Does a big tail work like a spoiler in deep snow?

**dfinn** · 02-13-2007, 09:10 PM

This has been something I've been wondering about lately. In deep snow does a gotama type tail act like a spoiler to help float the tip?

**pechelman** · 02-13-2007, 09:12 PM

ugh

from what forces? (snow or air)

doesnt really matter though.
no.

**skiitsbetter** · 02-13-2007, 09:14 PM

If snow is moving fast overtop of it it would. But I think that you ski ON top of snow, and not underneath it.

**dfinn** · 02-13-2007, 09:17 PM

Originally Posted by pechelman

ugh

from what forces? (snow or air)

doesnt really matter though.
no.

snow.

I was picturing snow moving over the tail of the ski at a high rate of speed and it pushing the tail down, raising the tip. You'd know better than me though.

**kidwoo** · 02-13-2007, 09:20 PM

I think it just serves to hide farts in a big diffused rooster tail.

That in itself is way better than this "float" everyone seems so concerned about.

**phUnk** · 02-13-2007, 09:43 PM

If you were skiing pow at a billion mph, then yes, it would.

**BigLineSeeker** · 02-13-2007, 09:47 PM

the abrupt upturn helps the tail sink into the snow easier, there is no way that the short upturn could lever the ski against a 150lb+ skier

**dfinn** · 02-13-2007, 09:49 PM

Originally Posted by BigLineSeeker

the abrupt upturn helps the tail sink into the snow easier, there is no way that the short upturn could lever the ski against a 150lb+ skier

well then I guess it's definitely not going to do anything against my 230lb tank ass.

**pechelman** · 02-13-2007, 09:52 PM

very simple calc here

theres a few important numbers

Velocity
Frontal Area
Fluid Density

velocity wise, you may think youre skiing fast, but in aero\hydrodyanmic terms, youre a snail

frontal area, assuming the tail had a CLEAR line of sight to the incident snow, which it doesnt, youre dealing with um, the size of a credit card really. Remember, frontal area is the perpendicular cross section to the velocity vector.

fluid density, um, snow. its not dense.

you have more benefit from the upturn underneath as it allows you to more easily pivot the ski tail down into the snow via anke flexion

there we go

edit: something also to keep in mind is the tail upturn that acts a diffuser. this decrease in snow velocity will actually create a high pressure region which will more than counteract any "downforce" you have through dynamics....theres more static downforce from the weight of the tail than there is from dynamic snow interaction