I have heard, but really can't confirm, that narrower skis are easier on the knees. My narrowest skis are 96 mm so really I'm no help..
Paging @nopoleskier she would know!
I have Osteopenia - i.e. early stage of OA.what is the nature of your "bad knee?"
Agree that for more or less mid-season conditions, narrower is easier. But I found that in soft snow due to high temps in the 40s or 50s (over even 60s), wider skis with more tip rocker is better. The direct comparison I did recently--Bachelor, Mammoth in May--was between my Head Absolut Joys, 78mm @148cm, and my old Black Pearls (2012), 88mm @159cm. The BPs were more fun and easier to ski in general after 10:30 or 11:00 when even the groomers at higher elevation were quite soft.yes for me, narrow is easier on the knees especially in the East having to lay fatties over on eastern hard pack carving for me is tougher on my used up knees.
In the West different story, even when packed it's softer and is sooo nice, I had no problems on 98 under foot while carving out west, and you know my z-90's work well too.
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I am no expert, but wouldn't a shorter ski be easier to inadvertently twist relative to the rest of your body, putting torsion on your knee joint?....
I have Osteopenia - i.e. early stage of OA.
Also I attributed to years (15+ years) of hi-impact step aerobics, wearing bad shoes esp in early years. This all adds up.
Thanks for sharing the article and demystifying the myth. Running is the very exercise I try to avoid because I always think it'd hard on my knees. I swim instead......I always have this study (below) in my back pocket for when people yell at me for running, because it's "bad for your knees."
Note that Bumps for Boomers advocates learning on very short skis initially during their multi-day bump clinics. I think the first length is around 95cm for a few hours. Note that they are not teaching beginners. Rather intermediates or advanced skiers over 50 who are uncomfortable on bumps for one reason or another.This just popped up today in my 'Bumps for Boomers' email. It's a link to part one of four on ski length: https://www.bumpsforboomers.com/2016/02/choosing-ski-length-mogul-skiing-part-1-of-4/
Note that Bumps for Boomers advocates learning on very short skis initially during their multi-day bump clinics. I think the first length is around 95cm for a few hours. Note that they are not teaching beginners. Rather intermediates or advanced skiers over 50 who are uncomfortable on bumps for one reason or another.
My Taos instructor was much happier when I had BP88s @145, rather than K2 Alluvit 88 @159 that I demo'd at first. So fair to say that for improving fundamentals with the ultimate goal of serious bump skiing, the preference at Taos is for shorter skis even for advanced skiers.
Yes, but it's the first of a series of articles and has the title "Choosing Ski Length - Mogul Skiing." For readers with questions similar to Post #1 by the OP or Alison in Post #10, I think keeping in mind the audience for the article is worthwhile.However the article wasn't about bump skiing, but skiing in general.