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Transporting/storing skis
Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2023 5:59 pm
by Lhartley
Maybe a dumb question, I'm newish to te cambered ski world. I seen this photo on the asnes insta page. They have camber compressed with the strap. I have seen others using two straps at either end of the skis to allow the skis to sit with the camber relaxed. It would be better for me to strap skis with the camber compressed and the bases sandwiched together to avoid exposing the bases. Is this OK short term? Long term?
Also, these are mr51 and what other model?
Edit, the other skis are discontinued Asnes Sondre BC. Which I will now obsess over, for whatever reason
Re: Transporting/storing skis
Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2023 10:00 pm
by Lhartley
TLDR, do skis lose camber?
Re: Transporting/storing skis
Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2023 11:55 pm
by tkarhu
Yes, at least Wooden skis do. For sunmer storage, better loosen or take off straps.
Re: Transporting/storing skis
Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2023 12:29 am
by spopepro
Modern skis are *probably* fine as there’s so many laminated layers in there holding them together isn’t going to do much, but I agree I still wouldn’t store them long term like this. My understanding is that camber loss over time is more about 100s of thousands of cycles flexing loosening up fibers/adhesive surfaces.
The bigger thing for transport, I think, is keeping the bases from rubbing against each other. I really prefer the style of pads with elastic that go on both tip and tail, but to each their own.
Re: Transporting/storing skis
Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2023 10:16 am
by wabene
Using padded Velcro straps on the tips and tails for hanging storage or transport works great and doesn't unnecessarily compress the camber. There isn't any reason to compress that camber so why would you? I have a vintage pair of Åsnes Tur Langrenn woodies that I have blocked with the tips and tails strapped and have actually increased the camber over time by increasing the block size incrementally. This probably wouldn't work with modern skis, but blocking wooden skis is standard operating procedure for storing them.
Re: Transporting/storing skis
Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2023 12:45 pm
by Lhartley
Thanks. I was just wondering if I was overthinking it, as I would never strap my skis like the skis featured in the photo, but would find strapping them like that convenient for travel
Re: Transporting/storing skis
Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2023 3:12 pm
by Capercaillie
A cambered ski is basically a leaf spring. Everything else being constant, spring relaxation is a function of time. So "strap around the middle" for ski storage is a terrible idea. You can set wooden skis back into the same camber shape by blocking them out, but it will be a weaker camber and will not support the same weight. Stressed-skin foam and cardboard honeycomb (high-end XC) core skis are going to be permanently ruined.
If I see a used ski for sale and it is strapped around the middle, the most I'm willing to pay is $20. Some skis benefit from being de-cambered in some situations for some people (I don't think I could ski my 220cm foam Karhus if the foam had not crumbled; maybe older stiff alpine skis would work better for telemark after they have lost some stiffness, etc.) but it is a gamble.
Re: Transporting/storing skis
Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2023 3:15 pm
by Lhartley
Capercaillie wrote: ↑Tue Nov 28, 2023 3:12 pm
A cambered ski is basically a leaf spring. Everything else being constant, spring relaxation is a function of time. So "strap around the middle" for ski storage is a
terrible idea. You can set wooden skis back into the same camber shape by blocking them out, but it will be a weaker camber and will not support the same weight. Stressed-skin foam and cardboard honeycomb (high-end XC) core skis are going to be permanently ruined.
If I see a used ski for sale and it is strapped around the middle, the most I'm willing to pay is $20. Some skis benefit from being de-cambered in some situations for some people (I don't think I could ski my 220cm foam Karhus if the foam had not crumbled; maybe older stiff alpine skis would work better for telemark after they have lost some stiffness, etc.) but it is a gamble.
Somewhat like leaving a torque wrench tensioned
Re: Transporting/storing skis
Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2023 7:49 am
by lilcliffy
I would certainly never store skis with there camber compressed- ever-
but I do find that skis are easier to handle-transport-carry- when using a single strap- when the skis are compressed- they just stay together as unit more effectively
On the subject of storing Nordic skis with significant camber- (or I guess any ski with camber)- I often ponder whether we shouldn't be blocking them, just like the old wooden days...
Re: Transporting/storing skis
Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2023 8:59 am
by wabene
Capercaillie wrote: ↑Tue Nov 28, 2023 3:12 pm
A cambered ski is basically a leaf spring. Everything else being constant, spring relaxation is a function of time. So "strap around the middle" for ski storage is a
terrible idea.
You can set wooden skis back into the same camber shape by blocking them out, but it will be a weaker camber and will not support the same weight. Stressed-skin foam and cardboard honeycomb (high-end XC) core skis are going to be permanently ruined.
If I see a used ski for sale and it is strapped around the middle, the most I'm willing to pay is $20. Some skis benefit from being de-cambered in some situations for some people (I don't think I could ski my 220cm foam Karhus if the foam had not crumbled; maybe older stiff alpine skis would work better for telemark after they have lost some stiffness, etc.) but it is a gamble.
I think this is probably true, at least to some extent. I hope to find out this winter when I get the woodies out! I will say the skis visually have more camber and feel pretty good.
Perhaps I should have been more definitive, as LC said I would never strap any skis in the middle. IMO they transport just as well with the tips and tails strapped with quality straps. Good straps are worth the investment when your local ski shop feels you've gotten enough free ones
