KD Titanium

[mbabiash]

Anyone riding the new KD Titanium.

I know Horton reviewed it in the Fall but I was curious on others thoughts.

[mbabiash]

Also curious about construction. Graphite seems like a step backwards from all other high end skis. Especially for the price.

 

[bigtex2011]

I thought it was made of titanium. :)

[jnan66]

Graphite is Carbon

[mbabiash]

@jnan66

I completely understand that, but it’s completely different from carbon fiber.

[jnan66]

Yes but it is carbon fiber. I had a 2019 Platinum and you could see the fiber if you looked closely?

[jnan66]

@mbabiash

The Platinum I had was one of the best ski Ive ever ridden. Regret selling it actually. The materials used and the build quality was top notch. I believe it is the case with the Titanium also

[CptOriginal]

We have the KD Titanium Graphite in stock and will do some side by side testing once the ice breaks and we'll certainly share our findings. Personally, I can't wait to try it, based on all the good feedback. If you happen to be in Northern IL / Southern WI, DM me and we'll get you demo set. - Cpt. O

[LK_skier]

I haven't ridden it but I know a few people on it over here in Oz and they have loved it from their first set... Must be something good going on. Horton's review was glowing from memory.

[ozski]

Its a seriously good ski, super easy to ride with bullet proof offside turns.

[DangerBoy]

@mbabiash

 

Technically speaking, carbon fibre is more correctly called graphite fibre because the fibres actually consist of graphite and not carbon. But then, in a practical sense, it is also correct to say that graphite is carbon in the same way diamond is carbon.

 

Both graphite and diamond are not elements, they are different metamorphic mineral forms of the element carbon. If you take carbon and bury it deep enough in the crust where it is subjected to high enough temperatures and pressures, it will change its crystal habit into a 2-D planar sheet like structure that we call graphite. The high pressures and temperatures actually cause the carbon atoms to join up with others in a new way and form the mineral graphite which we use for a number of things such as lubricants, pencil leads and making carbon fibre. If you take that graphite/carbon even further down into the crust and subject it to even higher temperatures and pressures it will metamorphize - change its crystal habit again into a 3D crystal structure forming a new mineral that we call diamond.

 

Carbon itself in the form you find it at or near surface temperatures and pressures is useless for making carbon fibres and due to its 3-D crystal structure and other properties neither is diamond. Graphite, on the other hand, is perfectly well suited for making fibres as is silica which is used for making glass fibre except carbon fibre is much lighter and has far higher tensile strength than glass fibre which is why it is used to construct all higher end waterskis, tennis rackets, hockey sticks and a myriad of other things where the use of a strong lightweight material makes sense.

 

While technically speaking carbon fibre is more properly referred to as graphite fibre, most people aren't geologists or mineralogists so the terms carbon and graphite are used interchangeably so some people will say a tennis racket is a carbon fibre racket, others may call it a graphite racket or say the racket's made of graphite. It's funny though that the same is not true of diamond; I've never heard anyone refer to a diamond engagement ring as a carbon engagement ring but technically speaking, that's what it is just as a graphite fibre ski is a carbon fibre ski. They're all just carbon but carbon in a different crystal structure.

 

P.S. Technically speaking again, both graphite and diamond are unstable at the temperatures and pressures they are subjected to here on the surface of the planet so, in time, both of those minerals will eventually revert back to carbon. Luckily, the timescale for that is in the hundreds of thousands of years so you won't be around long enough to see your new expensive waterski or the uber expensive diamond you bought for your fiancée/spouse transform back into a pile of black powder.

[Rednucleus]

So diamonds aren't forever?!?!

[DangerBoy]

@Rednucleus Nope, they're for a long time but not forever. ;)

[rockdog]

@DangerBoy do you agree with Darwin's Theory of Evolution? Please make your answer as long-winded and off-topic as possible.