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If you have access to a technician with one of the new grinders, there are really two ways to go about getting the most out of your skis. This information, in the hands of an experienced technician, is invaluable in determining a fast grind. A new, computer-controlled stone grinder, programmed with the results of extensive testing with OSV (Austrian National Ski Team), has the ability to generate an infinite number of grinds to meet specific temperature and condition requirements. Those conditions then determine which grind will be the fastest. Various combinations of construction (flex), base material, and side cut are better suited to certain conditions. Grind selection for speed events is more complex. A good rule of thumb for a slalom or GS grind is that you should be able to see the structure but not feel it. A smoother, less aggressive interface between the base material and the snow will make a ski faster. In technical events (GS and SL) it is important to have a grind that is not too aggressive because of the great amount of lateral movement in these events. So, a heavy crosscut structure may work well in a warm, wet climate like California, but be the worst selection for the colder conditions of New England. Wetter conditions will require deeper scallops (more water) whereas dryer conditions will require a smoother interface (less water) between the snow and the base material. Where you ski, and the events in which you ski, both play a big part in the type of grind that will be fast for you. The same idea holds true for base materials and structures in ski racing. The pit-crews in Formula One racing will select different tires for the different events and different types of tracks that they encounter throughout the year because each type of tire performs best in particular conditions. Then an appropriate grind can be applied. New skis should be flattened on a stonegrinder before they have the proper base bevel set. Even the most incredible grind is useless if the skis have too much base bevel. Base bevel is the heart and soul of ski performance, and is one of the most overlooked aspects of ski preparation. These small tolerances can, and do, make a big difference in how a ski performs. It is nearly impossible to detect how much base bevel a ski has without the use of a true-bar because the angles are measured in fractions of degrees. Even if this grind looks incredible, it will not ski to its potential if the ski hasn’t been properly tuned. Most of the time this structure is a type of cross pattern with scallops that help move water under the ski. One of the first things you will notice is the base grind, or structure. Just as cars off of an assembly line are fine tuned at the dealership before they are put on the road, skis should get individual attention from a ski technician before they hit the slopes. Though many new skis come to the consumer with a nice looking finish grind on the base, the preparation is the result of mass production and lacks the attention to detail needed to make each individual ski perform at its best. For example, if you often ski steep pitches and you are looking to improve your time on the steeps, you may want to try decreasing the base bevel on your skis. You can see that it is important to choose the base bevel according to the terrain you may encounter on a regular basis and your abilities as a skier. It is neither too reactive nor too slow to react–perfect for a medium pitch. 75-degree bevel performed the best on the medium grade slope. The higher angle of the 1degree bevel allowed that ski to perform the best on the flats because it draws out and lengthens turns by smoothly rolling into them without the abrupt edging characteristics of a less beveled ski. 5-degree base bevel is the most reactive, so on steep pitches, this ski comes around much faster. 75-degree was the fastest on the medium pitch and the 1-degree performed the best on the flats. 5-degree was the fastest on the steep pitch, the.
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We tested the skis on a run that had a steep, a medium and a flat pitch. We tested three identical models of skis prepared with the same grind. Our tests showed that one of the most effective ways to create a faster ski is to modify the base bevel. Ski Team, it was my job to find those fractions for my athlete.