Case Study : The Explo 96 - Optimizing rigidity for outstanding performance

Our efficiency-driven design process reduces the number of prototypes needed to arrive at a final ski concept. After developing the geometry of a new prototype and building a scale model, we meticulously select the materials and their configuration to achieve the desired flexural and torsional stiffness. The first prototype is then manufactured in our Beaupré facility and tested on the slopes of Mont-Sainte-Anne. On-snow testing marks the final stage in our design cycle, where the experience and evaluation of our testers play a crucial role. If the ski meets expectations, the design is finalized; if not, adjustments are necessary.

In the case of theExplo 96our testers emphasized the ski's easy handling and control, but suggested a need for more spirit and stability in bumps and variable terrain. Our designers therefore decided to adjust the stiffness distribution, in particular by increasing the stiffness at the front (tip) of the ski to solve this specific challenge.

The figure below illustrates the stiffness distributions of one of the first prototypes of the the Explo 96 (orange) and the final version (blue).

By increasing stiffness at the front (tip), the skier can adopt a more aggressive stance with more weight forward, improving the ski's stability in bumps and variable terrain. However, by maintaining a more moderate tail stiffness, the skier can easily exit the turn and initiate a sideslip for rapid control of speed and direction.

The result of this optimization? A spirited, agile ski that performs just as well in tight glades as on firmer snow.

In short, if our designers had based themselves solely on average stiffness, such a detailed analysis and optimization of the ski's behavior would have been impossible. Explo 96 would have been impossible. That's why the precise measurement of stiffness distributions is an essential tool in our design process, enabling us to guarantee exceptional performance over the full range of ski conditions.