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Show DECEMBER Which Board Is Right for You 1995 in the Alpine Ski Techno-Revolution t's a whole new ball game. (OK, ski Es ) Alpine skis have been complete- ly re-designed from the inside-out by the wizards companies. upgraded at the So, your world’s if in two, you're Lizzy in a turbo-charged There probably is the new top you boards driving era. out technolo- vibration, If you grew up on skis and think you've there learned just about is to know — everything forget it/ Everything has changed, the same, and the trend moving in that direction, nothing is is to keep so says our expert, J.T., who has been matching people to skis for some 20 years now in Park City. So what could tips and For those of you who won't take J.T.’s advice and think you can save a couple hundred bucks at the discount place, here is the straight poop: Almost all new skis are made with a seamless top and sidewall called a cap. Some caps are cosmet- tails, New designs make turning easy a Tin construction; there are hybrids that incorporate laminate and cap; and there are all sorts of dampening take have ski gy that has, to some degree replaced the traditional laminate-sandwich mechanisms to just for a start. still don’t they? You mount the bindings in the middle, or has that changed, too? haven't year or a “cap” Skis be so different? Well, listen to this: skis produced this year will be up to an inch wider at ic. shovel and the tail than they are at the waist, J.T. But Some Alberto Tomba.) The other driving force, of course, is ski racing, where new designs and technology are tested far beyond what the weekend warrior will ever need, or even use. But don’t brush it off, says The new sidecut designs J.T. allow the 3701 Washington Blvd. Ogden, UT 84403 627-5733 SALT LAKE: 2092 East 3900 to buy skis. The specialty ski shop will cost more, but you make up for it in the price of the free demo test days. also test each ski individu- ally, to make sure you’re not buying a lemon. Not least, the specialty shops will pamper you and call you, ‘sir’ Or ‘mam.’ South And when you consider the cost of these babies, it might be a good idea to get the pair you really want. We're talkin’ $500 to $700 just for the boards, alone. Technology isn’t cheap PAGE a turers are using dampening mechanisms that aren’t quite so obvious. All of this information probably will not help you buy the ski best suited for you. And that’s why you degree. the only way, Salt Lake City, UT 84124 278-0233 : of use be overwhelmed (by new designs, technology and nomenclature).” They OGDEN: Rossignol, should concentrate on what is called torsional rigidity or torsional flex. The longitudinal flex — from tip to So, what’s a mother to do? J.T. says rather than shopping at a discount sporting goods store, the smart skier will choose a specialty ski shop. Why? The specialty ski shop will allow the shopper to test drive any number of skis before the purchase — and that, says J.T., is the real way, LTD like “The new technology can take a terminal intermediate and turn them into an expert,” J.T. explains. 3ut watch out, he warns: “You are going to walk into a ski shop and Try a specialty ski shop DIAMOND" skis, comprise component The latest and hottest technology is aimed at dampening skis from vibration. The most visible of these is Solomon’s new “Prolink” that is advertised to work as a _ shockabsorber. The Pro-link arms sit on top of the skis. Other top manufac- tail — 6 is the old way we compared skis and is still important to some But with the new sidecut designs, the torsional flex is the key these EQUIPMENT, Kastle, Latest technology dampens vibration roll their skis from side to side to master everything from ice to powder. True story. Come celebrate the holidays with us. We have all the great gear that the backcountry skier or climber in your life has been dreaming about. Let our expert staff help you choose the perfect present, or you can punt and get a gift certificate. We've got gear from Black Diamond, The North Face, Nordica, Silvretta, Feathered Friends, Mont Bell and many many more. Visit us in Salt Lake City or at our new store in Ogden. like structural system that incorporates the traditional laminate-sandwich construction in addition to a cap. Rossignol, for example, calls its system “Dualtec.” notes. That difference is called ‘sidecut.’ New sidecut designs coupled with revolutionary constructions for torsional rigidity and flex, make turning on skis quite simple. And that is part of what's ™* driving this revolution — get- /. ting the middle-aged set that skis 10 days a year to feel like Stein Eriksen again. (We never did feel like Forty Something crowd, or younger but less experienced skiers, to simply BLA@K others, the major the ski. the days to finding your ski. Simply explained, the more torsional flex, the more forgiving the ski. The more torsional rigidity, the less forgiving” If you think you’re hot and ski hard, get one that’s more rigid, torsionally. If you’d rather ski easy, get one with more torsional flex. Generally speaking, men ski harder and weigh more and need a more rigid ski than their female counterparts. These days, skis are designed for the skiers weight, rather than height. In general, if you’re over 170 pounds, get a 200 cm-length ski. If you are 140 to 170 pounds, you need a 195 cm ski. Between 120 and 140, a 190 cm ski is best. And between 100 and 120 pounds, you'll need a ski of 185 cm, generally speaking. And one more tip: don’t buy your new skis based on their color, OK. Buy the skis first, then coordinate your outfit around them. @ |