Hi, this doesnt have to be in context of ski's but i just thought it is a good example. Is the persons weight spread equally over the ski, and thus snow or is there more weight on the ski below the persons body than on the outskirts of the ski?
I would guess the later but just would like to know for certain.
cheers
2007-06-27 00:24:37 · 10 answers · asked by @@@Marty@@@ 1 in Sports ➔ Winter Sports ➔ Snow Skiing
No it is not. To control your skis and to execute many manoeuvres you change your weight distrubution not only from one ski to the other but from side to side to "edge" the ski so it cuts into the snow, you lean forward to put your weight on the front so you can slide the back end around and if your getting acrobatic you put all your weight on the back to spin the froont end of the skis around when you are going backwards. Although the front to back distribution is mostly affected by moving your centre of gravity, you edge the skis by bending your ankles and even the front to back distribution is affected by the curve and the flex of the ski itself. Now if you talk of water skis where you have the additional force of the towrope pulling you along, it is a whole different scenario and if you use a mono ski on water or a skiboard on snow you can actually tip the ski/board almost on its end by levering your 2 feet on the one ski/board and the weight distribution has much less to do with your centre of gravity.
Even in a simplistic scenario of a pair of snow skis on snow, the actual weight distribution will also depend on the snow surface. Imagine your skis span a small hollow in the snow or even a crevice. Not all the ski is even in touch with snow.
2007-06-27 01:32:54 · answer #1 · answered by oldhombre 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Finally, a great question in the skiing category! I'm glad I checked in!
Your answer is this:
I don't have the specifics, but a majority of your weight is under foot...maybe 60-80% of it. Then, the section of the ski immediately for and aft picks up another good percentage, with the amount of weight diminishing as you travel to the tips and tails.
In the older days of skinny skis, we were trained to apply pressure to the front of the ski to initiate a turn...thus applying more weight up front for the edges to grasp the snow. Then as you complete the turn bring more weight to the tail for the edges there.
Now, with the parabolic skis, the narrow waist and the wider tip and tail allow the edges to work naturally, and the skier can remain more balanced over the skis.
Another thing skiers do is apply a sharper edge at the tip and tail, and hardly any edge under foot. This is because a sharp edge right under the binding area will tend to grab the snow much more readily, throwing the skier off track.
2007-06-30 18:53:40 · answer #2 · answered by powhound 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends where your bindings are fitted, if you are doing tricks and pipes etc then the put the bindings further back so that there is less weight on the front but for rental skis etc the boots are in the middle and the person's body changes where the weight distribution is.(Ever seen a beginner sit back to far and the skis go from under them? Perfect example)
2007-06-30 05:02:41 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Stand on your skis in soft snow. Carefully step aside, leaving the imprint of the skis. Is any point deeper than another? No. When you are stationary, the weight is evenly distributed.
However, as others have said, the trick of skiing is the ability to move your weight to various points of the ski. This is a skill you need to develop.
2007-06-28 22:24:26 · answer #4 · answered by iansand 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The former would be ideal, but the truth is that skis aren't built that well, although that's what ski companies are trying to do, and they have been getting closer and closer.
It is possible if you were standing on a more solid board to have the weight more evenly spread out, but there will probably always be more pressure directly underfoot.
2007-06-28 18:56:59 · answer #5 · answered by MLBfreek35 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not quite, but it's pretty close. Modern skis actually have a natural upward contour to them called camber. The purpose of camber is to provide more upward force to the body and reduce to effort it takes to turn a ski on snow by more evenly distributing the weight of the body over the ski and the edge. However, its still not perfect and the center of the ski will still have slightly more weight over it.
2007-06-27 12:16:09 · answer #6 · answered by John C 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No,although much of the weight is distributed evenly,the skis are slightly flexible allowing for increased manoeuvrability and ability to follow the countours of the terrain.
In essence there is more weight through the boots but over even terrain in a straight line it is negligible.
2007-06-27 07:33:18 · answer #7 · answered by private 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no, you can increase the weight at either end by allowing pressure through the centre, ie lean forward and more weight will be pushed to the front and less at the back, but it will not be equal along the ski or any other flexible item, the heaviest part will be where the actual weight is sitting above
2007-06-27 07:41:18 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
no it is distriputed a little, just not perfectly. The tips will sink a little, but the boot part is much heavier
2007-06-30 21:37:28 · answer #9 · answered by goldglove93 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no
2007-06-27 20:13:12 · answer #10 · answered by marqfan03 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋