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May, 2025

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Do ya really have to detune underfoot?

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g_lectrolyte
Posts: 202 - Karma: 1,505
Hey everyone, just checking in to say I have hit several features without taking a file to any of the edges on my new skis. If park crew does their job and shit is smooth and waxed, you should be good to like.. not detune underfoot. One time I caught just a little on my back foot inside edge, but I just kept sliding. I am here today to question the popular assumption you must totally round off your edges in order to ski rails. Is it really necessary? Has anyone else played around with this at all? I don’t think any snowboarder I’ve ever met has detuned their shit. Discuss
3 years ago
7 23
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Schoess
Posts: 2132 - Karma: 25,538
g_lectrolyteHey everyone, just checking in to say I have hit several features without taking a file to any of the edges on my new skis. If park crew does their job and shit is smooth and waxed, you should be good to like.. not detune underfoot. One time I caught just a little on my back foot inside edge, but I just kept sliding. I am here today to question the popular assumption you must totally round off your edges in order to ski rails. Is it really necessary? Has anyone else played around with this at all? I don’t think any snowboarder I’ve ever met has detuned their shit. Discuss


Nothing in life is a true requirement but you just trade the manual filing for a break in period where you don't feel confident that you aren't going to die. ON3P has a great park detune from the factory where underfoot the edge is really smoothly rounded and almost polished it's so smooth. Makes for day 1 fun and no worries for death. I only bring that up because I've done some sketch hand filing that didn't help much and just make my edge uneven lol
3 years ago
21 0
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armchair_skier
Posts: 2670 - Karma: 34,288
I dare OP to disaster a DFD w his tuned skis, bonus points if the rail is rusted
3 years ago
42 1
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Whackson
Posts: 466 - Karma: 4,030
There was only 1 time when i didn't detune my edges and that happened to be a day park crew got new rails. Every single rail I hit i could feel my edge literally stopping my momentum and when I went back to look at the rails i left some pretty deep scrapes in the paint. From there on i just take em to repair and borrow their files, gummy stones, etc.
3 years ago
10 0
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kylersucks
Posts: 77 - Karma: 581
edge cracks bad
3 years ago
28 0
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KCoCM
Posts: 963 - Karma: 8,787
congrats or sorry to hear that OP
3 years ago
13 0
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BradFiAusNzCoCa
Posts: 7547 - Karma: 67,058
If you don’t detune, then I suggest you really ski the skis for a few days before sliding rails to get a natural detune going
3 years ago
13 0
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jompcock
Posts: 1578 - Karma: 11,751
enjoy the edge cracks dumbass
3 years ago
16 6
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TRVP_ANGEL
Posts: 12707 - Karma: 120,066
I tune the edges extra sharp so i can bring the fight back to the rails. The local hill had to replace so many pvcs because ive just completely shredded them
3 years ago
26 0
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g_lectrolyte
Posts: 202 - Karma: 1,505
Ok just so everyone doesn’t think I’m r3t4rded they are deff naturally getting a bit detuned.. I just literally had a guy on park crew say “you should be good” first day out, a snowboarder. I know several snowboarders who sharpen and wax their shit like weekly and still do gnarly board slides
3 years ago
3 3
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jompcock
Posts: 1578 - Karma: 11,751
g_lectrolyteOk just so everyone doesn’t think I’m r3t4rded they are deff naturally getting a bit detuned.. I just literally had a guy on park crew say “you should be good” first day out, a snowboarder. I know several snowboarders who sharpen and wax their shit like weekly and still do gnarly board slides


The concept of the natural detune is still pretty fucking stupid. Are you a snowboarder? Why would some snowboarder park staffer have more tuning knowledge for rails than the average person on this site. Either you're a troll or still fucking stupid. ENJOY THE EDGE CRACKS DUMBASS
3 years ago
5 22
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Schoess
Posts: 2132 - Karma: 25,538
jompcockThe concept of the natural detune is still pretty fucking stupid. Are you a snowboarder? Why would some snowboarder park staffer have more tuning knowledge for rails than the average person on this site. Either you're a troll or still fucking stupid. ENJOY THE EDGE CRACKS DUMBASS


Ok?
3 years ago
14 0
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pofwel
Posts: 86 - Karma: -139
g_lectrolyteHey everyone, just checking in to say I have hit several features without taking a file to any of the edges on my new skis. If park crew does their job and shit is smooth and waxed, you should be good to like.. not detune underfoot. One time I caught just a little on my back foot inside edge, but I just kept sliding. I am here today to question the popular assumption you must totally round off your edges in order to ski rails. Is it really necessary? Has anyone else played around with this at all? I don’t think any snowboarder I’ve ever met has detuned their shit. Discuss


you don’t need to completely molest the fuck out of your edge just enough where you can confidently run your finger up and down it and not be worried at all about it being cut or scratched
3 years ago
5 1
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CammyP
Posts: 20 - Karma: 130
Just use your best judgement on how much you want to detune your edges. Maybe you like to do some skiing outside the park and want a little more control down the mountain, therefore you leave your edges a little bit sharper. In the end, they are your skis and you can set them up how you like, just know the tradeoffs.
3 years ago
4 0
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DominatorJacques
Posts: 11247 - Karma: 76,550
g_lectrolyteHey everyone, just checking in to say I have hit several features without taking a file to any of the edges on my new skis. If park crew does their job and shit is smooth and waxed, you should be good to like.. not detune underfoot. One time I caught just a little on my back foot inside edge, but I just kept sliding. I am here today to question the popular assumption you must totally round off your edges in order to ski rails. Is it really necessary? Has anyone else played around with this at all? I don’t think any snowboarder I’ve ever met has detuned their shit. Discuss


It's not really about the sharpness of the edge.
It's about base bevel.
For rails, it is best to do a "long" base bevel on the skis BEFORE you ski them.
A 1 degree bevel will be fine.
What you do is use a fairly corse file, and bevel the angle until you have beveled into the base plastic about the thickness of the edge. 2 to 2.5 mm's. This insures the edges are not high on the base. The base plastic will be high. The edge can still be sharp.
3 years ago
5 0
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eheath
Posts: 61955 - Karma: 126,725
jompcockThe concept of the natural detune is still pretty fucking stupid. Are you a snowboarder? Why would some snowboarder park staffer have more tuning knowledge for rails than the average person on this site. Either you're a troll or still fucking stupid. ENJOY THE EDGE CRACKS DUMBASS


You're gonna get edges cracks if you detune your edges, it doesn't completely prevent cracks.

@g_lectrolyte you dont have to detune your edges, most times I got new skis I just hit rails for a day and they were good to go.
3 years ago
4 1
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lil.Boye
Posts: 2791 - Karma: 12,669
I ride lots of pvc tubes so my edges need to be detuned. Have tried to ski without detuning, and i will never do it again. Feels so choppy while swapping and it is much slower. I even detuned my pow skis for when i come trough the park from skiing pow. It just takes 5 mins to detune both skis, why not do it? They will get beaten up anyway.
3 years ago
6 0
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Chrischi69
Posts: 652 - Karma: 5,064
U dont have to but i dont see why not if u ski lots of park
3 years ago
2 0
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dietcoke.man
Posts: 250 - Karma: 1,395
DominatorJacquesIt's not really about the sharpness of the edge.
It's about base bevel.
For rails, it is best to do a "long" base bevel on the skis BEFORE you ski them.
A 1 degree bevel will be fine.
What you do is use a fairly corse file, and bevel the angle until you have beveled into the base plastic about the thickness of the edge. 2 to 2.5 mm's. This insures the edges are not high on the base. The base plastic will be high. The edge can still be sharp.


This x a million^^^
3 years ago
7 0
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Casey
Posts: 8018 - Karma: 26,936
Have you ever hit a rail without doing it? It’s super grabby and inconsistent. It’s like taking your nice kitchen knife and grinding it into the sidewalk.
3 years ago
5 0
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theduke6969
Posts: 41 - Karma: 100
jompcockThe concept of the natural detune is still pretty fucking stupid. Are you a snowboarder? Why would some snowboarder park staffer have more tuning knowledge for rails than the average person on this site. Either you're a troll or still fucking stupid. ENJOY THE EDGE CRACKS DUMBASS


hey bro, you are a total prick. take it ease nerd!
3 years ago
6 1
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DominatorJacques
Posts: 11247 - Karma: 76,550
dietcoke.manThis x a million^^^


I tell you it works. I do it on my tuning video with a medium file, so it takes longer than it could be done.
This is the world's longest ski tuning video, so if you want to watch more, use the speed control at YT and go 2x speed! Ha ha!
I'll find the place, so you click here.



Here is what a "long" bevel looks like on a black base.



**This post was edited on Jan 3rd 2022 at 4:19:43pm
3 years ago
1 0
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dwt802
Posts: 3376 - Karma: 33,253
It’s not completely necessary but detuning your edge will prolong your skis life by helping prevent getting edge cracks fast. Edge cracks form from the friction between rails and the metal on your edge. When your on a rail your edge heats up, when you hit snow it gets cold. That process will overtime weaken the edge and it will crack. Detuning skis will create less friction between your edges and the rail and will help keep your edges strong for longer (most of the time). That’s the real reason to detune, not just because it’s sus to hit features but that it genuinely helps your skis last longer and keep the edge in for longer.
3 years ago
4 0
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DominatorJacques
Posts: 11247 - Karma: 76,550
dwt802It’s not completely necessary but detuning your edge will prolong your skis life by helping prevent getting edge cracks fast. Edge cracks form from the friction between rails and the metal on your edge. When your on a rail your edge heats up, when you hit snow it gets cold. That process will overtime weaken the edge and it will crack. Detuning skis will create less friction between your edges and the rail and will help keep your edges strong for longer (most of the time). That’s the real reason to detune, not just because it’s sus to hit features but that it genuinely helps your skis last longer and keep the edge in for longer.


That's quite a theory. Maybe some truth to it.

What happens is work hardening. It when you pound a metal with a hammer, it gets hard and brittle.
I doubt the rail sliding, and subsequent hitting the snow, has any effect such as you surmise.
3 years ago
8 0
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g_lectrolyte
Posts: 202 - Karma: 1,505
Update today: tubes slide fine, any metal feature is fine, like literally no probs, got hung up on like one box today kinda bad but saved it. I have detuned skis in the past I’m honestly just giving this a shot to see if it even matters, and it seems like yeah, they are a little grabbier so i guess if you’re going hard immediately just detune them
3 years ago
2 4
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dwt802
Posts: 3376 - Karma: 33,253
DominatorJacquesThat's quite a theory. Maybe some truth to it.

What happens is work hardening. It when you pound a metal with a hammer, it gets hard and brittle.
I doubt the rail sliding, and subsequent hitting the snow, has any effect such as you surmise.


What do you believe is the primary cause of edge cracks?

I know the pure impact from the metal on metal collision can cause edge cracks too in addition to what I previously said.
3 years ago
3 0
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DominatorJacques
Posts: 11247 - Karma: 76,550
g_lectrolyteUpdate today: tubes slide fine, any metal feature is fine, like literally no probs, got hung up on like one box today kinda bad but saved it. I have detuned skis in the past I’m honestly just giving this a shot to see if it even matters, and it seems like yeah, they are a little grabbier so i guess if you’re going hard immediately just detune them

Some of the skis today come with excessive base bevel, so those don't hang much, still to apply a "long" base bevel before the edge gets hardened would be a good idea.
dwt802What do you believe is the primary cause of edge cracks?

I know the pure impact from the metal on metal collision can cause edge cracks too in addition to what I previously said.

Just as I stated above. Becoming work hardened from banging rails. The edge becomes harder, but that also makes it more brittle.
3 years ago
5 0
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SlitherySnake
Posts: 1169 - Karma: 8,625
this is with a decent detune. just do it man pls
3 years ago
2 0
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KilaTsunami
Posts: 3348 - Karma: 32,240
Yeah detune them underfoot, you’ll slide much easier across rails/boxes, but still be able to carve since you only detuned underfoot. It’s nothing to be afraid of…. If u hate it just have them sharpened again NBD
3 years ago
4 0
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g_lectrolyte
Posts: 202 - Karma: 1,505
g_lectrolyteUpdate today: tubes slide fine, any metal feature is fine, like literally no probs, got hung up on like one box today kinda bad but saved it. I have detuned skis in the past I’m honestly just giving this a shot to see if it even matters, and it seems like yeah, they are a little grabbier so i guess if you’re going hard immediately just detune them


Why am I getting downvoted so hard lol, people are offended I risked my edges?? I’ve cracked edges before, mostly on DETUNED skis, you all think I’m stupid. I did a science experiment for the people. I found out it literally doesn’t matter, but preferably go on ahead and detune underfoot. Case closed.

**This post was edited on Jan 4th 2022 at 8:08:28am

**This post was edited on Jan 4th 2022 at 8:09:31am

**This post was edited on Jan 4th 2022 at 8:10:44am
3 years ago
1 6
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eheath
Posts: 61955 - Karma: 126,725
g_lectrolyteWhy am I getting downvoted so hard lol, people are offended I risked my edges?? I’ve cracked edges before, mostly on DETUNED skis, you all think I’m stupid. I did a science experiment for the people. I found out it literally doesn’t matter, but preferably go on ahead and detune underfoot. Case closed.

**This post was edited on Jan 4th 2022 at 8:08:28am

**This post was edited on Jan 4th 2022 at 8:09:31am

**This post was edited on Jan 4th 2022 at 8:10:44am


You can't let the downvotes get to ya brotha
3 years ago
3 1
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Snowcaine_-
Posts: 40 - Karma: 418
U dont need shoes to run, but it does make it a enjoyable experience. Filing down my skis just added confidence that I wouldn't catch and eat ass.
3 years ago
3 1
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pofwel
Posts: 86 - Karma: -139
Snowcaine_-U dont need shoes to run, but it does make it a enjoyable experience. Filing down my skis just added confidence that I wouldn't catch and eat ass.


this is a very good point
3 years ago
2 1
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