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hi_vis360
November, 2024

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Does detuning ruin skis?

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York
Posts: 1 - Karma: 33
Hey y'all. My main question here is if detuning skis actually helps protect them from edge cracks while hitting rails.

Here is the context / reason for this post:

I have a new pair of unmounted 183 Vishnu wets that I got as a well overdue upgrade of skis. I was skiing on some old Volkl 163 length park skis. (I'm 5'11 so these are tiny for me). My dad was asking if he could sell the old skis to his work friend for their son. He changed his mind when he saw the edges and said they are junk. For those skis I did go overkill on the detune and rounded off the edges. He called me crazy for doing such a thing and was pretty much horrified at the idea of me doing something similar to my brand new skis. I was explaining that from what I've heard and read that detuning helps protect from edge cracks, and from my experience feels much better on rails. He said there was no use of detuning since cracking your edge will happen either way. He described it as beating my skis with a metal pipe, which would lead to a crack in both scenarios. He also pulled out the "I've worked in ski shops for half my life" card, and I would like to listen to his advice, but have heard conflicting views. When I bought the skis, Emmet put a card in the package saying to detune immediately. Although my dad thinks that having no effective edge is a terrible idea and that the advice I'm hearing is from west coast skiers. (We are from Maine). I am aware that these are park skis not meant to be all mountain. I will be mostly skiing at a small area near my school, so I figured these would work great for that scenario. And this post is not meant to clown on my dad, please don't turn it into that, but to get a better understanding of the topic.

So what I'm looking for is some advice on what to do with brand new skis. I planned on running them a week or so before detuning them anyways. Do y'all like somewhat sharp edges on your park skis? Or should I bootleg replicate the bdog edgeless? I haven't had a real problem skiing with my other skis with rounded edges underfoot, but I also haven't skied on sharp edges for maybe four years.

Sorry for the long read. Would like to hear your take and or advice.

Thanks.
Oct 25 2023 12:56AM
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switchlip2
Posts: 2142 - Karma: 25,100
Don’t listen to that guy he does not have a clue as to what he is talking. Detune your edge until it’s round with a solid dremel grinder or with a metal file. If you’re on the east and never skiied a truly dull edge might wanna keep a little bit of sharp edge at the top and bottom contact points but make sure to keep all that underfoot round
Oct 25 2023 2:24AM
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maaattt
Posts: 2532 - Karma: 30,759
The only way it can "ruin" a ski is that after you go for an aggressive detune, you would have to grind away a bunch of basematerial and steel if you wanted a sharp edge again
Oct 25 2023 2:39AM
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hi_vis360
Posts: 5069 - Karma: 51,453
Vishnus actually perform really bad if you don’t detune in my experience, they’re weird and hooky. They are meant to be skied detuned. The owner of the company is telling you to do it.

But if your dad is making this big of a stink about it, it’s not impossible to ski park on non detuned skis. I did it for years and years. It’s not as ideal and you may get more edge cracks, but if it’s that big of a battle with your dad idk if it’s worth it.

I also ski in Maine, always have a file and a grinder on me so if you’re looking for a parking lot detune

**This post was edited on Oct 25th 2023 at 8:59:25am
Oct 25 2023 8:56AM
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BlueVillain
Posts: 406 - Karma: 2,407
I usually only detune under the boot for rails so I can still have somewhat of a grip on that icy shite. Idk about wets though
Oct 25 2023 10:15AM
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SofaKingSick
Posts: 9304 - Karma: 61,134
hi_vis360Vishnus actually perform really bad if you don’t detune in my experience, they’re weird and hooky. They are meant to be skied detuned. The owner of the company is telling you to do it.

But if your dad is making this big of a stink about it, it’s not impossible to ski park on non detuned skis. I did it for years and years. It’s not as ideal and you may get more edge cracks, but if it’s that big of a battle with your dad idk if it’s worth it.

I also ski in Maine, always have a file and a grinder on me so if you’re looking for a parking lot detune

**This post was edited on Oct 25th 2023 at 8:59:25am


all of this. your dad and you are both kinda skewed to opposite sides of the spectrum-- rail idiots like us like nice rounded edges and your dad has a more normal/old-school take and thinks it's insane to not have sharp edges on the east coast

neither person is wrong, it's just about differing priorities. i definitely wish my skis could magically be dull on rails and then sharp when it's icy!

as this dude said, it's not worth getting into a fight over and really the right move is in the middle anyway-- yes, vishnus are made to be skied detuned and yes it will help a little with edge durability, but yeah you also ski the ice coast so edges are helpful and i can't blame him for thinking it's silly to dull the hell out of your only pair of skis. not everyone detunes immediately... just ski the skis for a while like you said, and do some light dulling with a gummy stone or (not coarse) file as you judge how you like them

i think a middle ground will keep you and your dad happy
Oct 25 2023 10:35AM
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Farmville420
Posts: 4760 - Karma: 61,202
Riding them for a week will dull them enough to not suck on rails, edge cracks will happen whether you detune or not, it may help reduce them with a detune but ultimately ur grinding metal on metal, it's gonna get fucked up eventually regardless so I would say just ride them
Oct 25 2023 11:43AM
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piss.boy
Posts: 1491 - Karma: 10,619
SofaKingSickall of this. your dad and you are both kinda skewed to opposite sides of the spectrum-- rail idiots like us like nice rounded edges and your dad has a more normal/old-school take and thinks it's insane to not have sharp edges on the east coast

neither person is wrong, it's just about differing priorities. i definitely wish my skis could magically be dull on rails and then sharp when it's icy!

as this dude said, it's not worth getting into a fight over and really the right move is in the middle anyway-- yes, vishnus are made to be skied detuned and yes it will help a little with edge durability, but yeah you also ski the ice coast so edges are helpful and i can't blame him for thinking it's silly to dull the hell out of your only pair of skis. not everyone detunes immediately... just ski the skis for a while like you said, and do some light dulling with a gummy stone or (not coarse) file as you judge how you like them

i think a middle ground will keep you and your dad happy

doesnt really matter if the dad is happy about it tho
Oct 25 2023 1:06PM
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SofaKingSick
Posts: 9304 - Karma: 61,134
piss.boydoesnt really matter if the dad is happy about it tho


oh that's a good point thanks, hey OP make sure to tell your dad that "piss boy" on NS said it doesn't matter what he thinks. problem solved
Oct 25 2023 1:30PM
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KilaTsunami
Posts: 3132 - Karma: 29,486
Detune it all the way if you’re in the park or you’ll kill the edge on a rail.


You can always sharpen again if you totally hate it, which you won’t. Detuned is so much more effective in the park
Oct 25 2023 3:29PM
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Celery
Posts: 2025 - Karma: 24,912
Detuning your skis doesn't make it so you can't turn, it just changes the way you turn. If you're skiing wets you're probably not concerned about turning well though. I also ski in Maine and keep a file and gummy stone in my car if you need a parking lot detune.
Oct 25 2023 3:36PM
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KilaTsunami
Posts: 3132 - Karma: 29,486
CeleryDetuning your skis doesn't make it so you can't turn, it just changes the way you turn. If you're skiing wets you're probably not concerned about turning well though. I also ski in Maine and keep a file and gummy stone in my car if you need a parking lot detune.


atta boy, love the looks you get from old heads as you do exactly what they hate.. right there in the lot lol
Oct 25 2023 3:38PM
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whatscore
Posts: 1012 - Karma: 6,423
First thing I did when I received both my pairs of wet was retuning them fully

same thing when my keys are arriving. Detuning straight away
Oct 25 2023 4:19PM
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piss.boy
Posts: 1491 - Karma: 10,619
SofaKingSickoh that's a good point thanks, hey OP make sure to tell your dad that "piss boy" on NS said it doesn't matter what he thinks. problem solved


i genuinely dont get why his dads opinion on this would matter, unless he paid for the skis
Oct 25 2023 7:48PM
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Pablo_Sanchez
Posts: 698 - Karma: 5,548
Edge cracks won’t convince him, show him a picture of an exploded sidewall or X-ray of a shattered humerus and tell him that’s what happens when an edge gets caught on a rail at speed
Oct 25 2023 8:08PM
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whatscore
Posts: 1012 - Karma: 6,423
vroskiiFirst thing I did when I received both my pairs of wet was retuning them fully

same thing when my keys are arriving. Detuning straight away


LMAO autocorrect nah

detuning * not returning 😂 I would never
Oct 25 2023 8:49PM
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Yukon_Cornelius
Posts: 307 - Karma: 2,660
Holy shit you’re detuning the entire edge?? I hope you’re mounting forward of true center then.
Oct 25 2023 9:20PM
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jompcock
Posts: 1536 - Karma: 11,445
round that bitch off with a mill bastard file. Don't listen to these morons telling you that you can hit rails with sharp edges. You will load your ski with edge cracks which gets water in and basically kills the ski over time. Edge cracks are inevitable but I got my first on my current pair of wets after about 50 days of skiing. I've put 15 edge cracks in a pair of skis over a couple days. Your dad is wrong.

Also skied on the east for 5ish seasons on dull ass Vishnus, no complaints. Lots of all mountain too. Will literally just make you a better skier. Bad skiers rely on sharp edges. I always get a kick about people complaining that they can't hold an edge because they haven't gotten their skis sharpened in a while. Dull your skis.
Oct 25 2023 10:40PM
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Christian_Bale
Posts: 1958 - Karma: 21,895
absolutely detune tf out of your wets. Their edges are super sharp. A while back I saw a clip of someone who didn't detune, ski landed on his hand somehow and sliced it pretty bad. My understanding is that if you don't detune and then start hitting rails, that's gonna be way worse for your edges.
Oct 26 2023 12:18AM
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Christian_Bale
Posts: 1958 - Karma: 21,895
YorkSo what I'm looking for is some advice on what to do with brand new skis. I planned on running them a week or so before detuning them anyways. Do y'all like somewhat sharp edges on your park skis? Or should I bootleg replicate the bdog edgeless? I haven't had a real problem skiing with my other skis with rounded edges underfoot, but I also haven't skied on sharp edges for maybe four years.

I think it really depends on personal preference. All I can really say with certainty is that you shouldn't start hitting rails before detuning your wets somewhat
Oct 26 2023 12:22AM
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Farmville420
Posts: 4760 - Karma: 61,202
Christian_Baleabsolutely detune tf out of your wets. Their edges are super sharp. A while back I saw a clip of someone who didn't detune, ski landed on his hand somehow and sliced it pretty bad. My understanding is that if you don't detune and then start hitting rails, that's gonna be way worse for your edges.

This happens if you detune your skis as well, I've had it happen before
Oct 26 2023 1:23AM
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SofaKingSick
Posts: 9304 - Karma: 61,134
piss.boyi genuinely dont get why his dads opinion on this would matter, unless he paid for the skis


we don't even know how old OP is, the dad might have paid for the skis. regardless, yes most people have an interest in getting along with their dad lol
Oct 26 2023 10:07AM
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TheSasquatch
Posts: 68 - Karma: 723
I’m getting my first pair of wets soon and I was wondering should I detune the entire ski tip to tail, absolutely everything.
Oct 26 2023 10:50AM
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fabbe
Posts: 842 - Karma: -94
TheSasquatchI’m getting my first pair of wets soon and I was wondering should I detune the entire ski tip to tail, absolutely everything.


why would you do that?
Oct 26 2023 12:56PM
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TheSasquatch
Posts: 68 - Karma: 723
fabbewhy would you do that?


It’s a question dude
Oct 26 2023 1:13PM
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fabbe
Posts: 842 - Karma: -94
TheSasquatchIt’s a question dude


but like what made you think that was a good idea cus idk if its a good idea and i want to know if its a good idea
Oct 26 2023 1:52PM
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TheSasquatch
Posts: 68 - Karma: 723
fabbebut like what made you think that was a good idea cus idk if its a good idea and i want to know if its a good idea


idk I’m Just hearing people say
“Vishnus actually perform really bad if you don’t detune in my experience”

“Detune it all the way if you’re in the park or you’ll kill the edge on a rail.”

“First thing I did when I received both my pairs of wet was retuning them fully”

“absolutely detune tf out of your wets”
Oct 26 2023 2:48PM
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fabbe
Posts: 842 - Karma: -94
TheSasquatchidk I’m Just hearing people say
“Vishnus actually perform really bad if you don’t detune in my experience”

“Detune it all the way if you’re in the park or you’ll kill the edge on a rail.”

“First thing I did when I received both my pairs of wet was retuning them fully”

“absolutely detune tf out of your wets”


yeah they mean underfoot only i think, if you do butters i would probably detune the tips and tails too. dont see a point in detuning the rest tbh.
Oct 26 2023 2:54PM
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hi_vis360
Posts: 5069 - Karma: 51,453
TheSasquatchI’m getting my first pair of wets soon and I was wondering should I detune the entire ski tip to tail, absolutely everything.


fabbeyeah they mean underfoot only i think, if you do butters i would probably detune the tips and tails too. dont see a point in detuning the rest tbh.


On my 189 wets I did just a detune underfoot and it felt mad weird, so I did a very mellow detune whole ski and it felt much better. Idk if I would do the same with keys I bet those things can carve pretty well. With the shape of wets they def need to be skied with a more loose surfy style so I think a mellow detune whole ski is good, with heavy detune underfoot.
Oct 26 2023 7:00PM
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BLandz
Posts: 1660 - Karma: 27,197
I don’t even detune to prevent edgecracks I just don’t wanna catch on a rail and eat shit
Oct 26 2023 7:41PM
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whatscore
Posts: 1012 - Karma: 6,423
TheSasquatchidk I’m Just hearing people say
“Vishnus actually perform really bad if you don’t detune in my experience”

“Detune it all the way if you’re in the park or you’ll kill the edge on a rail.”

“First thing I did when I received both my pairs of wet was retuning them fully”

“absolutely detune tf out of your wets”


If it helps I de tuned underfoot tip and tail and fully and slightly de tune between tip underfoot and tail
Oct 26 2023 8:44PM
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Voyage86
Posts: 886 - Karma: 3,721
vroskiiIf it helps I de tuned underfoot tip and tail and fully and slightly de tune between tip underfoot and tail


Ah yes, me personally I only detune fully and then underfoot and then if I really want I’d do the tip but just the tip, and then possibly the tail, personally
Oct 26 2023 9:37PM
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jompcock
Posts: 1536 - Karma: 11,445
fuck it sharpen those bitches and hit the slalom course
Oct 26 2023 9:47PM
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skierman
Posts: 8359 - Karma: 7,520
Tell your gaper father that skiing on metal rails will damage the edges regardless. Feel free to also let him know that skierman thinks he's a jackass and he should go fuck himself.
Oct 27 2023 10:55AM
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KilaTsunami
Posts: 3132 - Karma: 29,486
TheSasquatchI’m getting my first pair of wets soon and I was wondering should I detune the entire ski tip to tail, absolutely everything.

Detune the whole thing.
Oct 27 2023 3:30PM
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Lemuel
Posts: 14496 - Karma: 10,669
The main issue is park rats think detuning = rounding off edges. Most new skis need a slight detune in the tip / tail to prevent hookiness. You don’t need to round your edges unless you plan on hitting aluminum or cement right off the bat you goofmonkeys. Take a gummy stone or lightly file underfoot and you’ll be fine.


The best detune is to just ski for a handful of days, then straight slide rails for a bit ( I know, hard concept). If you wind up and scissor hard for your front 180 shuffles on your brand new factory edges, then yea you will F them up. When you get home rash day, use a diamond stone and an edge angle to de-bur.
Oct 28 2023 6:32AM
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Christian_Bale
Posts: 1958 - Karma: 21,895
TheSasquatchidk I’m Just hearing people say
“Vishnus actually perform really bad if you don’t detune in my experience”

“Detune it all the way if you’re in the park or you’ll kill the edge on a rail.”

“First thing I did when I received both my pairs of wet was retuning them fully”

“absolutely detune tf out of your wets”

Apologies for being vague. I did not mean the whole ski. In my own opinion, you really should detune underfoot. I like to detune underfoot heavily but that's my preference. In regard to the whole ski, I don't think it's necessary and I don't detune anywhere apart from underfoot. But if you're worried about catching an edge while doing a nosebutter or something, maybe detune slightly in the tip or tail but that's up to you.
Oct 29 2023 3:16PM
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Tucko
Posts: 227 - Karma: 1,904
hi_vis360On my 189 wets I did just a detune underfoot and it felt mad weird, so I did a very mellow detune whole ski and it felt much better. Idk if I would do the same with keys I bet those things can carve pretty well. With the shape of wets they def need to be skied with a more loose surfy style so I think a mellow detune whole ski is good, with heavy detune underfoot.

100% I usually go light to medium tune all around and then go bat shit crazy underfoot
Oct 29 2023 9:14PM
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Park.
Posts: 2480 - Karma: 4,582
Skied 2 pairs in one day. 1 zero detune and one heavily detuned underfoot.

I liked the detuned wets more. Not even close. Zero detune was hooky.

fully detuned my keys next and regretted it.

There is no debate on if it’s helpful to detune though. Detuning reduces the pressure point drastically even if edges will break regardless. It’s about reduction instead of prevention. Since they’re wets, your focus is rails instead of carving so l’d detune.

the real reason I detune is so I don’t get bodied catching an edge though.
Oct 31 2023 3:33PM
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skiP.E.I.
Posts: 7831 - Karma: 21,947
BLandzI don’t even detune to prevent edgecracks I just don’t wanna catch on a rail and eat shit


This is more of an issue for big & tall guys I think
Oct 31 2023 7:12PM
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butterflywatcher
Posts: 150 - Karma: 701
should i detune my surface skis, the uppers? i plan on skiing like 60% park and 40% all moutain
after reading this post im guessing i should detune them.
Nov 26 2023 11:34PM
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SteezyYeeter
Posts: 3628 - Karma: -12,084
SofaKingSickoh that's a good point thanks, hey OP make sure to tell your dad that "piss boy" on NS said it doesn't matter what he thinks. problem solved

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 IM DEAD
Nov 28 2023 5:41PM
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Vzx
Posts: 464 - Karma: 2,002
beck_shredzshould i detune my surface skis, the uppers? i plan on skiing like 60% park and 40% all moutain
after reading this post im guessing i should detune them.


Yeah you should only detune your underfoot and not the whole ski because you can catch a edge on a rail if its to sharp, And since you also want to do all mountain you still need some sharp edges on the rest of your ski.
Nov 28 2023 9:24PM
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mrk127
Posts: 1804 - Karma: 16,328
I only read the title but...yes detuning ruins your skis edge grip wise

and yes detuning is 100% necessary if you are going to ski rails
Nov 28 2023 9:51PM
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Vzx
Posts: 464 - Karma: 2,002
mrk127I only read the title but...yes detuning ruins your skis edge grip wise

and yes detuning is 100% necessary if you are going to ski rails


Yea I would rather be safe than sorry. Catching an edge and hitting your shoulder or something like that would hurt so bad.
Nov 28 2023 9:54PM
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