Glossary of Ski Terminology

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Shopping for new skis this year? Are you a little confused by all the different construction terms? SnoCountry breaks things down for you with this simple guide:

  • Cap Construction: a type of construction in which the top layer(s) spans edge to edge. The sidewalls are sloped instead of vertical.
  • Core: the primary structural element of a ski; the core is usually wood or foam; the ski is built around the core.
  • Dampening: the reduction of vibrations that occur when a ski is in motion. The damper the ski, the better the ski will hold in the snow and provide edge grip to the snow. Skis that are overly damp, will lack rebound.
  • Laminate Construction: a type of construction prized for its power and edge-hold; built in layers and sometimes called “sandwich” construction.
  • Laminates: sheets of material, usually fiberglass fabric or metal, layered above and/or below the core of the ski.
  • Mold: a steel plank with a shi-shaped cavity milled into its surface. Ski components are placed into the mold, which is then subjected to intense heat and pressure to bond the individual elements and squeeze out any excess epoxy.
  • Pre-preg: a type of ready-made laminate used to reinforce a ski core; sheets of fiberglass fabric are impregnated with epoxy, cured, cut to fit the width of the ski, and then placed into the mold.
  • Sidecut: the narrowing of the ski at the waist to aid in turning when placed on edge.
  • Sidecut Radius: a expression, in meters, describing the depth of a skis sidecut curve by extrapolating that curve into a circle, then measuring the radius. A shorter radius means shorter turns at a given edge angle.
  • Titanal: the brand of titanium-aluminum alloy commonly used in ski manufacturing.
  • Titanium: a lustrous white metal prized for its strength-to-weight ratio; often alloyed with aluminum.
  • Torsional Rigidity: a skis ability to resist twisting, often achieved by aligning glass fibers across the core at a 30-45 degree angle.
  • Torsion-Box Construction: a type of construction in which the core, usually wood, is encased in a sleeve of epoxy soaked fiberglass; resists twisting.

Now that you know what all these terms mean, stop by your favorite ski shop and try some new skis!