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Show m 3C boot, binding package vital to ski success Ski, LYNDIA GRAHAM Review Lakeside Review, Wednesday, December 11, 1985 ' correspondent LAYTON Choosing the proper type of skis, boots, and bindings can be a most important factor in skiing safety and enjoyment, regardless of your skiing level, a local merchant said. Knowing which ski or binding will fit your needs can be confusing, but trained ski salesmen can save problems on the slopes by evaluating the different needs of skiers and explaining the options, said Jeff Bench, manager of Pedersons Ski and Sports at the Lay-to- n Hills Mall. Four differences in skis are evident when a would-b- e skier first sets out to buy a pair of skis: the flex, torsion, side cut, and length. Bench said the flex of the ski determines how soft the ski is and how much give it has along its length. The torsion determines how soft or stiff the side to side twist is, the side cut shows the width of the waist of the ski, and the length is, of course, how long the ski is. In selecting the right flex several things need to be considered. Be- ginners may want to look at a soft flex in a ski since that makes the ski easier to turn, slower, and has a tendency to skid through turns with a slower reaction. It is easier to use in monguls and in powder snow. An intermediate or advanced skier may want to choose a stiffer ski. They take more skill to handle, but with a good skill level the ski will work for the skier, Bench said. A stiffer flex gives more speed and has a tendency to carve through turns with a quicker reaction time and the skier will need more skill in monguls and on powder. A wide side cut will probably be the best choice for a beginner, Bench said, because it will be a slower ski and is more stable. The narrow side cut is quicker in turning and is less stable, but advanced skiers skills make up for any loss in stability. The stiffness and length of a ski can also increase stability. A shorter length ski is easier to turn than a longer one, has a tendency to skid through turns rather than cut through them and it has a lower speed potential. However, it has less shock absorbency and is less stable at high speeds. Most beginners can benefit from a shorter ski because they usually dont ski as fast or tend to cut through turns until they have advanced from the beginner sta- tus. More surface area gives the longer ski a greater rate of shock ab- SlUBskl if: Vf&s&iitsm sorbency and more stability enabling it to carve through turns and float through powder. Bench said. Choosing the proper boot and binding is as important as choosing the right ski and again the individual skiers needs must be considered. The level of skiing skills, from beginner to advanced, must be considered as well as what type of a skier is buying bindings, whether an aggressive or conservative boots, like the ones above, are becoming popular. These boots allow for a better heel fit, which aids in control. Rear-entr- y lift Skis, boots and bindings all work together and should be purchased as a package of boots so all needs can be taken into consideration. He said boots have gone under vast changes in the past five years, changes which have benefited skiers greatly. Gone are the days of several pairs of socks inside a poorly fitted boot, which usually left cold skier. A person could be an advanced skier who skis conservatively and wont need some of the considerations given to a high speed racer or other aggressive types. Bench again suggested consulting with a trained ski supplier be- fore purchasing bindings toes anyway. Todays boots are molded from plastics and lined with foam. They usually need only a regular pair of socks for warmth so boots can be fitted well for skiers com- - and pieces that will complement each other. matched equipment can spell trouble. fort and safety. Rear entry into the boot gives more control on the ski because it keeps the heel back in a proper position, Bench said. Boots also have a flex to them and usually the better the skier the stiffer he likes his boot, according to Bench. A real boon to skiers has been the invention of a flex adjustment on the front of the boot, making it possible to make the boot stiffer or softer, depending on needs and skiing conditions. enhance skiing enjoyment Tune-up- s Proper bindings are determined by a persons height, weight and ability. Charts put out by major ski suppliers can help and are best used with the help of a trained ski sales person. The trick is to have a binding set for the skill level of the skier. The right setting will give him the control he needs while still enabling his boot to release from the ski if he falls. A nice safety advantage added to bindings over the past few years is ski brakes. 2 IN CHERILYN KAWA texture. Review correspondent 3) File ski edges to remove Ski conditions are looking fa- bums and jagged edges. vorable for a great season but 4) Round the edges at tips and without a ski tune-uyour per- tails. formance on the slopes may be 5) Apply wax and scrape off the wiped out. excess. A complete tune-u- p should be will result in A good ski tune-u- p done once a season, said Ricki a flat ski, sharpened edges and Williams, ski technician at skis tailed and rounded, said DaWolfes in the Layton Hills Mall. vis. Also, skis should be free of Waxing should be followed up af- scratches and gouges and covered ter about every three times ski- with a good application of snow EFFECT FRIDAY SATURDAY p, ing, she said. results in Not having a tune-u- p a lack of turning control, said Williams. Overall, skis make betnot to ter runs after tune-up- s mention prolonging the life of a pair of skis, she said. Williams said the average cost is $16. of a complete tune-u- p to do should learn skiers Regular it themselves though so they have more control over their skis, she said. However, Kelly Davis, ski technician at Sunset Sports Center in Sunset, feels professionals should tune up skis since tune-up- s make all the difference in the world in ski performance, he said. If the skis are not prepped right, it could be the difference in making a turn or not making a turn or beginners liking or not liking skiing, said Davis. But for those who want to do it themselves, Davis said he is al- ways happy to answer any questions or explain a procedure. Basic equipment to do it yourself include: 1) a Mill Bastard file, millimeor 2) ter thickness metal scraper, 3) candle and 4) wax and applicator, according to Davis. Davis said a ski tune up is basically done in five steps as follows: 1) Fill gouges and scratches on candle. the skis with using a to scrape 2) Use metal scraper smooth a to Ptex excess off the 1- -2 h, P-t- ex P-t- ex Being railed is one thing to avoid, warned Davis. This results when the ski edges are higher than the base, he said. Skiing on railed edges is like skiing on an old iron sled - you only go straight. Proper waxing is also important to eliminate the vacuum between the ski and snow. Davis compared a ski with no wax to a wet glass sticking to a coaster. Skis wont slide without wax, he said. Four types of wax should be used for a various weather conditions including fresh snow wax, cold snow, cold hard snow and wet icy snow. Skiers should be using fresh snow wax now through the middle of winter, he noted. It is also important to get ski bindings checked once a year by a certified binding technician, said Davis. He said technicians can be found at most ski shops and will charge about $4 to check bindings to see if they are outdated or unsafe. The difference between having bindings checked could be a broken leg, he said. The key to getting the top skiing experience out of a pair of skis, aside from individual ability, is the proper tune up. All you need is good ski preparation and being in good shape, said Davis. Then it is time to hit the slopes once again. 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