Base and Side Edge Bevels ???

[jhcolman]

Hi All

In previous years my son raced with a 1 degree base bevel and 2 degree side bevel. Worked OK.

A friend of ours (whose son now races for the Canadian Alpine Team) suggested increasing the base bevel to 1.5. Worked great; we know not why.

This December we tried a 1.5 degree base and 3 degree side. Figured if it works for SL and GS skiers, it might work for alpine snowboard. I was dead wrong. My son couldn't initiate turns. And when he did, the board "locked up" and "spit him out of the carve".

Went back to 1.5 and 2, and things are back to normal.

Question: How does the base bevel affect turn initiation, carve, exit, etc? Why 0.5 vs 1 vs 1.5 or even 2?

Same question for side bevel? Why 2 or 3 side bevel? What I know from ski race tuning just doesn't seem to apply.

Fyi, my son races a 173 Coiler WCC Custom Race; 18 width; 5.5 stiff. He weighs 130 lbs and is 5 foot 8 inches.

What do other racers use.

Thanks all

[lonerider]

Hi All

In previous years my son raced with a 1 degree base bevel and 2 degree side bevel. Worked OK.

A friend of ours (whose son now races for the Canadian Alpine Team) suggested increasing the base bevel to 1.5. Worked great; we know not why.

This December we tried a 1.5 degree base and 3 degree side. Figured if it works for SL and GS skiers, it might work for alpine snowboard. I was dead wrong. My son couldn't initiate turns. And when he did, the board "locked up" and "spit him out of the carve".

Went back to 1.5 and 2, and things are back to normal.

Question: How does the base bevel affect turn initiation, carve, exit, etc? Why 0.5 vs 1 vs 1.5 or even 2?

Same question for side bevel? Why 2 or 3 side bevel? What I know from ski race tuning just doesn't seem to apply.

Fyi, my son races a 173 Coiler WCC Custom Race; 18 width; 5.5 stiff. He weighs 130 lbs and is 5 foot 8 inches.

What do other racers use.

Thanks all

Base bevel controls how much you need to tilt the board over before the edge engages. More base bevel means you have to tip the board over more to initiate a turn. I'm told many racers like less base bevel so turn initiation quicker... 0.5 degree or even 0, but that is hearsay and I'm sure real racers can tell you more. With less bevel though, you are more prone to catching an edge. I typically ride 1 degree base. Rarely to people go more than 1 degree

Side bevel controls how hard the board bites into the snow. Typically it is 2-3 degrees.

Here are a few links

http://www.summitskishop.com/ptcprocess.php?page=PTC

http://tognar.com/edge_tips_file_bevel_ski_snowboard.html

[jhcolman]

Thanks all for your comments and help (here and in my other posts on this topic). What a great community!

Cheers

Julian