Simple ski flex test?

[Shredgar]

So I want to measure my skis. Trying for a consistant, repeatable & simple way to put a number on it. Have searched w/o success.

My idea is to support a ski at the tip & tail contact points. Then stack weight at mid-boot till they flatten & de-camber an inch, maybe two, we'll see. Record the weight. Consistant, repeatable & simple.

Are there better ideas out there? Is there a good thread I've missed? Thanks in advance.

[dubu]

I dont think that your method will work very well for skis with a progressive flex. You might need a couple of pivot and load points. You could try to do two measurements one pivot at boot center, and load about 1/2 way to tip and tail. And another where you pivot in two spots fore and aft (about 10 inches from boot center) and load the tips..

[Idris]

My method is to put tip and tail on a solid block. Stand between the bingings and measure (from the floor up) how far they bend. With some very soft skis you need two chairs and people to hold them (or some other method of making them secure). Beware this method can casue weaker skis to snap, but if they do then they are to weak for you to ski on anyway . You can change the position of the blocks to test the flexibility of different parts of the ski. As you weight stays constant this is a very repeatable test - I just had trouble with a warn out pair of 1080's they would bend to almost a complete U shape with only 150lbs on them!

[Tuckerman]

I dont think that your method will work very well for skis with a progressive flex. You might need a couple of pivot and load points. You could try to do two measurements one pivot at boot center, and load about 1/2 way to tip and tail. And another where you pivot in two spots fore and aft (about 10 inches from boot center) and load the tips..

I like that idea /\ but what I do first off is to twist the ski tip that gives me a good feel of how the thing will do on edge which is how you are most of the time.

[Shredgar]

Good idea Idris thanks. What better measure than your own bodyweight? Do you balance on one ski or two?

Here's what I just measured:

Ski....................pounds to de-camber 1":

210 Rossignol Strato 102 (1960's)......43.5
190 Atomic Tourcap........................36.0
210 Head Deep Powder (1950's)........34.5
200 Rossignol Haute Routes (1970's)..33.0
207 Dynastar Coupe GS...................31.0
195 K2 Explorer..............................26.5
195 K2 TNC Comp...........................25.5
205 Elan RC Comprex SL...................23.0
175 Voile Mtn Surf..........................19.0
190 K2 AK Launcher........................19.0

[focus]

dude le did this... it was scientific and stuff....

did it get lost in the revolution?

[Idris]

Good idea Idris thanks. What better measure than your own bodyweight? Do you balance on one ski or two?

190 K2 AK Launcher........................19.0

Ons ski. More of a balcnce trick, but also more consistent, you don't have to rely on trying to distibute your weight 50/50 between the skis.

Thoses lawnchairs sure are soft !

This is what you have to go through to realy bend a stiff ski!

[Shredgar]

Ons ski. More of a balance trick, but also more consistent, you don't have to rely on trying to distibute your weight 50/50 between the skis.

Thoses lawnchairs sure are soft !

That's what I was thinking, thanks Idris.

It's interesting to me how stiff the old skool powder skis are:

210 Head Deep Powder (1950's)........34.5
200 Rossignol Haute Routes (1970's)..33.0

Added a couple more data points for a couple pair of Voile Carbon Surfs:

Ski....................pounds to de-camber 1":

210 Rossignol Strato 102 (1960's)......43.5
190 Atomic Tourcap........................36.0
210 Head Deep Powder (1950's)........34.5
200 Rossignol Haute Routes (1970's)..33.0
207 Dynastar Coupe GS...................31.0
195 K2 Explorer..............................26.5
195 K2 TNC Comp...........................25.5
188 Voile Carbon Surf prototype........23.5
205 Elan RC Comprex SL...................23.0
183 Voile Carbon Surf production.......22.5
175 Voile Mtn Surf..........................19.0
190 K2 AK Launcher........................19.0

Wonder where the stiff Bros would rank...

[72Twenty]

My Line Dragons would decamber if you layed your car keys on them.

[lemon boy]

Shredgar, I have a set of those 102s as well and can confirm that they are VERY, VERY stiff.

[Shredgar]

The 190 Lawnchairs ski well for me. They are soft but torsionally stiff enough to work. Too bad they weigh 9.5lbs/pair = wish they were lighter for walking around the Wasatch bc.

A buddy has a pair of 185 Trab Freerandos, 108-78-93, 5.5lb AT skis from Bormio Italy. Have skied them this spring & like them a lot. They'll go fast up & down. Hope to get to flex test them, they're pretty stiff.

[Shredgar]

A couple more data points, Bro stiffs & Trab Freerandos:

Ski....................pounds to de-camber 1":

210 Rossignol Strato 102 (1960's)......43.5
190 Atomic Tourcap........................36.0
210 Head Deep Powder (1950's)........34.5
200 Rossignol Haute Routes (1970's)..33.0
207 Dynastar Coupe GS...................31.0
188 Bro Models, stiff aspen core........30.0
195 K2 Explorer..............................26.5
185 Trab Freerandos.......................25.5
195 K2 TNC Comp...........................25.5
188 Voile Carbon Surf prototype........23.5
205 Elan RC Comprex SL...................23.0
183 Voile Carbon Surf production.......22.5
175 Voile Mtn Surf..........................19.0
190 K2 AK Launcher........................19.0