Fischer's weird 5-point sidecut

[lilcliffy]

How stiff are the tips?

That reverse-sidecut underfoot will cause some major challenges if the tips aren't open (i.e. rockered)- or if you find yourself on hardpack.

[MikeK]

Did anyone else peruse that patent?

It was issued to Fischer GmbH, I bet there is a patent number on those skis...

They claim it is to keep a skate ski tracking more directly and efficiently than a non-shaped skate ski. In essence, it is related to turning as they claim the ski will turn during the power (impulse they call it) and glide phase. It is in some essence, as I explained earlier. The ski turns based on the dual waist with half body weight.

I'm actually a bit miffed by one of the figures as it doesn't make any sense to me, but there is no reason a patent actually has to work as claimed. It might, it might not... They show the ski turning the other direction during the impulse phase when it hits the center, wide portion of the ski. I don't see how that would be useful or correct, but that's what I get...

I did a search to see if I could ever find a Fischer skate ski which used this and I came up with nothing. Doesn't mean they didn't make one, but I couldn't find it.

I find it odd they use this 'technology' on a BC touring ski, and one that is very stiffly cambered at that. It makes me think they really did try to use it as a turning mechanism for a stiff ski (recall what they claim about half weight turning?).

I'm also thinking it doesn't work that well, or Fischer would have kept with it. Maybe it does and no one caught on, and they didn't sell any. Maybe it has some other horrible traits? I'm pretty sure no one else is going to pay to license something like that when they couldn't market it. Maybe when the patent runs out, it could be revisited by others to see what could be done with it?

[MikeK]

Xcountry ski designers have been playing with reverse side cut (i.e. narrow, straight, tails/tips, wider underfoot) for some time. The basic idea is to be lightening fast in the tip/tail glide zones, but wider underfoot for traction/kick. This concept would only work with a very stiff double-cambered track ski.

Aren't most track skis this way? A little wider in the middle than the tips and tails? But it is all one concavity i.e. the arcs don't change direction of their centers a.k.a. concave/convex.

This is a different beast because you have traditional sidecut at the tips and tails and reverse in the middle. The Fischer patent clearly shows this concept and how it is different from both traditional and reverse cuts.

If it was purely for climbing width underfoot, wouldn't they just use a single, reverse cut like a track ski?

[satsuma]

Fischer uses this kind of profile oo their "Nordic Cruising" (short length) nordic skis. I have skied on the Jupiter, a little narrower than the Explorer and no metal edges--it skis pretty well for me. Possibly the wider waist size is to compensate for a shorter kick zone.

[MikeK]

Satsuma,

The Jupiter is a 3 point profile, reversed sidecut. It's a bit different than the explorer which has 5 points.

I believe you are correct about the Jupiter though. I think it's to give more traction whilst keeping the tips and tails narrow for better gliding.