Denali c75 Design Philosophy - Yaw-Pitch-Roll
The initial design philosophy for the c75 started 2 years ago with a list of objectives. We didn't want to release the ski to the public until we had met all of the objectives on this list.
- Easy to build angle
- Reduce pressure on the body during the pull
- Create space before the buoy
- Easy automatic cast-out
- Smooth, fast acceleration
- Stable and fast deceleration
- Low drag with light & nimble feel
- Automatic and tight turn radius
- Stable tip height during turn
- Tail does NOT sink at back of the ball
- Consistent gate glides and turn in
- Predictable and consistent finish
- Easy to sustain connection past CL.
- Stays out in front during return
- No slack hits
Yaw-Pitch-Roll not Roll-Pitch-Yaw
The c75 is a phase shift in the fundamental characteristics of a slalom ski. Our objective was to get the ski to do automatically what many pro-level skiers have learned to accomplish through technique. Most skis are extremely stable in Yaw, but easy to Roll over, forcing the skier to take a narrow path to the buoy. The c75 takes a completely different approach.
A ski that is very free to move in Yaw rotation - like the c75 - will change its trajectory earlier coming off the 2nd wake. This helps the skier to sustain a more effortless connection – carrying the skier on a wider arc further up-course of the buoy. From there, as the preturn phase progresses, the Yaw rotation disperses energy in the form of spray. This helps the ski decelerate and lose outbound energy as we approach buoy width. The decelerating ski begins to ride deeper in the tail, which is the second phase, known as the Pitch rotation. The deeper riding tail helps to stabilize the ski, and progressively shed down-course speed on the approach to apex. In the apex of the turn, the reach and extension move the skiers COM out over the edge of the ski, finally increasing roll angle. Because the ski has already rotated in Yaw so much by this point, the ski effortlessly finishes the turn. The increase in roll angle through the final stage of the turn creates this "finish" where the ski very aggressively reduces the down-course slip accelerates back toward the wakes.
This all means the line will be coming tighter - not looser - as you move through the apex of the turn. The culmination of these dynamic changes makes it easier for the skier to move their hips back to the handle, achieve an earlier, easier stack, and accomplish an earlier, lighter and faster swing off the second wake into the next buoy.
Visit denaliskis.com/c75-ski to add your name to the 2019 c75 preorder list. We hope you love the new Denali c75 as much as we do!