Effect of skier weight on stiffness of skis

[2stix]

I have to ask to get some feedback on opinions as to the effect of skiers weight on skis.

As the skiers weight increases, does the efective "stiffness" of a ski decrease.

If one skier was 175# and found a ski to be stiff and anouther skier at 260# rode the same skis, would he have the same opinion, or would he feel the ski is less "stiff" because of the extra weight? Would the stiffness of the ski have to increase for the heavier skier to get the same felling of stiffness as the lighter one?

If the stiffness would have to increase, would the heavier skier give up some of the skiability (assuming a softer ski is easier to ski at lower speeds) of the ski to gain the stability and speed that the stiffer ski would bring?

[Skip Dooley]

To be short, yes.
Think about it.
fat kid on diving board vs. skinny shrimp on diving board.
Fatty will flex it alot more.

[aspenskibum]

seems like common sense, but i would think that while weight would be a factor, ability is the main factor in how stiff a ski you need.

[2stix]

Okay to be fair I suppose the questions does seem a little ellimental and overly simplistic. I realize that as the weight increases on the ski it will flex more. But what I am trying to ask is different then that.

An average weighted skier that would choose a stiff ski would choose it for the increased speed and stability it would offer. They would need to have the ability and strength to "drive" the ski more then a softer model. This effect and reason would be the same regardless of the skiers weight.

Being that a larger person would make the ski flex more, does that make the ski less stiff? I would think that the stiffness would be the resistance to bend, not the amount of bend. With that thought in mind, would the heavier skier need extra stiffness to achieve the same effects as the lighter skier?

[Skip Dooley]

yes.



5678

[Sphinx]

Yes, of course.

A 150 pound guy on my 184 R:Ex calls them stiff, unresponsive, high-speed boards.

Me at 205 calls them short, quick, snappy, easy-turning and could be stiffer for higher speeds.

To 0th approximation a ski is linearly elastic. F=kx. The flex is directly proportional to force. Bigger=more force.

[Spats]

And more speed = more force in a turn. Same effect on the ski as being heavy.

[Shredgar]

Force = mass x velocity squared

Weight will flex a ski, skiing faster can flex it more.

[marshalolson]

fixed it for ya

Force = 1/2 mass x velocity squared

Weight will flex a ski, skiing faster can flex it more.

Force = Mass x Acceleration

so the more you ski in the fall line (ie. more effect of gravity) the more you flex (and therfore need a stiffer) ski

[2stix]

Great guys!
Thanks for the feedback.
I was leaning towards the stiffer ski theory as well but wanted some knowledgable feedback.
Superstiff Bros it is!

[Skip Dooley]

I have to ask to get some feedback on opinions as to the effect of...

too many words.

[bad_roo]

I was expecting to get owned by that super-stiff pair of Monster im103s I got hold of last year but I weighed 235lb then and found them to be pussycats. No problems whatsoever. My everyday ski is a Line Mothership and these are way softer but I never feel as if I'm overpowering them.

A better skier often expends less total bending force onto the ski than a poor skier purely because he will retain speed rather than constantly decelerating.