full carves

Mike, I find that every pair of skis is different in how much inside ski pressure is optimum and at what stages in the turn it is applied. I've been carving on five different pairs of skis this season. Each pair demands an adjustment of technique. It follows that the larger the sidecut radius, the more bias to the outside ski might be required, but beyond that, flex and sidecut design make significant differences. Also how passive or aggressive the skiing style needs to be.

What I get out of this is an appreciation of how clever a good ski design is. It should allow you, the skier to decide how you feel like skiing on this run and give good performance whatever you decide.

Trencher

A different ski ... different technique! True

However, Trencher your sensitivity to results from an altered technique is far, far greater than mine ... I don't have that amount of experience to feel subtle changes.

Yesterday, however, I started the day with a pair of 180 Atomic 9-20's beta carve skis which I hadn't used this year so far. I expected to need a run or two to get the feel of these back since I have been using a pair of 170 (15M rad) Atomic SX-9's. I did about about 12 runs on the 180's which never failed to give me a great ride before switching to the 170 for a few more. I can't recall needing more than about 20 feet to get the feel back of the longer skis. But again, I don't have the experience to judge subtle differences. My problem is when pressuring the downhill ski (either pair) that I seem to not only push down but must be pushing away as well as my legs may spread out a bit. Probably shows not enough pressure on the uphill ski --- thus the "up hill ski only" drill to try to learn some control over uphill or downhill pressuring.

I'm not sure which pair I would credit with the better ride.... guess I'll have to try again

I do know that your suggestions are at the forefront of my efforts. Great fun for sure. And when the skiing conditions are great --- I feel for the people who can't stand the winters.

Mike