Fritzski’s Ski Tip of the Week #3

Mar08
by fritzski on 03/08/2025 at 5:59 pm
Posted In: DSJ Gear Tech, Uncategorized

If you bring your skis into a shop to get the bases and edges tuned and say nothing, they may likely use 1 degree edge bevels on both the sides and base. It’s kind of a shop default for routine work. A “one & one” works great for rental skis and is the most durable bevel.

Okay, so what should we ask for? For anyone but serious racers, the base bevel should probably always be just 1 degree. This setting provides the best performance with reasonable forgiveness and lack of “grabbyness”.

On the other hand, the side bevel angle can be varied to create a more or less acute and sharp edge. The main advantage of a higher angle or sharper edge is better grip on hard pack or icy snow. The main disadvantage of going too sharp is less durability of the edge. The sharper it is, the faster it will wear down. World Cup racers with side edges up to 5 degrees claim they can feel the edges go dull from the start to the finish of a single race.

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Fritzski’s Ski Tip of the Week #2

Mar02
by fritzski on 03/02/2025 at 4:55 pm
Posted In: Uncategorized

Let’s talk about ski stance. Is there one correct stance? What is your preferred stance?

For most of us OGs, we learned decades ago to ski with our skis so close together that our boots were touching. Then came a revolution in ski design that made independent leg action much more advantageous for high performance. So, we all had to almost completely relearn our technique and try to get our feet a bit further apart.

So where are we today? I would say if you’re teaching someone to ski, you would start with trying to have their skis about hip width apart. This makes sense to me. Having the leg shafts basically vertical with a slight separation seems to be a very balanced position to start with.

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Fritzski’s Ski Tip of the Week #1

Feb23
by fritzski on 02/23/2025 at 6:30 pm
Posted In: DSJ Gear Tech

One of the advantages of the after market Booster Straps for ski boots is the ability to custom place them. Ideally, this is where they can actually cinch the top of the boot liner as opposed to just the hard plastic shell above the top buckle which is not as effective.

If you have high end ski boots with a decent power strap, you can actually easily modify it to be more effective without completely replacing it.

  1. Remove the power strap
  2. Drill new matching holes as close to the top of the rear cuff as possible
  3. Remount the strap in the higher holes

Now the strap is in a location where it can actually cinch the front of the upper liner snuggly around your lower leg:

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Skier’s Guide to Keystone

Feb27
by fritzski on 02/27/2019 at 9:03 pm
Posted In: DSJ Downloads, DSJ Ski Guides

(PRINTABLE / FOLDABLE POCKET GUIDE BELOW)

Sometimes Keystone Resort seems to fall in the shadow of its nearby sister resort of Breckenridge. But it would be a huge mistake to underestimate this resort for many reasons. It has a total vertical of nearly the same at well over 3000’ and a stated total acreage larger than Breck. What it lacks in high alpine terrain, it gains in a very efficient mountain layout with long runs and consistent fall lines. If you want steeps and bowls, go to Breck. But if you’re looking for some of the best long sustained groomers, endless bump runs, or solid tree runs, Keystone is your place of choice. On top of this, it’s one of the closest destination resorts to Denver and the most affordable of the four Vail owned resorts in the area.

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Skier’s Guide to Breckenridge

Feb12
by fritzski on 02/12/2019 at 7:57 pm
Posted In: DSJ Downloads, DSJ Ski Guides

(PRINTABLE / FOLDABLE POCKET GUIDE BELOW)

You have the resort and you have the town.  It’s the two together that make Breckenridge one of North America’s quintessential ski communities.  And the draw is undeniable, as in two rather dubious distinctions.  Behind big sister Vail, it has the second most skier visits and second highest ticket prices in the US.  Despite this, the skiers keep coming.  What’s the draw? The town has an endless variety of shopping, dining, and partying venues, and the mountain has a similar character of choices with plenty for everybody.  Some knock it for its crowds, over-the-top social scene, and legendary wind chill.  But, it’s popular for a reason.  Some folks love the apres ski as much as the ski, and yes, Burrreckenfridge is high. 

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