While skis are seldom hard or rigid and are usually flexible, there are a few hard skis that can be found for those who indulge in skate skiing and downhill racing. These skis are often chosen by some skate skiers due to the ability of these skis to glide, stability, and superior control on the snow. These kinds of skis were developed through extensive research and development and went through a process of evolution that began with the plain wooden boards in the past to the harder and tougher composite materials being used today.
Materials Used for Hard Skis
The composite skis that skiers use today are a far cry from their original wooden counterparts. A lot of them are made of extremely durable material that can have you zipping down a mountain at amazing speeds or skiing across flat plains with the greatest of ease.
Composite skis can be made out of a combination of materials that are layered on to create the tough and hard skis that can withstand the rigors of the sport. Some of the materials you can find being used in these composite skis include Kevlar, glass fibers, carbon fibers, titanium, and even hard plastic. Some of these skis still have wood in them, usually as the core of the ski.
Ideal Ski for Downhill Racing and Skate Skiing
The sport of skiing is a very challenging sport and usually requires a lot of discipline. Using the right kind of skis for the kind of skiing you will do is important for you to get the kind of experience you want from the sport. Hard skis are ideal for downhill racing and skate skiing because of their stability and control. These skis are ideal for gliding through long passages fast and with precision.
Your performance on the snow will depend on some of the design details and the composition of these special skis, with some manufacturers adding on certain race sidecuts, employing weight reduction modifications to their designs and using precise flex patterns to give skiers the kind of ski they can rely on.
Maintaining Your Hard Skis
Just like every other kind of skis you may have, maintaining your hard skis is important to continuously get the kind of results you want from them. Taking care of your hard skis includes the proper cleaning and storing of these equipment, the proper handling and wearing of these skis before, during, and after a run, how you transport these skis from your home to the skiing resort or area you are going to, and storing them during the warm summer months.
Maintaining your skis and other skiing equipment can be easily done by simply following the usual rules of ski equipment maintenance. You can ask some of the people who ski with you for tips on how they maintain their skiing gear or you can ask the staff of the ski shops or ski equipment rental places that you see for ideas on proper maintenance and care of your skiing gear and other skiing equipment.