For decades, the ski industry has been introducing new technologies to consumers, advertising features like “Flip Core”, “HRZN Tech”, “V-Werks”, and “TRN-TEK”. Carbon fiber has become a major player in ski technology over the last few years, strategically used in ski construction to maintain stiffness and reduce weight.
Let’s define what part of the ski we’re referring to when we talk about “carbon skis”. The word “carbon” refers to the composite laminate that adds pliable support and bonds your skis together. It runs the full width of the skis from tip to tail in multiple layers: between the topsheet material and core, and between the core and base material.
Traditional Construction vs. Carbon Fiber
For traditional construction styles and most resort-based skis, this composite laminate is usually fiberglass. Fiberglass is a sturdy composite that, when cured with epoxy, provides a reliable bond to hold your skis together while increasing stiffness and maintaining a dynamic feel. A key property of fiberglass is its damping capability, meaning that a full fiberglass ski will absorb vibrations that result from variable snow, creating a smoother connection with the snow. On the downside, saturated fiberglass doesn’t exactly fall into the featherweight class and can lead to skier fatigue quicker during long days in the backcountry.
For a pair of carbon skis, the laminate that bonds the topsheet and base to the core of your skis is changed from fiberglass to carbon fiber. Carbon is another great bonding agent that keeps skis from delaminating many years into their lifetime (assuming your skis are built in proper fashion).
Weight Savings
The upside of replacing fiberglass with carbon fiber is primarily weight savings, typically in the 100-200 grams per ski range if all other variables on the build stay the same (that translates to just shy of a pound for a pair of skis). This is certainly preferred for those that use their skis for long uphill approaches, and need to have every ounce of energy conserved not only for the downhill, but also for the next day’s mission.
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Damping and Stability
The main downside of carbon fiber is that it doesn’t possess nearly the same degree of damping that fiberglass does. By lacking dampness, carbon skis are frequently blamed for being “chattery” or “squirrely”, particularly on mixed snow conditions and at higher speeds.
Companies are taking measures to try to make their carbon skis damper by infusing the carbon with other composite additives, or using exclusively the dampest woods for their cores, but only so much progress can be made without the addition of a some fiberglass used for lamination.
Construction Options
Some manufacturers start with unidirectional carbon fiber stringers (strips placed strategically above and below the core) on all of their skis. These allow them to use less composite to cover the whole ski for weight savings from the get go. From here, they offer different options for the composite layup on their custom skis.
- 90 / 10 Glass Carbon: The standard choice for any resort or aggressive skier looking for a smooth and stable ride. Keeping the unidirectional carbon stringers, they then add on two full sheets of fiberglass with an additional binding pad, making for a ratio of about 90% fiberglass, 10% carbon fiber for the composite structure.
- 100% Carbon Fiber: Built for those that require a lightweight product, usually with uphill in mind. Ideally these skiers will primarily be accessing softer snow, making the the lack of dampness less of an issue.
- 70 / 30 Glass Carbon: This build eliminates some of the fiberglass in a 90 / 10 ski and substitutes a piece of tri-axial carbon fiber in its place for added support (typically only on longer stiffer builds).
The key to a craft's performance is the stiffness - carbon and core layups give you this (normal glass and a Core can also achieve this).
It is important to note that strength can be assessed many ways and stiffness does not necessarily equate to strength, and vice-versa. i.e. a super stiff carbon lay-up is susceptible to punctures as there is no 'give' and all of the force is applied instantaneously to a small point.
Read also: Buying Fischer Skis
Additional Benefits of Carbon Fiber
Besides sports, carbon fiber uses have taken center stage roles in the military, medical, aerospace, and automotive industries. This is due to its incredible benefits.
Carbon fiber is known as graphite fiber and is one of the strongest metals on the planet, twice as strong as steel! Despite its superior strength, carbon fiber is incredibly lightweight and durable.
Audi is capitalizing on its decades of expertise in quattro development and converting that into skis rather than four wheels for the first time. At 3.4 lb (for a 70” ski), each ski will be around 0.4 lb lighter than comparable models, which makes them incredibly maneuverable and agile.
“Carbon and aluminum are central elements in Audi design - these materials underscore the quality of our cars,” Wolfgang Egger, Head of Design for the Audi Group said. The advantage of lightweight carbon fiber is it gives outstanding strength, good damping properties and stiffness, while minimizing torsion and revolutionizing the handling properties of the ski.
The ski flexes on the mogul slopes to achieve optimal grip on uneven surfaces, but must not twist on icy patches so that the steel edges can maintain their grip on the snow along their entire length. This means that the ski never loses contact with the ground. The reduced weight of the carbon also plays a critical role for slalom skiing.
Read also: Innovative Ski Design by ODR
The first prototypes of the Audi Carbon Ski were tested on the slopes last month during the most famous downhill race in the world - the Hahnenkamm race in Kitzbühel, and are being tested now at the World Ski Championships in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
“As a long-time partner and sponsor of the German Ski Association, a ski produced by Audi is a logical step. This is how the Audi Carbon Ski concept came about.
Carbon Fiber in Other Sports
Carbon fiber is used in a variety of sports equipment due to its strength and lightweight properties:
- Tennis: Carbon fiber is used to make uniquely shaped and lighter rackets, allowing players to hit the ball faster.
- Cycling: Cyclists opt for all-carbon fiber bikes instead of aluminum alloy for their lightweight and toughness.
- Golf: Carbon fiber golf clubs allow for a more precise swing and higher advantage in regard to comfort and speed.
- Water Sports: From helmets to rowing equipment and canoes, carbon fiber composites are used for their increased tensile strength, chemical resistance, and temperature tolerance.
The fact is that carbon fiber is just now making its way into the sports industry. As such, not so many manufacturers specialize in producing it. If you are an active sports enthusiast, having your own quality equipment is a crucial investment.
Conclusion
The bottom line here is that going with a carbon ski does in fact affect your downhill performance. It may be lighter, but it is drastically less damp which can lead to chatter in harder conditions. If the allure of carbon skis is enticing you to buy a pair, just know what you’re getting yourself into. Our recommendation is that if you’re skiing any resort terrain whatsoever, it’s generally a good idea to have some fiberglass in your ski. That said, every skier is different, so if you have any questions about what the right choice for your skiing is, don’t hesitate to get in touch or fill out a custom fit form to chat further.