The radius is the turning circle of a ski. The turning circle measures how long it takes for a ski to make its largest possible and complete turn. This is indicated in meters and varies per type of ski. On this page we tell you everything about the radius of a ski.
WHAT IS THE RADIUS?
The radius is the turning circle of a ski, but what exactly does that mean? Very simply put, this is the imaginary circle you can make with a ski when you spin it with the steel edge on the ground. Half of this circle is the bend you make in the snow while carving. The smaller the radius, the shorter the bend and the higher, the longer the bend. This affects the maneuverability of a ski.
SHORT TURNS
Skis with a low radius are suitable for carving short turns. The skis are very manoeuvrable and therefore very suitable for beginners. Of course, there are also advanced winter sports enthusiasts who choose a ski with a low radius, because they like to ski short turns. In addition, special high-performance models have been developed for competitive sports. For example, the slalom ski, which is used with the discipline of slalom in the competitive sport of alpine skiing. The radius for short turns is less than 13 meters.
LONG TURNS
The higher the radius, the larger or longer the turns you can carve. These skis are often slightly stiffer and require more power and technique. For medium-length curves a radius of 13 to 20 meters applies and for long curves a radius of 20 meters applies.
THE WIDTH HAS INFLUENCE
There are a number of factors that influence the radius of a ski, including sidecut and camber. Another important factor is the width of the ski, also called tailoring. A strongly tailored and therefore narrow ski often has a lower radius.
VARIOUS PER TYPE OF SKI
As mentioned above, all types of skis have their own radius. You do not have to calculate this number yourself, it is simply stated on the ski. You can divide these into the following categories:
- Slalom skis: under 13 meters
- All-mountain skis: 13 to 20 meters
- Freeride skis: 20 meters and more
- Race skis: 30 meters and more
MISCONCEPTIONS
There are a number of misunderstandings about the radius of a ski. One of those misunderstandings is that people think that they cannot ski long turns with a low radius and vice versa. However, the radius is all about the carved turning circle of a ski in the snow. This means that you turn the turn on the steel edges of the ski. If you make a turn where the ski is flat/flatter on the snow, you can simply make a long or short turn, regardless of the radius. In addition, special competition skis with a high radius can also ski short turns, provided the ski bends sufficiently and is flexible. You often see this among competitive skiers with racing skis in the giant slalom.