How wide is too wide?

[ckuck]

I was reading an article in one of the ski rags by Mike Rogan and Stu Campbell recently about wide skis on groomed runs and how wider skis are harder to keep on edge (they want to skid out) and require inefficient movements to turn them. So how wide is too wide? Mike/Stu made the observation that a 65/75mm waist is typical for a hard snow ski. So how wide is too wide? Should I consider leaving the B3s at home with their 83mm waist if it's going to be hardpacked? I don't think I'd want to ski a pair of Volkl Sumos, for example, on the hardpack; but previous experience with my B3s tells me they're not all that bad. It's kind of hard to tell what's being skied in the pictures, but it looks like a really fat Nordica of some kind. Would be interesting to see the profile on those. I'm also looking at getting a pair of twin tips this year, most of them are 75mm to 81mm in the waist, and a number of them are being sold as all mountain / park skis.

Anybody want to give me lots of extra pairs of skis so I can test this? :cool:

-- Carl

[michael rogan]

Carl
Here are my opinions about your questions. The wider the ski and the harder the snow the more the ski wants to "fight" your edging movements. The better you are the more you are able to manage this effect. When I am able to be selective about my equipment I chose a ski no wider then 78mm for groomed skiing. When I can't, I deal with it but relize that my equipment may not be helping me. For me the harder the snow the narrower the ski and vice versa.
Thanks for being apart of NASTC
Michael Rogan

[ckuck]

For me the harder the snow the narrower the ski and vice versa.
Michael Rogan
Definitely agreed on that. There's a reason ice skate blades are only a few mm wide... :) My B3s are a bit wider at 83, but everything else in the fleet ranges from 78 (twin tips) down to 65 (SL race). Thanks!

-- Carl