- SIDECUT - Intermediate skis
have a moderate sidecut to enhance
turning ease. For a intermediate skiier, a ski with a larger sidecut than
a expert ski and a smaller sidecut than a beginner ski is desired. A large
sidecut of the beginner will take away from the torsional
stiffness of the ski and too small of a sidecut will sacrifice the softness
of the ski.
- CONSTRUCTION - A dualtec
(Rossignol) design combines the two more conventional constructions to
form a ski that is flexible length wise while keeping torsional strength.
More traditionally a torsionbox design is employed to soften the ski.
- STIFFNESS - A soft
ski is desirable for easy turning and handling but if it is too soft the
skis will shake at higher speeds. A moderate amount of torsion is needed
to make speedy transitions into and out of turns, but if the ski is too
stiff if will be unforgiving (Ouch). Without torsion, a skiers technical
improvement would slow down because of the increased difficulty to complete
edge changes.
- LENGTH - The length of the
ski depends on the ability and the height of the skier. If a skier is a
lower intermediate skier the skis should be about 10 - 15 cm taller than
the skier. A higher intermediate skier should choose a ski 15-20 cm taller
than his/her height.
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- MATERIALS - Wood and foam
are used as light fillers for the core of the ski. Fiberglass and aluminum
are layered around the rest of the ski to provide strength. The edges are
made of steel so they are easy to sharpen and are more effective when gripping
the ice. More hi-tech materials are usually scarce in intermediate skis
to keep the cost down.
- PARABOLIC SKIS - Parabolic
skis are great for intermediate skiers. They take the effort out of making
tight, round turns, especially on steep terrain. They are more forgiving
when making mistakes and they are easier to control. Parabolic skis run
about 10 - 15 cm shorter than conventional skis, so the ski is shorter
and weighs less. They are great for skiers who want to improve the technical
aspects of their skiing.
Intermediate skiers should look
for skis that they can grow with and perform well on all kinds of different
terrain. Check out some skis for intermediate skiers.
K2
three
Rossignol
Cut
Dynastar
Coupe
Atomic
ARC
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