Information provided by : Tomoyuki Tabata (bottomline) Compiled by: STEEP Editorial Department
INDEX
- The relationship between the edge and the running surface: Ease of turning the board
- Beveling the base edge changes the way you handle the board
- Wax for glide and tune up for maneuverability to suit your style
Let's learn from Mr. Tabata, the owner of "bottomline," a maintenance professional with over 15 years of experience.
In this series, Tomoyuki Tabata, owner of the pro shop "bottomline," shares his know-how on tuning up your skis to "enhance your skiing." The theme this time is "edge handling," which has the potential to change the way you ski. With the season finally starting, we hope you'll use this information to prepare for your trip out onto the snow
❖ To get started with this series, please see here (Topic_1).
This time, we will talk about "Handling Edges"
The third installment of Topic_3 is
"How to Handling Edges to Improve Your Skiing." When skiing, you can immediately recognize the feeling of the edges catching, but it's a little scary to mess with the edges yourself without solid knowledge of how to maintain them. So, let's have a professional tune-up expert teach us about "edges."
The relationship between the edge and the running surface: Ease of turning the board
In Topic 1, I used the expression "steering play in a car." What I wanted to convey isthat the angle of the base edge, especially the base on the sliding surface, known as beveling, affects how the skis are handled.
You may have heard that the sliding surface must be flat, but in freeride, not making it flat is actually a valid option. The amount of beveling on the base edge makes a big difference.
Beveling the base edge changes the way you handle the board
If you look closely at the area circled in red in this image, you'll see that the way light spills through the left and right edges is different. The left side has stronger beveling, while the right side has weaker beveling. The way the light spills through is different.
Of course, we intentionally changed the edges on the left and right sides of the same ski, but this is purely for the photo shoot; we don't usually do this. Naturally, the left side is easier to turn and makes it easier to ski using the entire surface.
Furthermore, on the left side, the connection from the base to the edge is stronger, and that characteristic is more pronounced. In contrast, on the right side, mainly only the edge is beveled, and the base is finished to be nearly flat.
As an extreme example, there are also skis that are designed with a convex sole shape and are produced from the start. The photo shows the "CYCHO JPL" ski, which we previously released as an original product. Although it is a model that has already sold out, it still has many devoted fans.
After firmly pressing the base edge, adjust the side edge as well
If you sharpen the base edge, you should sharpen the side edges accordingly. Otherwise, it will become obtuse.These side edges are the key to edging; they control much of the biting action.However
, sharpening them too much is also not advisable. The sharper the angle, the more prone the blade is to chipping, requiring frequent sharpening as needed.
One way to do this is to adjust the base beveling to suit your riding style
Motorcycle tires are round, while cars' tires are flat. This is because the turning (cornering) characteristics of each vehicle are different. So, one way to do this is to increase the base beveling (left side of the photo below) if you're riding like a motorcycle, and not so much if you're riding like a car (right side of the photo below)
It would be interesting to imagine a turn like that of a motorcycle, where you lean your body forward, as opposed to a turn like a four-wheel vehicle, where you basically face your chest toward the fall line and have a strong outward posture, and compare that with the way you ski
Wax provides glide, and
tune-up adjusts the handling to your style.
In short, wax provides gliding performance, and tune-up adjusts the handling to your style. Especially with the latter, tune-up, communication between the user and the person finishing the board is crucial to avoid it becoming a one-way black box.
summary
Sometimes, I like to be mindful of "breaking down preconceived notions,"
and I especially want to be free in how I ride.
When TUNE-UP fits in there, it creates the most enjoyable moments.
And sometimes, it's important to keep in mind "breaking down preconceived notions." If you interpret freeriding literally, I think that's where you arrive.
Waxing requires following certain rules because of the relationship between the material and the snow, but when it comes to riding style, you want to be especially free, right? When TUNE-UP fits in there, you experience the most enjoyable moments.
bottomline
http://bottom-line.jp
"The reason we named the shop 'bottomline' is to evoke the image of a 'top-to-bottom' gliding line, and also because we wanted to create a shop for everyday users, including those at the bottom, rather than a shop for top athletes pursuing their skills. Like a local bike shop, we'd like to continue listening to the sound of your engine and asking questions like, 'Could this be the reason it's not working properly?' so that everyone can ride comfortably."
Profile:
Tomoyuki Tabata,
born in 1967, from Chiba Prefecture. In the late 1990s, he worked at a ski shop that was located in Jiyugaoka at the time. After that, he learned about tune-up techniques and opened his own shop, "bottomline," in 2004, combining those skills.
