To Smear or not to Smear

[lakeo]

At shorter line lengths (e.g. 12m and shorter) do you want your ski to smear? Asking for a friend.

 

[Horton]

Regardless of how you define smear unless you're going to ski straight behind the boat you're going to smear to some extent.

[lakeo]

I agree completely John. But some skiers and I suppose some skis tend to work better, when they smear more in the turn.

 

[Ed_Johnson]

Yes, I want my ski to smear, "BUT," I want it to smear, as I cut the corner coming off the apex under acceleration. I do "NOT" want it to smear by coming into the buoy hot, forcing the smear like a hockey stop, then causing ZO to go crazy trying to pull me out of the hole I created, overpower me, and get pulled narrow.

 

Bottom line, all smears are not created equal.

 

 

[Horton]

That is a misconception. All skis have to smear to turn. Turning is really just a controlled smear. If you can feel the smear (feel the tail of the ski sliding out behind you) is is likely too much. There are some elite skiers who tune their skis to smear earlier but this is a relatively advanced technique.

[Drago]

So you just answered your own question. Smear (I kinda like Yaw) happens. It can be tuned and everyone is different in what they want to feel/athleticism/physiology/philosophy, etc