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Understanding the anatomy
of a ski can aid you in deciding on the kind of skis suitable to
your needs. It is also advantageous to understand the functions
of the various ski parts because it helps you make more effective
use of your skis.
BASE
The bottom side of the skis that come in contact
with the surface. The
base is anemographic so that it can hold wax. It is important that
your skis are waxed daily so turns can be made more easily and to
prevent premature wear on the plastic base — especially on
artificial snow.
CAMBER
The amount of space between the center of the
ski base and flat surface beneath the ski when it is resting on
the tip and tail. The camber affects the responsiveness and liveliness
of the ski and affects stability of the ski by spreading weight
across the ski from tip to tail.
EDGE
The metal edge on the sides of the ski. Holding
an edge is important in turns to ensure that you maintain a grip
and your skis don't slip.
Ski edges are available in a variety of Rockwell
hardness. Some brands have harder edges than others which allows
them to stay sharper on artificial snow.
Edges can be filed to different angled base and
side edge bevels. The base and side edge bevel can influence the
performance characteristics of the ski.
SIDECUT RADIUS
The measurement of how deeply or shallowly the
ski's cut is from the nose of the ski to the waist. The smaller
the sidecut radius, the tighter you will be able to turn.
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