The HDS is the heart of FloSki's high performance
system. It is a shock absorber mounted on the tips of our skis and snowboards, which radically cuts down on vibration
that causes the edges to repeatedly break loose from the snow. Less contact means less control.
HDS ensures that
more of the edge maintains pressure on the snow; more constant edge contact translates into smooth carving, with greater control
particularly during high speed, high-G turns on crud. Turns initiate more quickly with less effort because the
total effective side-cut is much greater.
You will be in full control when others are nervously skittering
on the brink of wipe-out. Less chatter also means less muscle fatigue, allowing you to ski or ride longer in tough conditions.
(See table for endurance comparisons.)
Common questions
Q: What’s the big problem with vibration? A: Vibration “shortens” a conventional
ski or board by about a quarter its nominal length, reducing stability and forcing the skier or rider to fight for control.
In other words, if you have a 180cm ski or board, about 45cm is flapping ineffectually above the snow and only about three-quarters
of the edge remains in constant contact with the snow.
Q: How do HDS shock absorbers work? A: The HDS’s inertia counters lower frequency vibrations,
while the lead shot absorbs higher frequencies. The pellets move in different directions at different rates in response to
different harmonics. Energy is dissipated as the pellets bounce off each other and change direction. And their velocity is
dampened by the oil’s viscosity, converting kinetic energy into heat (though the temperature variation is too small
for you to feel).
Q: Why haven’t other shock absorber systems worked well? A: Ski and board vibration
is a problem that has stumped designers for decades. There have been numerous attempts over the years to solve it but none
have been truly effective because they were effective only over a narrow range of vibration frequencies. The Flo HDS is designed
to absorb a wide range.
Q: What are HDS's made of? A: They comprise a super-thick puncture-proof urethane sachet containing a half-pound (226 grams) of nickel-plated
lead shot, air and synthetic oil.
Q:
What happens if I puncture an HDS? A: HDS's are extremely tough and will withstand even the most powerful misplaced
pole plant, the most disastrous collisions, the roughest treatment. You may succeed if you attack it with a razor sharp knife
– but who would want to do that?
Full-flex Riser
FloSkis have an inch-high
riser giving the skier greater leverage on the edges. The underside of the riser is curved so that the ski can flex to its
full extent without interference, ensuring continuous edge control from tips to tails.
Shorter Rocker Tail
Aft-mounted bindings for knee protection and greater maneuverability
The HDS shock-absorber’s counter-weight on the ski or snowboard
tips allows bindings to be set back further than on a conventional ski or board, which provides three major advantages:
• The
short, soft tail virtually eliminates the risk of ACL injury by preventing “phantom foot syndrome”. (Link
to orthopedic surgeons endorsements) •
Improves short-radius maneuverability, particularly in crud and moguls where tails can get caught up during a sliding
turn. • Encourages better fore-aft balance. The tail does not provide the “back-seat”
found on conventional skis.
Common questions
Q: What’s phantom foot syndrome?
A: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)
injuries occur when a skier falls backwards with the ski tail caught under the skier (as if an invisible foot was holding
it in place). As the hips drop below mid-thigh level or more (so that the knee angulates between 45 and 140 degrees), tension
on the ACL builds until it tears. For more information, check out http://www.ski-injury.com/prevention/kb
Q: How do FlowSkis’ short tails prevent phantom-foot syndrome?
A: The tails on conventional skis are usually much
longer and stiffer than those on FloSkis. Their length acts as a powerful lever with which to exert force against the ACL.
The stiffness keeps the ski’s edge locked in the snow, preventing the foot from slipping out from under the skier that
would alleviate catastrophic tension building on the ACL. In contrast, FloSkis have softer, shorter tails which are able
to flex and slide away from the skier’s body, relieving pressure on the knee.
Variable flex soft tails
The
tail of FloSkis are designed to flex more dynamically than on a conventional ski, allowing greater fore-aft action without
getting shin-slap or being thrown off balance. This is particularly valuable in crud and moguls which causes rapid changes
in ski speed and direction relative to the skier.
The soft tails “mould” to dips and hollows in the
snow, maintaining full-length contact, without knocking the skier about.
A stiffener attached beneath the binding
stops the tails over-flexing. This allows the aggressive skier to “load up” potential energy in the
tails in the completion phase of a turn, then release it as kinetic energy as they move forward into the new turn.
Common questions
Q: Wouldn’t having a soft, short tail increase the likelihood of being bucked over backwards
in lumpy terrain? A: No. The flex is inversely compounding. By that I mean, the more the tail bends, the more the resistance
increases exponentially, providing the solid platform you need to recover your balance. Flex is ultimately limited by a mechanical
short-stop attached behind the binding.
Unbreakable Core
FLoSkis are constructed using light and strong 100% bamboo core, double
layered with cross-linked fiberglass. These features are expensive but they give the skis unparalleled rebound energy, strength
and durability. Other so-called bamboo core skis use only small bamboo stringers paired with other, cheaper and
less resilient woods. Using a pure 100% bamboo core is only possible with the HDS stabilizer to counter material's
extremely bouncy properties.
The bamboo core is so strong and resilient that we give a lifetime guarantee
against breakage.
Multiple T-nut Binding Positions
No-failure binding interface
Most bindings are screwed directly into
a ski’s top plate and under extreme conditions, the screws can rip out. Not with FloSkis. They have T-nuts inset
through the core during manufacture, just as snowboards do. These are ten times stronger than the regular binding interface.
The FloRiser is then secured to the tee-nuts by four 6mm machine-grade screws onto which the bindings are attached.
The binding and riser can be moved quickly with an allen wrench to different positions to tune your skis to meet the day's
snow conditions.
Common questions
Q: Why don’t
other ski makers use T-nuts? A: Because it is cheaper and less complicated not to. It’s easier to just drill holes
in the top plate.
Q: Many skis manufacturers use rail bindings, and they don’t rip out. Why does FloSkis
not have rail bindings? A: With rail bindings, you are stuck with whatever the ski manufacturer supplies. They are sold as
a set… take it or leave it. With FloSkis, while we supply Tyrollia bindings, you still have the choice to change to
another type, or put on your old tried-and-trues. We don’t want to take the choice away from you.
Adjustable fore-aft binding position
Some skis are good in deep powder,
but hopeless on hard-pack. Others are great at big carving runs on icy groomers but can’t hack it in cruddy chutes.
FloSkis can be easily adjusted for any terrain, any snow condition. Moving the bindings slightly fore or aft is like
shifting the trim on an aircraft or boat; it changes pitch relative to the line of travel. For example, setting the bindings
back to “Deep Powder” will incline the tips higher than usual, allowing them to float over the fluffy stuff.
Setting them forward to “Speed” puts more weight on the tips and ensures even edge pressure along the whole ski
for stable, powerful carved turns.
Adjustable binding cant
The bindings can be canted laterally to change
edging characteristics. For instance, you may want quick edge transfer for carving in icy conditions; or you might want less
“bite” for lots of rotary action.
Common
questions
Q: How do you change the cant? A: You use an Allan key to remove four
bolts, then insert a spacer between the riser and the ski. Takes about five minutes.
Quick-change Binding Fit
We use lightweight Tyrolia SR 100, with a DIN range of 2.5 to 10, which caters for any
adult of any weight and ability. The quick-adjust system lets friends and family try your FloSkis, no matter their boot size.
Binding positions are easily altered at the resort by the skier to suit the skier's ability, and the conditions.
The bindings can be adjusted for a ladies 6 to a man's 12. Din settings can be tuned for a light beginner (DIN2.5)
to a heavy expert (DIN10). Canting can be adjusted at 0 degrees, or 2 degrees for maximum hold.
Common questions
Q:
I already have a good pair of bindings. Can I replace the Tyrollias with them?
A: Sure.
Super-hard Steel Edges
FloSkis
are manufactured with the hardest edge metal available, meaning your skis keep their tuning longer.
Rocker-camber Versatility
The
early-riser tips and upturned tails make FloSkis a dream in the powder and slush. The high-arch camber, combined with the
bamboo core’s “fast-twitch” elasticity, keeps edges in constant contact with the hard stuff.
Three Sizes
FloSkis
come in three sizes; short, shorter, shortest. Or more specifically; 165cm, 150cm and 120cm.
Why so short?
Remember when hot skiers insisted on 200cm-plus skis? It took a long time for the
“experts” to accept that, with new designs and technology incorporated into carver skis, you could get better
performance on shorter planks.
FloSkis
is introducing another leap in design and technology resulting in much more for much less. They offer the stability of a long
ski with the agility of a short ski.
Remember
that vibration “shortens” a conventional ski, depending on snow consistency, by about a quarter its nominal length.In other words, if you are on a 180cm ski in choppy conditions, about 45cm is flapping ineffectually above the snow.
That means your 180cm skis are effectively only 135cm.
FloSkis has dispensed
with the “flapping” bit. The 165cm has the stability of a conventional 190cm-210cm ski – but with much greater
maneuverability, versatility and durability.
The
125cm model works like a competition-grade 160cm mogul ski. You might think that a 125cm ski is a mere
toy, but you will be astonished to find a high-performance ski capable of stable, high speed carving, and beautifully smooth
control in the bumps.
Conventional
thinkers assume that a powder ski has to be big (with lots of surface area) to keep you afloat in the fluff. But even the
shortest FloSki set to “Deep Powder” will easily perform as well, if not better than a much longer conventional
ski because of the trim effect.
Check
out the table below to work out which ski will suit your height, weight and ability.
What are you looking for? Just big….? Or better. Much better.
HDS Skis And Boards -The Total Package
The below video shows a working mechanical
model of the mechanical principles of FloSkis. The binding is located totally behind the center of the side cut. This is combined
with a very small radius sidecut to produce carved turns with only the use of gravity. The skier only needs to provide balance.
FloSkis are the most efficient skis in the world and with the patented liquid dampening system, the most stable.
World's Master Downhill Champion
demonstrates the advantages of the FloSkis technology.
