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Anatomy of a SkiUnderstanding the anatomy of a ski will allow you to make an educated purchase as well as improve your ability to use your ski equipment effectively.BASE The bottom surface of the ski that makes contact with the snow is referred to CAMBER When you lay a ski on the floor there is a gap between the floor and the center part of the ski. The camber of the ski creates this gap. (The points where the ski touches the floor are called the CONTACT POINTS). CONTACT POINTS With the ski on the floor the contact points of the ski are readily visible. They are the points where the ski touches the floor. (CAMBER creates the space in the middle of the ski where it does not touch the floor). CORE The core of the ski refers to the internal materials of the ski. These vary depending on the construction of the ski and may include wood, foam, metal or fiberglass. The core affects the skis weight, flex and stability. EDGE The sharp metal edge along the base of the ski is simply called the edge. The edge helps to keep the ski in control on the slopes by EFFECTIVE EDGE The metal edge of the ski covers the entire length of the ski. Only a portion of the edge makes contact with the snow. The part that touches the snow is called the effective edge. This is the only portion of the edge that grips the snow through a turn and therefore the longer the effective edge the better the ski will grip the snow and the more stable the ski will be. GRAPHICS Ski graphics are pictures, colors and geometric shapes on the top sheet of the ski. The graphics of the ski are primarily decorative but also serve to identify the make and model of the ski. OVERALL LENGTH The total length of the ski is measured in centimeters (cm) from the tip to the tail. SHOVEL The front portion of the ski starting where it begins to turn up to the tip is referred to as the shovel. It is the widest part of the ski. SIDECUT The depth of the curve that runs along the edge of the ski from the tip, waist and tail determines the sidecut of a ski. This curve is part of an imaginary circle. The size of that circle is indicative of the depth of the sidcut of the ski, the smaller the circle the deeper the sidecut. Deeper sidecuts allow for tighter turns. SIDEWALL The sidewall of the ski is the area and material along the lateral edge of the ski, below the top sheet and above the metal edge. The sidewall aids in the skis durability and performance. They type of material used in the sidewall will effect the skis overall durability. TIP AND TAIL The tip and tail of the ski are the front and back respectively. The tip is always upturned and in twin tip skis the tail is also turned up. TOP SHEET The top sheet of the ski is the upper most layer of the ski. While its surface serves as the decorative component of the ski it plays an important role in the integrity of the ski as well. It is the final bonding for all the components of the ski. WAIST The waist is the narrowest point of the ski when it is measured edge to edge. Typically this is near the center of the ski. Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com Reprinted with permission by www.skiwarehouse.com Permalink: http://expert-talk.com/tips/696/anatomy-of-a-ski-107696.htm Related Tips and Advices | Related Tags            |
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