Science of the Ski

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Structure

In many conditions, behind flex, structure is the most important aspect of a ski that dictates speed. Structure defines small grooves or indentations that are made on the bottom of a ski base. These structures help manage the thin film of water that forms between the ski and the snow. It does this by creating paths that allow the water to flow away from the ski. By displacing water from under the base the layer of water is kept much thinner, which greatly reduces capillary forces.

Because structure is designed to affect the layer of water it is most prevalent in warmer and more humid conditions where the layer of water is thicker. Generally the warmer it gets the deeper and more aggressive the structure becomes since the water layer tends to be thicker and thus there is more water to manage. As temperatures start dropping to the point where the water layer is at optimum thickness or too thin then structure becomes much less important. However, it is important to note that at colder temperatures aggressive structures can slow the ski down significantly. They allow dirt to build up in the grooves and increase the amount of ridges that can dig into the snow and create resistance.

Structure can be applied to the ski in two ways. The first is with a specialized stone grinder, which uses a diamond bit to engrave structure into the ski. The second is with a rolling hand tool, which presses the structure in.