The skis aren't super popular, but I see the snowboards everywhere in Japan. Was riding with a friend who said it is a huge help on deep days since otherwise you have to put your weight so far back to get flotation on a board. The cutout means the tail sinks easily, while you still have an edge when it's not super deep. That made sense to me.
But for skis, it's not like I'm leaning back in deep powder, certainly not a lot, and not like I'm "weighting" the back 6 inches of the ski. So seems a lot less benefit for skiers.
Swallowtail skis
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pvnisher
- Posts: 1747
- Joined: 9/28/2006
- Trip Reports (8)
Re: Swallowtail skis
The technology makes sense and Line makes great skis, so I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss these. For the record, I have never owned a pair of 5 fingers, but I am known to make questionable decisions about ski gear.
I think there are generally at least three things that create "float" when skiing powder:
1. ski surface area (width and length)
2. early rise ski tip
3. difference in ski tip and ski tail widths
So the concept here takes advantage of 2 and 3 above while reducing the length of ski and making it more skiable. The swallow tail increases float by giving the tail a reduced surface area and the effective edge makes it "ski" longer than it actual is. I don't buy that the little cut out make much of a difference as to weight. In my experience, early rise tips seem to be as (or more?) important than width under foot. I also have found myself enjoying shorter skis for tree skiing as it makes it easier to navigate tight spots. I'd be happy to test out a pair for you and report back if you're buying.
I think there are generally at least three things that create "float" when skiing powder:
1. ski surface area (width and length)
2. early rise ski tip
3. difference in ski tip and ski tail widths
So the concept here takes advantage of 2 and 3 above while reducing the length of ski and making it more skiable. The swallow tail increases float by giving the tail a reduced surface area and the effective edge makes it "ski" longer than it actual is. I don't buy that the little cut out make much of a difference as to weight. In my experience, early rise tips seem to be as (or more?) important than width under foot. I also have found myself enjoying shorter skis for tree skiing as it makes it easier to navigate tight spots. I'd be happy to test out a pair for you and report back if you're buying.
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MUni Rider
- Posts: 897
- Joined: 7/31/2007
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- Trip Reports (20)
Re: Swallowtail skis
But I love all my VFFs!BillMiddlebrook wrote: ↑Tue Jan 26, 2021 8:42 am Looks dumb. If you're buying these skis, you probably own FiveFingers "shoes"
"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by the dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions and spends himself in a worthy course; who at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly; so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat." (Theodore Roosevelt)
"Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit." (Edward Abbey)
"Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit." (Edward Abbey)
Re: Swallowtail skis
I can't speak to how well these may ski, but I've been BC touring on a swallowtail splitboard the past year, I can tell you its phenomenal for riding powder (even just a couple inches of fresh). Especially excels in deep snow in tight tress where you need to be able to turn on a dime, the tail drops super easily and the board is ~15 cm shorter than I normally ride, so much more maneuverable. However, the cutouts for the tails on these skis seem too small to make a significant difference, so I would anticipate marginal gains in powder performance, minuscule difference in weight, and you lose the ability to ride switch (unless you're spreading that smooth, smooth nose butter)
I thought, I taught, I wrought
