Skis

A ski is a long flat device worn on the feet designed to help the wearer slide smoothly over snow. Originally intended as an aid to travel in snowy regions, they are now primarily used for recreational and sporting purposes. more...

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Also, a ski may denote a similar device used for other purposes than skiing, for example, for steering snowmobiles.

Snow skis glide on snow because downward pressure, as well as heat from surface friction, melts a thin layer of snow directly under the ski. This creates a very thin layer of water directly under the ski upon which the ski glides. Ski wax is used to decrease drag by increasing the water repellent properties of the base.

History

The original Nordic ski technology was improved during the early twentieth century so that skiers could make turns at higher speeds. New ski and binding designs, coupled with the introduction of ski lifts and snow cats to carry skiers high up on mountains, enabled the development of most prominent category of the sport, alpine skiing.

Construction

Skis were originally wooden planks made from a single piece of wood. They are now usually made from a complex assembly of components including glass fiber, Kevlar, titanium, other polymers, Hardened plastic or composite materials, though many may still contain wood cores.

Most skis are long and thin, pointed and curve upwards at the front to prevent digging into the snow. The user is attached by bindings which in turn hold the ski boots. Beginning in the early 2000s, many ski manufacturers began designing their skis and bindings together, creating an integrated binding system. These systems serve two purposes. Firstly, they often use a railroad track style design, to allow the toe and heel pieces to slide, which in turn allows the ski to flex deeply, without an unflexed spot underfoot due to the binding. Secondly, it allows the consumer to purchase both skis and bindings from the same manufacturer, thus increasing sales.

Types of ski

Many types of skis exist, all designed for different situations, of which the following are a selection.

Alpine ski

Like all skis, the original alpine \"downhill\" skis were little more than glorified planks of wood. Eventually metal edges were added to better grip the snow and ice of a ski trail and for durability. Downhill ski construction has evolved into much more sophisticated technologies. The use of composite materials, such as carbon-Kevlar, made skis stronger, lighter, and more durable. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, spearheaded by ELAN, manufacturers began producing parabolic \"shaped\" skis (when viewed from above or below, the center or \"waist\" is significantly narrower than the tip and tail). Virtually all modern skis are made with some degree of side cut. The more dramatic the difference between the width of the tip waist and tail, coupled with the length stiffness and camber of the ski, the shorter the \"natural\" turning radius. Skis used in downhill race events are long with a subtle side cut as they are built for speed and wide turns. Slalom skis—as well as many recreational skis—are shorter with a greater side cut to facilitate tighter, easier turns. Many ski manufacturers label skis with their design turn radius on the top. For a racing slalom ski, they can be as low as 12 meters (40 ft) and for Super-G they are normally at 33 meters (108 ft). However, for off-piste skis there is a trend toward wider skis to better float on top of powder snow. This means skiers have a huge range to chose from depending on individual needs and application.

Read more at Wikipedia.org