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June, 2025

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Are there any soft flexing fiber reinforced polymers that could replace wood as a skis core but still be flexible and dampening?

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dolanslebensraum
Posts: 5959 - Karma: -13,093
I dont buy the argument that wood is perfect. If wood was so great it would probably still be in tennis racquets and such. Also if wood gets any moisture penetration into it the whole ski is proper fucked, which is sub par.


5 years ago
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weastcoat
Posts: 6508 - Karma: 75,459
A tennis racket doesn’t go under as much abuse as a ski though. Plus a ski (wood) is responsible for holding binding screws. Can’t really see a fiberglass/polymer holding screws that well.
5 years ago
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dolanslebensraum
Posts: 5959 - Karma: -13,093
weastcoastA tennis racket doesn’t go under as much abuse as a ski though. Plus a ski (wood) is responsible for holding binding screws. Can’t really see a fiberglass/polymer holding screws that well.


Why wouldnt certain composites be able to hold screws as well as wood? Theres alot more materials these days than just typical fiberglass.
5 years ago
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jps2.0
Posts: 480 - Karma: 2,479
there are plenty of new materials its just cost is the main issue with basalt fibers, cork fill for tips and tails, phenol which is used in world cup race skis sidewalls, actual titanium not titinal
5 years ago
1 0
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dolanslebensraum
Posts: 5959 - Karma: -13,093
jps2.0there are plenty of new materials its just cost is the main issue with basalt fibers, cork fill for tips and tails, phenol which is used in world cup race skis sidewalls, actual titanium not titinal

Could you go into more detail as why basalt cork phenol and titanium make a ski perform better?
5 years ago
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jps2.0
Posts: 480 - Karma: 2,479
DolanReloadedCould you go into more detail as why basalt cork phenol and titanium make a ski perform better?


all these together won't necessarily make a ski better but these are high end technologies that are only used in world cup race skis. I know phenol is way stronger and more stable than abs for sidewalls
5 years ago
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6748 - Karma: 11,780
Short answer: no - the only wood substitutes are used in super cheap, low end skis.

The highest demands on skiing performance are in the race world- racers are the most precise, in-tune, aware, perceptive skiers in the world. And for them, laminate wood cores with fiberglass and titanium yield the best feeling, best skiing, most damp, highest performance skis possible. If there was a viable alternative, it would be used in racing, but its not.
5 years ago
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dolanslebensraum
Posts: 5959 - Karma: -13,093
jps2.0all these together won't necessarily make a ski better but these are high end technologies that are only used in world cup race skis. I know phenol is way stronger and more stable than abs for sidewalls

What is phenol made from?
5 years ago
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hi_vis360
Posts: 5362 - Karma: 55,786
jps2.0there are plenty of new materials its just cost is the main issue with basalt fibers, cork fill for tips and tails, phenol which is used in world cup race skis sidewalls, actual titanium not titinal

I learned this season that titinal is 90% aluminum and like 2% titanium lol
5 years ago
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skiP.E.I.
Posts: 7980 - Karma: 23,350
Salomon made foam core skis for a while, including the teneighty. They were some of the lightest skis out at the time for sure. Some iterations of the Head JO pro had foam core and I've never seen another ski blow up so completely. Many rental skis especially in shorter lengths also use some kind of foam core.
More to your point, WNDR is making skis, engineering materials specifically for the performance characteristics they want.
https://wndr-alpine.com/pages/technology
5 years ago
2 0
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dolanslebensraum
Posts: 5959 - Karma: -13,093
skiP.E.I.Salomon made foam core skis for a while, including the teneighty. They were some of the lightest skis out at the time for sure. Some iterations of the Head JO pro had foam core and I've never seen another ski blow up so completely. Many rental skis especially in shorter lengths also use some kind of foam core.
More to your point, WNDR is making skis, engineering materials specifically for the performance characteristics they want.
https://wndr-alpine.com/pages/technology

Interesting. I skied 1080s back in 2004 and i remember them feeling like they were made of tooth brush plastic. Good lord what a pile of shit those skis were.
5 years ago
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