |
100 |
|
|
AK |
No Ka Oi |
Not in SKIING mag reviews |
117 |
78 |
107 |
|
|
AK |
King Salmon |
Not in SKIING mag reviews |
125 |
94 |
115 |
|
|
Atomic |
Kontega |
Telemark |
108 |
78 |
102 |
|
|
Atomic |
Tacora |
Telemark |
117 |
80 |
104 |
|
|
Atomic |
Kongur |
Telemark |
116 |
84 |
108 |
|
|
Atomic |
Janak |
Telemark |
123 |
99 |
115 |
|
|
Atomic |
Pimp |
Big Mountain Pro/Custom |
127 |
99 |
118 |
30 |
|
Black Diamond |
Ethic |
Telemark |
108 |
79 |
98 |
|
|
Black Diamond |
Crossbow |
Telemark |
114 |
83 |
104 |
|
|
Black Diamond |
Havoc |
Telemark |
122 |
88 |
114 |
22.5 |
|
Black Diamond |
Verdict |
Telemark |
124 |
98 |
114 |
|
|
Blizzard |
Sigma Titan Eight |
Big Mountain Expert |
116 |
80 |
106 |
16 |
|
Donek |
Donek |
Telemark |
116 |
78 |
108 |
|
|
DP (Drake Powderworks) |
Cassair |
Not in SKIING mag reviews |
116 |
80 |
104 |
|
|
DP (Drake Powderworks) |
Wailer |
Not in SKIING mag reviews |
126 |
95 |
113 |
|
|
DP (Drake Powderworks) |
Lotus |
Not in SKIING mag reviews |
142 |
120 |
127 |
|
|
Dynafit |
FR 10.0 |
Not in SKIING mag reviews |
118 |
88 |
110 |
|
|
Dynastar |
Legend 8000 |
All Terrain Expert |
116 |
79 |
102 |
21 |
|
Dynastar |
Legend 8800 |
Big Mountain Expert |
117 |
89 |
110 |
27 |
|
Dynastar |
Legend Pro Rider |
Big Mountain Pro/Custom |
124 |
97 |
116 |
32 |
|
Elan |
M 666 |
All Terrain Expert |
116 |
76 |
102 |
17.9 |
|
Elan |
Magfire 12 |
"One Ski Quiver" |
116 |
76 |
102 |
17.9 |
|
Elan |
M 777 |
Big Mountain Expert |
117 |
87 |
107 |
26.1 |
|
Elan |
M 999 |
Big Mountain Pro/Custom |
129 |
99 |
119 |
31.3 |
|
Faction |
Dillinger |
Not in SKIING mag reviews |
120 |
86 |
108 |
|
|
Faction |
Wednesday |
Not in SKIING mag reviews |
122 |
88 |
110 |
|
|
Faction |
3.Zero |
Not in SKIING mag reviews |
125 |
95 |
115 |
|
|
Fischer |
AMC 76 |
"One Ski Quiver" |
120 |
76 |
106 |
16 |
|
Fischer |
AMC 79 |
All Terrain Expert |
116 |
79 |
109 |
18 |
|
Fischer |
T-Stix 88 |
Telemark |
124 |
88 |
112 |
18 |
|
Fischer |
Kehua |
Not in SKIING mag reviews |
127 |
92 |
115 |
20 |
|
Fischer |
T-Stix 92 |
Telemark |
127 |
92 |
115 |
20 |
|
Fischer |
Atua |
Big Mountain Expert |
129 |
96 |
119 |
22 |
|
Fischer |
T-Stix 96 |
Telemark |
131 |
96 |
119 |
22 |
|
Fischer |
Watea |
Big Mountain Pro/Custom |
134 |
101 |
124 |
25 |
|
Fischer |
Prohete |
Not in SKIING mag reviews |
135 |
106 |
123 |
28 |
|
G3 |
Ticket |
Telemark |
120 |
81 |
109 |
|
|
G3 |
Baron |
Telemark |
116 |
81 |
104 |
|
|
G3 |
Siren |
Telemark |
121 |
88 |
109 |
|
|
G3 |
Reverend |
Telemark |
126 |
93 |
114 |
|
|
Goode |
Carbon 82 |
Not in SKIING mag reviews |
119 |
82 |
109 |
|
|
Goode |
Carbon 95 |
Not in SKIING mag reviews |
125 |
95 |
113 |
|
|
Goode |
Carbon 116 |
Not in SKIING mag reviews |
138 |
116 |
124 |
|
|
Head |
Monster I.M 77 |
All Terrain Expert |
119 |
77 |
104 |
17.9 |
|
Head |
monster I.M 88 |
Big Mountain Expert |
126 |
88 |
112 |
21.7 |
|
K2 |
Shuksan |
Not in SKIING mag reviews |
117 |
78 |
105 |
|
|
K2 |
Apache Recon |
All Terrain Expert |
119 |
78 |
105 |
15.8 |
|
K2 |
Piste Pipe |
Telemark |
118 |
85 |
109 |
|
|
K2 |
Apache Outlaw |
Big Mountain Expert |
124 |
88 |
111 |
19 |
|
K2 |
Work Stinx |
Telemark |
124 |
88 |
111 |
|
|
K2 |
Hippy Stinx |
Telemark |
125 |
95 |
118 |
|
|
K2 |
Seth Viscious |
Big Mountain Pro/Custom |
130 |
98 |
118 |
21 |
|
K2 |
Apache Chief |
Big Mountain Expert |
131 |
98 |
116 |
24 |
|
K2 |
Anti Piste |
Telemark |
131 |
98 |
116 |
|
|
K2 |
Made'n AK |
Not in SKIING mag reviews |
137 |
108 |
127 |
|
|
Karhu |
Grizzly |
Telemark |
112 |
75 |
101 |
|
|
Karhu |
Agent |
Telemark |
110 |
80 |
103 |
|
|
Karhu |
Kodiak |
Telemark |
117 |
80 |
105 |
|
|
Karhu |
Jak |
Telemark |
124 |
90 |
113 |
|
|
Karhu |
Jak Team Edition |
Telemark |
134 |
100 |
125 |
|
|
Karhu |
PFD |
Telemark |
139 |
110 |
137 |
|
|
Masurao |
Shin Shin |
Not in SKIING mag reviews |
116 |
82 |
105 |
|
|
Masurao |
Shinsetsu |
Not in SKIING mag reviews |
122 |
82 |
109 |
|
|
Movement |
Thunder |
Not in SKIING mag reviews |
120 |
87 |
109 |
|
|
Movement |
Gladiator |
Not in SKIING mag reviews |
125 |
92 |
113 |
|
|
Nordica |
Hot Rod Modified |
All Terrain Expert |
119 |
74 |
104 |
15.8 |
|
PM |
Bromodel |
Not in SKIING mag reviews |
125 |
99 |
114 |
|
|
Prior |
Custom |
Not in SKIING mag reviews |
127 |
98 |
115 |
|
|
Prior |
Doughboy |
Not in SKIING mag reviews |
147 |
107 |
122 |
|
|
Pure |
Number 1 |
Telemark |
120 |
90 |
109 |
|
|
Rossignol |
Zenith 29 |
"One Ski Quiver" |
126 |
74 |
105 |
14.8 |
|
Rossignol |
Bandit B2 |
All Terrain Expert |
116 |
78 |
105 |
16.6 |
|
Rossignol |
DirtyBird |
Not in SKIING mag reviews |
116 |
78 |
105 |
|
|
Rossignol |
Bandit B3 |
All Terrain Expert |
120 |
83 |
110 |
17.3 |
|
Rossignol |
PowderBird |
Not in SKIING mag reviews |
120 |
83 |
110 |
|
|
Rossignol |
Bandit B4 |
Big Mountain Expert |
122 |
94 |
112 |
23.6 |
|
Rossignol |
SickBird |
Not in SKIING mag reviews |
128 |
98 |
121 |
|
|
Salomon |
Scrambler Hot |
All Terrain Expert |
118 |
78 |
107 |
19.5 |
|
Salomon |
Scrambler Custom |
"One Ski Quiver" |
124 |
85 |
114 |
17.6 |
|
Salomon |
Teneighty Foil |
Big Mountain Expert |
124 |
87 |
115 |
20.4 |
|
Salomon |
Gun (old Pocket Rocket) |
Not in SKIING mag reviews |
122 |
90 |
115 |
18 |
|
Salomon |
Gun Lab |
Big Mountain Pro/Custom |
135 |
101 |
126 |
24.2 |
|
Ski Builders |
Buttcracker |
Telemark |
123 |
90 |
110 |
|
|
Ski Builders |
Klown Whacker |
Telemark |
130 |
97 |
124 |
|
|
Ski Builders |
Ahmo |
Telemark |
130 |
97 |
120 |
|
|
Ski Builders |
Kung Paoders |
Telemark |
124 |
98 |
114 |
|
|
Ski Builders |
Tao |
Telemark |
118 |
104 |
114 |
|
|
Ski Builders |
Ahma |
Telemark |
135 |
108 |
124 |
|
|
Ski Builders |
Stiff Upper Lips |
Telemark |
126 |
109 |
116 |
|
|
Ski Builders |
The Shit |
Telemark |
128 |
111 |
118 |
|
|
Ski Builders |
White |
Telemark |
140 |
115 |
130 |
|
|
Stockli |
Stormrider XL |
All Terrain Expert |
116 |
75 |
102 |
20.8 |
|
Stockli |
Stormrider Scott Schmidt |
Big Mountain Expert |
122 |
89 |
112 |
25.5 |
|
Voile |
Carbon Surf |
Telemark |
126 |
89 |
116 |
|
|
Voile |
Insane |
Telemark |
140 |
109 |
132 |
|
|
Volkl |
Unlimited AC3 |
All Terrain Expert |
116 |
74 |
102 |
| 
