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April, 2025

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Ski Edges and Sharpness

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HypeBeast
Posts: 10028 - Karma: 75,833
I know versions of this have been covered in other posts, but I heard something in the ski shop today when I was picking my gear up and had to share. Please enlighten me if I am wrong.

A guy dropped off his skis to get tuned and said "I don't want the edges sharpened too much. I'm gonna be skiing deep pow and backcountry stuff.".... Basically insinuating that sharp edges in pow makes a negative difference. Or maybe just saying he doesn't need them sharp. Idk it just sounded odd to me.

OK, correct me if I'm wrong, but what does deep pow or backcountry have to do with having your edges too sharp? Obviously edges don't matter in pow, but is there something I'm missing? What sort of non-park skier doesn't want their edges sharpened? What am I missing?

Should I have done this?



Or am I the Jerry? Please educate or chastise me.
7 years ago
9 0
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lil.Boye
Posts: 2777 - Karma: 12,616
idk if it has any effect, but having a more surfy ski. like a ski without edges overall. you don't really need them in pow
7 years ago
0 9
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poofartpee
Posts: 7436 - Karma: 1,540
Jerry is confident that variable conditions such as ice/hard snow dont exist in the backcountry obviously
7 years ago
12 0
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Lokdog
Posts: 130 - Karma: 548
If he's only skiing pow and backcountry why is he getting his skis sharpened in the first place, it will basically make no difference. If he's using the skis on the resort too than getting em sharpened is worth your while, but really edges do shit all in deep pow.
7 years ago
3 0
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Skier406
Posts: 22 - Karma: 3
I like my edges sharp in the middle but on the tip and tail of my ski I usually take the edge off with a file because when they are sharp I usually catch an edge in any type of snow.
7 years ago
3 7
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Casey
Posts: 8003 - Karma: 26,737
I have both my BC setups detuned beyond the contact points. If anything I've had the opposite experience with pow skis, the edge hold is so shitty in icy conditions I want all the bite I can get
7 years ago
1 0
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Greeney
Posts: 168 - Karma: 148
Skier406I like my edges sharp in the middle but on the tip and tail of my ski I usually take the edge off with a file because when they are sharp I usually catch an edge in any type of snow.


I do the opposite
7 years ago
5 0
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DominatorJacques
Posts: 11247 - Karma: 76,537
Sharpen them. Can't hurt in powder. Ice is going to be there at times anyway.

Not seen here, but for crossing skis in the air I round the edges where they cross them. Really important for sandwich skis!

https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/849783/Ski-Tuning-How-To-By-Hand-Park-Special
7 years ago
2 0
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oxiclean
Posts: 615 - Karma: 692
Skier406I like my edges sharp in the middle but on the tip and tail of my ski I usually take the edge off with a file because when they are sharp I usually catch an edge in any type of snow.


Maybe learn to ski.
7 years ago
10 1
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profa_212
Posts: 9150 - Karma: 39,557
For pow boards you should probably be de-tuning the rockered sections. It can cause the skis to feel hooky and catch on you. Underfoot and anything up to the rocker can and probably should be nice and sharp. No reason to dull or de-tune those.
7 years ago
2 1
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freeballer
Posts: 737 - Karma: 1,077
If you have rockered tips and tails and the snow isn't super light and starts to get heavy or funky, like a sun or wind crust, you can feel some them being hooky. I agree with those who detune tips and tails at the contact points, but keep them sharp underfoot for the runouts and chop at the end of the run.
7 years ago
1 1
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YunGBlood
Posts: 186 - Karma: 186
Just take the edges off
7 years ago
1 0
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search4freshies
Posts: 358 - Karma: 1,336
Skier406I like my edges sharp in the middle but on the tip and tail of my ski I usually take the edge off with a file because when they are sharp I usually catch an edge in any type of snow.


this is the traditional way to detune a ski. Obviously unpopular w/ the rail-sliding, newschoolers crowd.
7 years ago
1 0
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24730 - Karma: 30,008
Yeah, give him like a 0.5base/5sidewall bevel just for lulz.
7 years ago
3 0
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DominatorJacques
Posts: 11247 - Karma: 76,537
DingoSeanYeah, give him like a 0.5base/5sidewall bevel just for lulz.

Ha ha! A long 1 and 3 works awesome for park! Me, I seem to like a 1 and 4.
I say give him a 0 and five, then check the jive!
7 years ago
0 0
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skistupid
Posts: 304 - Karma: 1,199
I don't know the answer to your question; because I'm not a ‘Powder Skier’. I only ski steep cool—oirs.
7 years ago
0 0
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brett_fisher
Posts: 2419 - Karma: 10,518
I like sharp tip and tail dull underfoot. some homies and a lot of pros sharpen everything except their underfoot here and there.
definitely nice for scissoring on rails getting the extra grip/push.
7 years ago
0 0
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