by Kiwi » Sat Jun 25, 2011 4:58 pm
I was able to reproduce the feeling of the SSs with the Stockli. The turns were the same as previously, tight carved slalom turns.
It required a lot of dynamic two footed pull back at the end of each turn through transition. At slower speed this felt exaggerated but if not done the rebound was lost. There was a lot of energy in this movement at low speed compared to when moving slightly faster. The release was at the normal speed needed for the turn, fast, but I didn't exaggerate the release.
I found I needed to hold my counter through the release—this is something I now do in my skiing.
The effect of this was a quicker movement across the skis. I felt gently pushed diagonally down the slope, very smooth. I think there was quicker edge engagement but interestingly it felt that I had more time in the high C.
The rebound was like at rhythm for each of the turns, metaphors that come to mind are "heart beat" or "pump". I think the sweet spot of the ski was working to produce this.
Just before writing this I read an excellent thread on the forum from 1997 on rebound and could totally appreciate what was being explained. Pays to do a search before blathering on. The only thing I now wonder about is the force that a GS ski produces when it flings people into the air compared to rebound on slalom skis. The force would seem to be related but can it really be vertically directed rebound?
BigE
I have a confession to make. I have never understood tail flex or tail release. When I see people in shops flexing skis I just nod, means nothing to me.
I appreciate the difference between soft and hard skis when I ski. I concentrate on the ski forward of the bindings and if I feel the tail, I am too far back and I get forward as quickly as possible. The stockli ski is firmer than the SSs but this doesn't seem too effect the force produced, which isn't the general thinking, but I believe a softer ski could make it easier to attain rebound at slower speed providing the ski is quality.
Kiwi