How do you guys determine the best hand structure solution on race day? The Intermountain Nordic Division has eliminated the waxing variable with a wax and application method mandate. This leaves ski selection, hand structure, and kick waxing options open to test. I’ll ignore kick wax testing and we can look at ski selection and hand structure.
With matched skis hand structure is “easy” to select using the parallel glide testing method. To complete a parallel glide test a suitable downhill slope (race speed) is required with a marked starting point, a release point, and an end point (where the difference between skis can be measured). Two testers begin down the slope, one skier will equalize the speed of the two testers by grabbing the arm of the second until the two are traveling at the same speed until the release point. At the release point the skiers will travel freely until the measuring point. Take note of any difference at the end measuring point. Swap skis, repeat test, and add the results of any differences. If you have 4 pairs you can easily run 1 v 2 (select winner) 3 v 4 (select winner) and then run the winners against each other.
Now that you have determined a racing structure it is worth picking the best pair of skis that matches the course conditions… Other aspects to consider are stability of the skis and the feel while climbing in v1. If your skis are equally matched by speed but one feels better while climbing this might be the ski to select based on the course profile.
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