OK, now that the three of you have it sorted it out, allow me to jump in here like I know what the heck I am talking about. (recognize that all three of you are better skiers that I am).
There are only two ways to redirect a ski. 1. Let the decambered tip of the ski lead you through the turn by tipping in that direction ---
2. Just rotate the skis into the direction you want to go.
In a different category are moves that allow a ski to drift/brush/displace sideways without actually redirecting or changing the heading of the ski.
How does a ski decamber?
1. By tipping the ski until the sidecut causes the tip to engage on a relatively firm surface.
2. In soft snow, the force of the snow in front of the ski keeps it decambered most of the time.
How does a ski rotate?
1. skidding - where the front of the ski stays relatively fixed and the tail moves down the hill (skids).(usually with edges somewhat engaged)
2. pivoting - where the edge is not engaged, and the ski can be spun on its vertical axis.
3. frudding - forward skidding, where the tail stays relatively fixed and the tips are displaced UP the hill??? ?
How much force is required to decamber the ski?? Depends on the sidecut and stiffness of the ski.
1. A deeper sidecut will engage earlier on a firm surface and create earlier/more decambering forces.
2. A wider ski forebody will encounter more snow resistance and create more decambering force.
3. A stiffer ski will resist both of these decambering forces.? (think race slalom or big mountain planks for doing first descents).
4. A softer ski will allow itself to be decambered more easily. (think Head iC160 or the Salomon Pocket Rocket).
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