How steep is steep?

Post by **harald** » Monday 24 November 2003, 13:31

It is one question I wonder about and that is how steep a slope should be to practice EC. You say in your technique section that in order to do EC, the slope has to be steep. Now, we might have different perceptions about what a "steep" slope really is. So if you could indicate in degrees it would be fine.
For comparison, the normal steepness of the steepest part of the outrun of a ski jumping hill is between 35 and 40 degrees. For me steepness of 37 degrees and more for carving snowboarding is a little bit scary, but maybe it is only a matter of mental training and practice?

Post by **cmachine** » Monday 24 November 2003, 13:52

hi harald

at the very beginning of the "stoked" video you can see patrice entering into the slope. it is filmed from the side; so you can asess the how steep this slope is.

for me, this slope looks very nice

and i'm looking forward to the ec event in zinal

(if the stoked movie has really been taken in zinal??)

olaf

Post by **pokkis** » Monday 24 November 2003, 14:01

For my eye that slope in film looks more like 20+ steep but folks who have been there can confirm.
There has been numerous threads about this steep issue and for me everything groomed over 30 degrees is really too steep.
If i remember correctly deepest WC downhill slope is in level of 38 degrees.

Post by **nils** » Monday 24 November 2003, 14:27

well stoked is filmed there in Zinal, and it is steep

.
What i have noticed is when it is steep it gets easier to EC nicely because you can keep your speed. I have not seen yet a too steep slope for EC, but mainly because when it gets steeper that some degree, they cannot groom it. I think that particular zinal slope they pull the ratracs on a cable uphill etc so it still can groom it.. The same slope in france would be a huge mogul run with 1 meter deep moguls...

Hope its steep in Lech and well, if not we'll find steep places or wait for Zinal

Nils

Post by **harald** » Monday 24 November 2003, 16:10

Olaf, Pokkis, and Nils,
Wow. Thanks for replies so far. Now, I am beginning to get an idea of what steep is. It always looks nicer at video or TV, than in reality. When it is necessary to pull the pist machine in cables for grooming, it is far steeper than I feel comfortable with for my ability level. I had planned to go to Zinal, but that steep make me reconsider. Well, still I want to go so it will be a challenge and I have to do some mental training and hopefully a lot of practice on snow till then. We are still waiting for snow in the Oslo area, but some of the resorts in the mountains has opened some slopes and lots of people. Hopefully, see you in Zinal with head downwords.

Post by **nils** » Monday 24 November 2003, 16:17

There is quite a lot of other good pistes in Zinal which we will use

no worries this one isn't the only place

Nils

Post by **pokkis** » Monday 24 November 2003, 16:42

Nils, if you have resort map with shows height and length of that slope you could estimated steepness of it

for me it does not look so steep in film and i'm comparing it to some other films i have of slopes i know

but hey camera is allways laying

And hey, i really need to find some snow and soon, otherwise i'm getting granky

Post by **vkrouverk** » Monday 24 November 2003, 18:29

In the beginning of stoked this 'Initial velocity vector providing slope'

seems to be steepest, around 30 degrees (if I measured correctly from image) or 57% I personally know slope of 52 % descend and I yet have to carve it from top to down, so far I have managed only couple of isolated turns, then it goes to sideslipping

But in other scenes it seems indeed less steeper, probably as pokkis said, 20+ degrees.

Post by **pokkis** » Monday 24 November 2003, 19:44

I tried to measure also Xtrem dreamer, and i've ended to figure of 27 degrees on low steep point of slope. Deference used to was those poles next to slope

Which means that slope is respectable steep but due widthness perhaps carvable also for me

Post by **cmachine** » Monday 24 November 2003, 20:04

Hi Pokkis

How did you make this accurate measurements

olaf

Post by **pokkis** » Monday 24 November 2003, 21:56

As mentioned above, same way as Vahur ie takin one snapshot of film and then measuring vertical drop and horizontal travel. End result 27 is as accurate as any other number without decimals

Same way with my math i measured pic: olaf_bs3
and got steepness 11 degrees or
last pic of your avatar is 17 degrees

you should be able verify my math easily

Hey, i really need to get on snow soon

Post by **cmachine** » Tuesday 25 November 2003, 13:32

... even if I don't know if it's correct

regards
olaf

Post by **fab the great** » Wednesday 26 November 2003, 8:13

Hey Nil. France has some of the best steeper groom run ever

Les Arc......

Post by **nils** » Wednesday 26 November 2003, 10:50

you mean the KL slope?
No waay hard to carve on a 55°

ExtremeCarving FORUM

How steep is steep?

How steep is steep?

steep

steeps

Harald

steepness

hehe