Can Ski Edges Be Too Sharp?

When you ski, the edges of the skis can be too sharp. It's possible to tell if your ski's edges are too sharp by feeling them under your binding. To do this, you can run your fingernail along the edge of the ski. If it draws against your fingernail, the edge is sharp. Learn how ski tuning is connected to sharping of ski edges.

Getting a Smooth Turn Entrance

One of the first things that you need to do if you want to get a smooth turn entrance is to tune your ski edges. The base edge of the ski should be parallel to the snow and the side edge should be parallel to the edge of the ski. This will make the ski edge much more efficient to file and will prolong the life of the file. During this process, you need to use a file guide that will help you to get a precise result. Once you have a guide, you can begin the process of filing your skis. Read more about old ski bindings and their safety.

The next step to get a smooth turn entrance is to keep the pressure on your front edge. Ideally, you should keep your weight forward through the entire turn. This will allow you to maintain the best edge angle possible. Having good sharp edges is crucial to skiing smoothly. You should also make sure that you have a good balance when skiing.

Getting a Smooth Turn Exit

Skis with sharp edges tend to feel unbalanced when exiting a turn. They are harder to control and can cause sudden pressure as the edges grip the snow. Luckily, there are a few tricks to getting a smooth turn exit even when your edges are too sharp.

The first step in making sure your ski edges aren't too sharp is to use a file. Place a file at an angle to the edge and gently file it. Make sure the edge file touches the metal edge and not the wood. The file should be held securely with your fingers, so that it won't fall and damage your skin. Do you still have old skis? Find out if you can safely use ten years old skis.