Thoughts on a change in skis

[swardco]

Got my new (to me) 2009 Radar Senate with Radar Rail bindings in the mail on Sat. Took it out and skied it last night for the first time. I have some learning to do:

Background:
Re-entered the skiing world this summer after 17 year break. Skiing about twice a week, on my 1990 Obrien TRC. As of the last couple weeks have been feeling better on the ski and running 15 off 30 mph easily, making 2-3 at 15 off, 32 mph. I am 6'-2", 178 lbs, my new ski is 67", not exactly sure about the old TRC. I am a right foot forward skier.

I understand that the new ski will take some getting used to and that I can, and will need, to tune it a bit to suit me. I was surprised at how difficult it felt to make the ski turn on my "off side". (Off side for me is right to left, balls 1,3,5)

Laying the ski next to my old TRC and roughly aligning the tails, I notice that my binding is significantly farther forward on the old ski as compared to the Senate. The angle on the wing is also significantly more "angle down" in the front on the Senate compared to the old TRC. I plan to measure and document my setup as it is now based off an article on ProSkiCoach.com.

I am trying to decide if I should just ski the ski as it is now for a while (season will be ending pretty soon) or make an adjustment (move the bindings forward a notch?).

There seem to be lots of people on here that know much more than I, so what do you think?

I have seen a few posts on here or other forums talking about "counter rotation" vs "old school". I don't think I really know what those terms mean, I am old (47) so does that make me "old school"?

[Skipper]

My two cents....start with the factory settings. I ski D3 and all information about fin settings and binding placement is available online it should be the same for Radar. It may be that your ski is just not set up right (by factory settings anyhow). If it is, then ski it for a few days to get used to it.

Then, adjust only one thing a time between sets. Give it a ride and see how the adjustment works out for you.

My "tweeking" has come and gone. I never used to adjust anything. Then I got to tweeking the stupid fin. Kept a crazy log book of the factory settings and my observations. Made a tweek, recorded the settings, and the results. Found that I could really tune the ski to get the most out of it. Then I stopped tweeking and ran pure for a while. But that only lasted a couple years. I tweeked my fin to get better off side turns and angle into the wakes.

[tex]

Got my new (to me) 2009 Radar Senate with Radar Rail bindings in the mail on Sat. Took it out and skied it last night for the first time. I have some learning to do:

Background:
Re-entered the skiing world this summer after 17 year break. Skiing about twice a week, on my 1990 Obrien TRC. As of the last couple weeks have been feeling better on the ski and running 15 off 30 mph easily, making 2-3 at 15 off, 32 mph. I am 6'-2", 178 lbs, my new ski is 67", not exactly sure about the old TRC. I am a right foot forward skier.

I understand that the new ski will take some getting used to and that I can, and will need, to tune it a bit to suit me. I was surprised at how difficult it felt to make the ski turn on my "off side". (Off side for me is right to left, balls 1,3,5)

Laying the ski next to my old TRC and roughly aligning the tails, I notice that my binding is significantly farther forward on the old ski as compared to the Senate. The angle on the wing is also significantly more "angle down" in the front on the Senate compared to the old TRC. I plan to measure and document my setup as it is now based off an article on ProSkiCoach.com.

I am trying to decide if I should just ski the ski as it is now for a while (season will be ending pretty soon) or make an adjustment (move the bindings forward a notch?).

There seem to be lots of people on here that know much more than I, so what do you think?

I have seen a few posts on here or other forums talking about "counter rotation" vs "old school". I don't think I really know what those terms mean, I am old (47) so does that make me "old school"?

Buy some jumpers!

[skibrain]

I'm 51. you're young school.

Comparing the TRC binding placement to the Radar isn't going to have much value. Apples to oranges. Maybe this is the link to info you already have:

http://www.proskicoach.com/skis/radar/senate/2009

Is your binding-type a big change? More rigid, causing you to stand differently? When I demo skis I try to do so with the same bindings I use or put mine on (Wileys). I think this is as big as fin set up.

That said, if a ski doesn't feel comfortable I don't buy. Past three skis have been D3 and they have all felt great immediately. Four friends (Connelly, Goode, O'Brien, KD) have said the same about my 2009 Z7. Turns great. No learning curve getting used to this. Immediately gives me confidence.

[swardco]

My two cents....start with the factory settings. I ski D3 and all information about fin settings and binding placement is available online it should be the same for Radar. It may be that your ski is just not set up right (by factory settings anyhow). If it is, then ski it for a few days to get used to it.

Then, adjust only one thing a time between sets. Give it a ride and see how the adjustment works out for you.

My "tweeking" has come and gone. I never used to adjust anything. Then I got to tweeking the stupid fin. Kept a crazy log book of the factory settings and my observations. Made a tweek, recorded the settings, and the results. Found that I could really tune the ski to get the most out of it. Then I stopped tweeking and ran pure for a while. But that only lasted a couple years. I tweeked my fin to get better off side turns and angle into the wakes.

One more probably stupid question:

I have the "factory" setup info from ProSkiCoach.com. How do I interpret / measure the "Front Binding" value?. Stock is 29.25. I assume this is 29.25 inches, but measured from the tip? Measured to what point on the binding? Measured along the curve of the ski? Measured on a plane parallel to the bottom of the ski???

Thx

[Jorski]

Front binding measurement is the distance (in inches) from the tail of the ski to the back of the front binding.

If you have rubber bindings, measure to the inside of the back plastic horse shoe...or to the rubber.

If you have hard shells...measure to the shell. Here is Goode's description of the process:

Ski Binding Adjustment

Most bindings allow for a .5" movement in either direction. GOODE recommends installing them in their center-most position, and adjust from there if needed. When first "dialing-in" a new ski, you should check to make sure your bindings are in the correct position before adjusting your fin.

If your ski is over-turning on your on-side, your bindings need to go forward. If you are getting slack rope on your on-side, your bindings need to go backward.

For additonal PowerShellTM and PowerPlateTM adjustment information, see their Technical Reference Manuals or refer to the on-line version at www.goode.com.

[swardco]

One more thing I have been thinking about.

The ski suffered some damage in shipping. There is a "ding" in the very tail of the ski. My first reaction was "this can't possibly make a difference in how the ski performs". Now I am beginning to question that assumption. It doesn't look like the fin / wing was damaged in any way, just a ding in the tail of the ski.

People talk about making changes in the fin of 0.001 " and feeling a difference. Could the "ding" in the tail really make a difference????

btw, I measured everything yesterday and bindings are in the factory location. Wing is at factory angle. Two areas of difference: DFT - Factory=0.860, meas=0.830. Depth - Factory: 2.49, measured: 2.425

[Ski-me]

I don't think the ding will do much to the ski performance (assuming it's pretty superficial). More than welcome to try my Goode ski as a comparison. I though I was going to go out this weekend but I got a lot of kid activities already stacking up..... dang!