You can learn a lot more about skis than is written in bright, big letters on their surface. The ability to read information on skis will help you choose the right skis in the store and not be deceived when buying already used skis. We will tell you everything about the numbers on Fischer skis in this article.

Serial number of Fischer skis: decoding

On the sidewall of Fischer skis in the area of ​​the heel of the mount there is a serial number that all amateur skiers want to decipher. There are even those who look for sacred meaning in these numbers. In fact, everything in the number is simple, just like in the number of any other product.

187/1450688580 031

• 187 – ski length in cm
• 14 – year of manufacture (2013)
• 5 – hardness (4 – soft, 5 – medium, 6 – stiff)
• 06 – serial number of the week of release from the beginning of the calendar year
• 88580 – ski serial number
• 031 – hardness index (FA).

Since 2016, the ski number has been of this type 191/1653513931 without hardness index. The size of top skate models has decreased by 1 cm, and the FA index is written on a sticker with a barcode. Example in the photo – FA 80.

And this is what the “sport shop” ski sticker looks like with more detailed information. What these indicators mean will be discussed below.

On Fischer 2019-2020 skis, the number is printed in the IFP platform area. It seems that the place was chosen specifically so that the number would be hidden when installing the fasteners with screws.

Fischer ski stiffness tables: soft, medium, stiff

Sizes and stiffness of fischer junior skis

Structures, diagrams and bases of Fischer skis for weather and route density

On the toe of the ski on the side of the sliding surface you can find two designations, for example: 28/1Q or 28/902 or A5/610. These designations contain information about the base of the glide and the design of the skis.

Fischer bases (sliding surfaces)

The skid surface markings can be found on the skid plate at the toe of the ski. The design is also marked there.

• A5– a universal base for cold temperatures from t -5C and below. It is on skis marked Cold, the factory structure code is C1-1.
• 28 – universal warm base at t -10C and above. Suitable for all types of snow, suitable for skis marked Plus. Since the 17/18 season it has become more universal: -10 and warmer, versus the old one from -2 and warmer. The factory structure code remains the same - P5-1.

Skis Speedmax, Carbonlite, RCS:

• Worldcup 28 (Plus) – 10% graphite
• Worldcup A5 (Cold) – 4.5% graphite

Skis RCR, SCS, CRS, SC:

• Worldcup pro – 7.5% graphite
• Protec – 7.5% graphite

Skis LS:

• Sintec – 3.5% graphite

Diagrams of Fischer skis

Skate ski designs

• 115 (15/11) – design for well-prepared and icy trails. The fulcrum points are located closer to the toe and heel of the ski. This arrangement increases the stability of the ski. Particularly relevant on an unprepared ice track and when equipment is deficient. Main disadvantages: “sticking” the ski and “burying” it in loose snow.
• 610 (61Q, 1Q)– design for a well-prepared and soft track. The support points are brought closer to the block, which makes the toe and tail of the ski softer. This design allows the ski not to “stick” or bury itself in loose snow. Main disadvantages: “scouring” on an icy track due to lack of equipment.

Classic ski designs

• 902 (90/9Q2)– design for soft and loose trails. Similar to skating 610/1Q, i.e. has soft toes and heels. The block is located lower than on the 812 and makes it easier to hold in difficult weather conditions. The main disadvantage: due to the low location of the holding area, the ointment will come off faster.
• 90L– a variation of design 902. It has a higher arc, i.e. the block is raised higher. It is found on special order skis, and since 2018 it has been used in Speedmax Twin Skin skis (but the marking is still 9Q2).
• 812 (81/8Q2)– universal classic design. The standard placement of the block retains the ointment longer, but requires more impulse to push through.

Structures on Fischer skis

The most common structures are P5-1 and C1-1. According to the manufacturers, they are the most popular at the World Cup.

Applying structure to skis is a delicate matter. To replicate the structure, there must be the same equipment, the same grinding stone, the same emulsion, etc. Real racing Fisher structures are rolled out only in Reed. Structures P5-1 (Plus or universal warm) and C1-1 (Cold or universal cold) are applied to the skis.

Below is a complete list of structures that are and have been used by Fischer. A similar list is floating around the Internet, but in this list we have corrected the temperature ranges as of the 17/18 season. If you have anything to add to this list, write in the comments.

Fischer structures

• P10-1 for dry snow at temperatures below 0
• C1-1 all types of snow, including fresh, temperature below -5
• C3-1 for artificial snow, temperature below -5
• C8-1 narrower structure for artificial snow from 0 to -10
• C12-1 any type of snow, -5-15
• C12-7 fine-grained snow at t from 0 to -10
• P1-1 temperature +3 to -5, fresh snow
• P3-1 structure for fresh wet snow, at 0 degrees with a transition to positive
• P3-2 for old wet snow at t 0 with a transition to plus
• Р3-3 watery snow, from +5 and above
• Р5-0 dry fine snow from 0 to -5
• P5-9 structure for classic skis on old wet snow, temperatures from 0 and above
• TZ1-1 for fresh snow at temperatures below 0
• P5-1 universal structure for temperatures from +5 to -10, any type of snow
• P22-6 transitional structure for any type of snow, temperature from +5 to -5
• P11-2 all types of snow from +2 to -8
• P10-3 falling, fresh snow, t from 0 to -5
• P9-2 wet snow, t above 0

Ramsau structures

Structures with index S are made in Ramsau. These skis can often be found on the secondary market. The most popular are S13.

• S13-6 structure for rainy weather
• S13-5-08 option for very wet fresh snow
• S11-1 dry snow at t -10 -20
• S12-1 fresh natural and artificial snow t 0 -15
• S12-4 fresh dry snow t -5 -10
• S12-2 fresh wet snow t 0 -5
• S12-6 fresh falling wet snow t 0 -5
• S12-12 old snow t 0 -5
• S12-14 for frozen snow during the warming period, fresh snow, t -2 -10
• S13-4 wet snow, natural and artificial, changeable weather, wide range
• S13-5 fresh falling wet snow, t 0 with transition to plus
• S13-5-08 wet fine-grained fresh snow
• S11-3 structure for artificial snow, t -10 -20
• S12-7 artificial snow, t -2 -12
• S11-2 cold dry natural snow, t -10 -20
• S12-16 structure for high humidity and fresh snow, suitable for gloss, t 0 -10
• S12-2-07 for fresh snow and soft tracks 0 -10
• S12-3 fresh snow at t -2 -6
• S13-6 sleet, rain

Indicators FA, HR, SVZ: what is it and how to find out through the ski barcode

This marking is not found on all skis, but only on those specially selected for a professional or by pre-order. That is, at the “special workshop” or “sports workshop,” as our skiers like to call it. We wrote more about the existence of a special or sports workshop in the article.

If you have skis in front of you without a sticker, then these indicators can be easily recognized. Place any QR code scanner on your smartphone, launch it and read the barcode on your skis. The program will display something like 2.7 – 98.3, if such information does not come out, then try reading another barcode. For example, we got 2.7 – 98.3, that is, the HR of the ski is 2.7, the exact FA is 98.3. Don’t be surprised that the sticker may say FA 98 or even 97. Skis are not produced in pairs; they are assembled into pairs only later and such discrepancies are within the margin of error.

Skis for the 2019-2020 season come with a sticker of this type. It already has a QR code for reading all the information about the skis: barcode number, full ski number with size, HR and FA.

After reading, you get a number like this, where

• 9002972387616 – barcode number
• 186/1865078755 – number stamped on skis
• 2.2 – HR
• 90 – FA

• HR- gap in millimeters, which remains after pressing the ski with half the weight of the average skier. The load is applied to the ski 7 cm below the balance point. The remaining gap is HR. Simply put, this is the stiffness of the tips and tails of the ski. For example, if you take skis with the same FA, but different HR, a ski with a large HR will press more evenly, and a ski with a smaller HR will press down more evenly at first, but it will be more difficult to press down. With a large HR - a larger arc, a more arched ski, with a smaller HR - a smaller arc, the block is closer to the ski in the rolling phase. A low last is especially important for inexperienced skiers. In classics it will make it easier to hold, and in skates it will improve stability at the box office.
• SVZ– a characteristic showing how much the ski differs from the ideal ratio of HR and FA. The value is used in production to check quality and select pairs of skis. When choosing a pair of skis for yourself, the indicator does not matter.
• F.A.(hardness index) is the amount kilogram, which must be applied 7 cm below the balance point, to compress the ski to a gap of 0.2 millimeters.

Why FA and not a specific weight? The FA index is a characteristic of the ski, not the athlete. Using this parameter, a specialist can select skis for a specific athlete. The same ski can suit a 70 kg professional skier and a 90 kg amateur skier. At the same time, both will be comfortable and the skis will work as they should. It’s more difficult to select with FA than by kilograms, but if you figure it out, the selection of skis will be of better quality.

Fischer FA ski stiffness chart.

Fischer is one of the most famous manufacturers of equipment for alpine and cross-country skiing. Fischer has long been associated with sporting achievements, podiums and medals. The strongest athletes, both in alpine and cross-country skiing, and biathlon, choose equipment from this particular brand. But we are interested in the ski part of the collection. In the 2017-2018 season, there are both new items in this direction and modified models from previous seasons - in general, a lot of interesting things.

The structure of the Fischer alpine ski catalog is as follows:

Alpine skiing Fischer World Cup in the 2017-2018 season

Fischer RC4 WorldCup FIS

Skis for athletes, training and competitions. Traditionally, you can find skis here for any discipline in any class. Fischer gained its fame thanks to its sports line. Particularly notable are slalom skis, which are preferred by a large number of athletes today. Of course, looking at the results of the World Cup stages in recent years, Fischer has lost its position a little, but this does not in any way hinder its popularity among athletes. With the advent of the CurvBooster platform, the ski has become even a little more dynamic, and the energy return, which is so important on the piste, has noticeably increased.

Fischer RC4 WorldCup

“Civilian” sport for those who do not chase fractions of seconds in competitions, but have good skills and technique. These skis have all the technologies of older models, but they are less rigid and suitable for everyday skiing. Here you can also find a ski with a long radius - this WorldCup RC(18 m) for real skiing in wide arcs somewhere on the long slopes of the Alps.

One of the layers in the sandwich structure is a rather thick titanal layer of 0.8 mm. There is no way to do without such enhancements. This is especially important for long-radius skis, which typically operate at higher speeds and greater loads than short-radius models.

Actually, next in the line is the short-radius version WorldCup SC. Slalom version with a radius of 13 meters for sporty and good skiers. Wooden core with titanium reinforcement and sandwich construction, traditional for this class of skis. A distinctive feature of all slalom skis is Hole Ski Technology. Simply a “hole” on the toe, which acts as an aerodynamic part of the structure, allowing air flow through it. This reduces the resistance of the raised part of the toe, and the front part of the ski is pressed with air.

The WorldCup SC model has another interesting feature. It is sold in two versions: with a black and yellow slide. The slipper, by the way, is similar to FIS skis, with an applied structure and has good sliding characteristics.

Fischer RC4 Speed ​​Allride

This ski from the RC4 series is suitable for intermediate skiers. The same sandwich as the previous two, but with a slightly thinner titanal layer of 0.5 mm. It is less demanding on technology, forgives much more mistakes and is much easier to control. The average turning radius makes it more versatile, with the ability to launch it both in a long arc and without much effort in a short one. Skis with a turning radius of 14 meters are comfortable to ski on short slopes, but even in large mountains you don’t have to think about how to ski when you go out on the slope.

Fischer RC4 The Curv alpine ski series in the 2017-2018 season

A series that made a splash last season. Since its introduction, rave reviews have not stopped. In our opinion, it is not entirely correct to place it in the World Cup line. It is worth noting that the Curv series was made not on the basis of sports skis, but on the technologies of sports skis - it has its own base, special geometry, special handling and special positive emotions.

The Curv, in its concept stage, is a ski that brings performance skiing capabilities to the average skier on groomed slopes. Three very famous personalities were invited to develop this series: Mike Von Grunigen, Kristian Ghedina, Hans Knauss. Retired champions put their experience and knowledge to work adapting hard-to-handle workshop skis for more recreational skiing. It turns out that they brought fire from Olympus to people.

In the 16/17 season, The Curv line included 3 models, and in the 17/18 season, new GT skis were added to them. They have just appeared, but according to test results they are already among the leaders. Today, The Curv line looks like this:

The Curv CurvBooster- top model. GT- a new ski in the line, occupying the second position. DTX- middle. Allride- the youngest in the line.

Now about everyone in more detail.

Skis Fischer The Curv Booster

The most serious ski from the Curv series. We can say that this is a sports shop in a different guise. The skis are stiff and loaded with even more technology than the FIS models. In fact, in terms of their rigidity and severity, the Curv Booster behaves almost like sports skis. They also run stably, without the slightest hint of any arc failure or slippage.

The model is intended for experts and very good skiers who will be able to unleash its full potential. I was especially impressed by the long lengths, which are as stable as possible and do exactly what the skier and his legs require of them. With a size of 178 cm, the radius is 18 meters, and on short slopes you simply do not have time to accelerate the ski to the required speed, where it begins to work at full capacity. For this reason, it is recommended to take The Curv Booster with you to mountain resorts, where you can ride and feel all their work. In a long, high-speed corner, the load increases greatly. To maintain stability and hold the arc, there should be no geometry shifts and changes in edge position, also with vibrations, so special attention was paid to torsional rigidity. The model uses Diagotex Torsion carbon structure, which reduces unwanted vibrations and deformations while maintaining a stable ski position.

The ski is supposed to operate at high speeds, so you shouldn't expect super-controllability from it at low speeds - it won't be there at all. Works for CurvBooster Character Size, that is, the radius of the skis is matched to the size, from short to long. But despite this, even on a short slope you will need to pick up speed for the skis to work normally, otherwise they will not behave correctly and you will not enjoy skiing.

New for the 2017-2018 season - Fischer The Curv GT

The widest ski in The Curv series with an 80mm waist. There are not many such wide carvers, but their popularity is quite high, in addition, skis with such a waist become a little more versatile. At the same time, the carving feel changes compared to narrower models.

All The Curvs are very similar, the main differences between the GT model and the top-end CurvBooster are the absence of the CurvBooster platform and a slightly different sliding surface. Everything else is identical: the skis are also reinforced with 0.8 mm titanium, Diagotex carbon mesh, equipped with a Triple Radius cutout, etc.

The key difference lies in behavior. The rather wide waist leaves its mark when sliding and maneuvering. Of course, this can be attributed to the subjective opinion of the author, but the sliding on the GT seemed as smooth as possible, even when driving dynamically and trying to enter the turn as sharply as possible. The response to the footwork is also not very fast, so the movement is delayed. But if you return to the technical parameters - a wide waist and an average radius of 16 meters and combine this with the smooth movements of the Curv GT, you can easily determine the ideal conditions for skiing on these skis. A long well-prepared slope, decent speed and arcs from edge to edge of the track - this is where the GT will be most comfortable and fully satisfy the owner.

Another mid-range ski, only with a narrower waist. It is not new, it has not been released for the first season and has managed to prove itself very well.

If the CurvBooster turns out to be too stiff and the GT is too leisurely, then the DTX will be just what you need. Precisely because the ski is slightly softer than the top models in the series and starts working at slightly lower speeds, on small and short slopes it can be fully opened and fully skied. Another difference is the presence of a small rocker, which, in addition to making it easier to enter a turn, will add a little versatility and the ability to ride on softer snow. Otherwise, the ski is structurally similar to the CurvBooster and Curv GT.

Fischer Curv Ti Allride

Structurally, it is similar to the entire series - it is a sandwich with a wooden core, reinforced with titanium and a triple Triple Radius. But there are two important differences:

Titanium reinforcement is thinner than others: 0.5 mm instead of 0.8. No Diagotex carbon mesh. This significantly reduces the stiffness of the skis, but at the same time they become less demanding on the skier’s skills. Not only experts, but also just amateurs with average training can ride the Curv Ti Allride.

Another difference lies in the geometry. The Curv Ti Allride with a fairly short radius can be taken as a more comfortable replacement for a slalom model or as a medium-radius one if you choose a larger size.

Fischer Progressor alpine skiing in the 2017-2018 season

Let's move on to another track series - Progressor. From the outside you can't tell there's anything special about it, but... These are the lightest skis in their class. The guys at Fischer were able to achieve this primarily thanks to the lightweight Air Tec core design with channels inside.

Another feature of the Progressor series is the variable sidecut, all skis are made with the Dual Radius system.

Fischer Progressor F19

The top-end Progressor F19 is the first in the line review. Classic sandwich with Air Tec Ti wood core with titanium and carbon reinforcements. Everything is as it should be for a top ski. The Dual Radius system here operates in the range of 13-17 meters, that is, the radius goes from medium to long. The skis are quite grippy and hold the slope well. The so-called Razorshape is used in the contact areas - the edges are beveled, forming additional stiffening ribs and reducing weight.

The structure of the Progressor F19 is very flexible and handles very nicely. But don’t forget that these are expert-level skis and you need to take this into account when choosing.

Fischer Progressor F18

Slightly softer, suitable for intermediate skiers. A lightweight Air Tec core is also used here, only without titanium inserts, but with carbon fiber. It is also equipped with a Dual Radius system, only the range varies between 12-15 meters, that is, from short to medium. This is a fairly convenient option for those who ski on short slopes and do not go to the mountains very often.

The Progressor F18 also features a slight rocker on the tip of the ski, which will make it easier to control and enter turns. A good option for those who have outgrown entry-level skis, but are not ready for expert ones.

The Progressor F17 should be considered as an entry-level ski that will last for more than one season of skiing. Made using sandwich technology with side walls that provide additional rigidity and provide precise edge grip with the snow, improving precision control. The Razorshape shape with beveled walls also helps with this, providing an additional torsional stiffening rib and better energy transfer to the edge.

Double radius operates in the range of 14-17 meters. It may seem quite large at first glance, but in general this is a normal radius for learning and improving technique.

This is the simplest basic option, which is only suitable as the most affordable pair of first skis for beginners. But, if possible, it is better to immediately give preference to Progressor 17.

Alpine skiing Fischer PRO MTN in the 2017-2018 season

Pro MTN is a series of trail all-rounders, which with its appearance aroused great interest and there are many reasons for this.

If you don’t immediately delve into the technical characteristics, then visually they attract attention with the rigor and premium design. But this applies only to older models, since the younger ones let us down in this regard. But design is a purely subjective thing.

So, there are as many as 7 skis in the Pro MTN model range. For convenience, we will consider them in two blocks:

Fischer Pro MTN 80 Ti, 86 Ti and 95 Ti

The same “real” Pro MTN. Let's try to reveal why we have this opinion. All skis are made in the same design and with the same technologies, they differ only in the width of the waist. It should be noted right away that the skis are very light and this is achieved using many Fischer technologies and developments.

The second feature is the extensive use of carbon fiber. For example, while maintaining torsional rigidity, it was possible to reduce the thickness of the heel and toe. Moreover, at speed and uneven edges, multiple unwanted vibrations occur, carbon is quite weakly susceptible to this, which means the Pro MTN will maintain complete control and stability for the skier. Combined with the Razorshape shape, gliding on hard slopes is excellent with perfect precision.

We just need to make a reservation that we are looking at all-terrain skis. Yes, they go well on hard slopes, but these are not sports skis or hard carvers. And even with a considerable radius. Therefore, you should not expect from them the same fast and accurate edging as, for example, from the Fischer RC4. But the functions of the Pro MTN station wagon are performed perfectly. A good pop-up toe and dual rocker at the tip and heel make them versatile and trail-ready.

In terms of popularity, Pro MTN 80 and 86 have equal chances - Pro MTN 80 is the most dynamic model, and a little softer, and Pro MTN 86 is a little tougher, but more passable version. Pro MTN 95 lags behind in terms of popularity due to its width and dimensions. These skis turned out to be quite rigid, and users are simply afraid of such models and choose more flexible skis, judiciously assessing their strength.

In general, the logic behind the production of such skis is clear - carvers are becoming increasingly wider, trying to add versatility, and piste all-rounders are also wide with the expectation that you can go off-piste into virgin soil. In general, this can be done, but given the stiffness of the skis, it will not be possible to fully ski on fresh, deep snow. In order for the Pro MTN 95 Ti to float up normally, you will need to overclock very hard. Still, for virgin lands there are other skis and even other all-rounders, which we will talk about later.

Fischer Pro MTN 74, 77, 80 and 80 Ti

In the second part of the Pro MTN series, we included models equipped with a platform with fastenings.

The next skis in the line are the Pro MTN 80. These are still the same 80 Ti, only without the titanium reinforcement. They are much softer, they walk better on soft and loose snow, but at the same time they hold worse on a hard slope.

Pro MTN 77 is one of the all-rounders for beginners and relaxed skiing for inexperienced skiers. Without carbon tips and tails, you don't need to put any effort into steering the ski, resulting in minimal stress on your legs and no fatigue at the end of the skiing day.

There is also the lowest, simplest model - Pro MTN 74. Basic skis in the line, which are suitable only for training. They probably won’t be enough for more.

If you go back a little and look at the entire Pro MTN series, you can see that the line looks a little uncoordinated in design, but in terms of its driving characteristics it is very smooth and you can easily choose a model exactly according to your requirements.

Fischer Ranger alpine skis in the 2017-2018 season

If throughout the entire article we went from top to bottom from top models to bottom ones, then here we would like to do the opposite. The reason for this is very simple. Logically, next we should talk about freeride, but with Fischer a very interesting and rather rare situation has arisen, when off-piste station wagons very harmoniously and smoothly transition into freeride, which is why we are starting with the “lower” models.

The narrowest and softest of the entire series. There's a lightweight wood core, but no titanium or carbon. Of the entire series, Ranger 85 has the smallest radius - 17 meters. Which, in fact, is the norm for this class of skis. It should also be noted that there is a full-fledged Freeski rocker, which ensures the floating of the toe. At the same time, everything has easy control and low weight of the skis. When skiing on a soft or broken slope, this will matter, since fatigue still accumulates much faster on heavy skis.

With the Ranger 90, serious skis begin, the main purpose of which is to help the skier go everywhere, no matter what jungle he gets into. Here we see a titanium-reinforced core and carbon toe, which while maintaining rigidity is reduced in weight. The Aeroshape tip shape, which is used on all Ranger series skis, also helps greatly in reducing weight, making their shape more streamlined.

The Ranger 90 must be driven both on a hard slope and on a soft, broken one. But if you take the wider Ranger 98, then you can try to drive into virgin lands.

Fischer Ranger 98

Perhaps one of the best all-round skis on the market. According to the results of tests conducted by several foreign publications, in the category “All-mountain skis with a waist of 90-99 mm”, the Ranger 98 has been taking first place for several seasons now, and this says a lot, because skis from all well-known and little-known brands participate in them.

For her, everything that was said about the Ranger 90 is relevant: a wooden core with titanium, carbon socks, an aerodynamic shape and low weight. Moreover, if we talk about weight, skis of the Ranger series are often used with ski touring bindings, precisely because they can not only climb up, but also fully roll out snow fields, even if they turn out to be hard in places and it will be necessary to dig in into an icy coating. A double rocker on the tip and tail helps the ski float, plus a reduced deflection in the middle of the ski, which provides clear grip on the slope and good handling on different snow surfaces. The ski runs very stable, regardless of speed.

The problem with most off-piste all-rounders is that in one ski you need to combine sufficient rigidity for stable skiing on hard surfaces and plasticity for soft areas and virgin snow. The Ranger 98 Ti comes as close to perfect balance as possible.

Fischer Ranger 108 Ti

Here the off-piste component is even more pronounced, while it must be admitted that the on-piste component of versatility is reduced. This is not to say that you can’t drive a 108 on a wasted slope, but it’s definitely not a carver. The Ranger 108 features the same technologies found in the Ranger 90 and 98. And many of them come from ski touring, where weight is a major concern.

The 108mm waist is considered a freeride classic, and in this “ideal” waist width Fischer has tried to combine everything in an attempt to make the most versatile ski possible. How this turned out is a matter of opinion, but most test riders and users are delighted, saying that the skis perform well in a fairly wide range of skiing conditions.

Tester Brian Lindahl hits the slopes of Breckenridge on the 2016/17 Fischer Ranger 108 Ti skis © Grayson Tamberi, blistergearreview.com

Fischer Ranger 115 XTi

A full-fledged freeride ski, and quite a serious one at that, a completely redesigned ski compared to previous seasons. So, before us, the Ranger is a sandwich, a wooden core, carbon on the toe, a directional ski structure, an aerodynamic Aeroshape and much more that is inherent in the Ranger series. 115 - correct, freeride waist 115 mm wide. XTi - here is the main feature and novelty, double titanal in reinforcement. The ski turned out to be very hard. In order for it to float and work, despite the Freeski rocker, it needs to be accelerated... Accelerated strongly. Apparently, the calculation is that it will be rolled out by serious riders on serious slopes. But there is a buyer for any ski, although the freeride Fischer of previous generations looks more interesting from the point of view of consumer demand.

Fischer Nightstick park twin tips

It must be admitted that the park Fischer has never been in favor with riders, but according to test results, it occupies quite high positions. What is it connected with? Perhaps, with the quality and range of technologies that Fischer has grown very much recently, winning its customers and admirers.

Fischer women's alpine skis in the 2017-2018 season

The women's collection has undergone quite big changes and expanded greatly. Now it has a single beginning in the name of the model in the form of the word “My” (my/my/mine). Further, the name of the model mostly corresponds to one of the series of unisex skis.

Similar to the unisex model described above. Apart from the design, there are no differences to be found. If in the unisex version these are far from the top-end skis, then in the women's line Curv Allride is the top model, which is suitable for skiers with an expert level of skiing. It is characterized by absolutely all the features and performance characteristics of the Curv series skis. During the tests, it was noted that despite the similarities, there are some differences from the men's ski in the direction of greater comfort for the female part of the skiers, as it should be. Good skiers will appreciate My Curv Allride.

Fischer My Turn

The narrow waist piste carver series consists of 4 skis:

My Turn 74. Short radius carver with a 74mm waist. An older model, but without titanium reinforcement. At first you will think: "How so?". But this may be for the better. Although Titanal is applied in a thin layer, usually 0.5-0.8 mm thick, it is quite enough to increase the weight of the skis by a tangible figure. As an alternative, lightweight carbon stringers are used here, which make the ski stiffer without adding any noticeable weight to it. In all other respects, the design has all the signs of a good ski at a level slightly above average: a sandwich construction with side walls based on a lightweight Air Tec core and on-piste rocker. My Turn 74 is a good ski for active, above-intermediate skiers. Similar in purpose, only with an even narrower waist My Turn 68. The radius is even smaller - 12 meters. It turns out that this is a women's slalom ski of medium hardness. Don’t be scared by thinking that it is intended only for female athletes - this is the most common short-radius ski that even those who have just mastered the basics of parallel skiing can ride. My Turn 73- one of the beginner skis, from which you should not expect outstanding performance characteristics. In addition, they are endowed with a fairly large turning radius. These skis are suitable for learning and skiing in the mountains, but the radius is very large. My Turn 73 has one big plus - it's really light weight. And a very basic, simplest ski - My Turn 71. It is suitable, perhaps, only for completely inexperienced skiers or for the first steps in learning skiing techniques.

Fischer My MTN

As in the unisex part, so in the women’s part, station wagons are represented by the MTN series, respectively similar, but at the same time completely different:

"Older" model My MTN 84. Sandwich construction, lightweight Air Tec core. This is where all the similarities end. There are no layers of titanium or full carbon, but the skis are softer and more accessible to the fair sex. If we use all the reinforcements, we will get excessive rigidity for skiers, but in this version the My MTN 84 model turned out to be balanced and pleasant to ski. A full-fledged women's piste all-rounder that will hold on a hard slope, and on the soft All-Mountain surface the rocker will help to float up.

• Cold models have an A5 sliding surface - a universal cold base at t -2C and below (factory structure code C1-1)
• Models Plus, S-track, Zero have a sliding surface of 28 - a universal warm base at t -10 C and above (-5 C and above until the season 15-16). The factory structure code has not changed - P5-1
• 30 warm base light base on old, heavily moistened snow.

Fischer ski designs:

115 - universal design for well-prepared and icy trails, provides the best stability and control. The fulcrum points (peaks of the diagram) are sharp, located closer to the toe and heel of the ski. This arrangement increases the stability of the ski. Main disadvantages: “sticking” the ski and “burying” it in loose snow.

610 (61Q) - a universal design for well-prepared and soft trails. The support points are brought closer to the block, which makes the toe and tail of the ski softer. This design allows the ski not to “stick” or bury itself in loose snow. Main disadvantages: they “scour” on a hard road and when the equipment is deficient.

812 (81) - universal classic design

902 (90) - ski design for soft, poorly prepared, loose trails. Guarantees excellent gliding and confident repulsion in loose track conditions.

Fischer Speedmax. Skis differ from others in Cold Base Bonding technology - cold gluing of plastic. So the plastic does not deform due to temperature changes (does not move in waves), does not change its structure, glides better, and absorbs lubricant better. With this technology, the ski requires less grinding and the sliding surface remains thicker, which allows for more processing during use.

Ski weight - 1030g. (186cm), ski profile 41-44-44.

There are 3 types of skates produced:

• Skate Cold (610/1Q)
• Skate Plus (610/1Q)
• Skate C-Special (610/1Q)

4 classic pairs:

• Classic Plus (902/9Q2)
• Classic Plus (812/8Q2)
• Classic Cold (812/8Q2)
• Zero+ (902/8Q2)

1 pair for doublepolling:

• Double Poling (DP)

Fischer Carbonlite- one of the lightest skis in the world. Their weight is only 980g. (186cm). Carbon toe and heel. Honeycomb core, the walls of the ski are made of honeycombs standing perpendicularly. This design gives more rigidity to the ski without adding weight.

There are 2 types of skates produced:

• Skate Cold (610/1Q)
• Skate H-Plus (115/15)

And 1 classic pair:

• Classic Plus (812/8Q2)

FischerR.C.S.- Plastics, structures and designs are the same as on the top models. The key difference is that the RCS is heavier than the top models. Their weight is 1090 g. (187/197cm)

1 pair of skates is produced:

• Skate Plus (115/15)

And 2 pairs of classic ones:

• Classic Plus (812/8Q2)
• Zero+ (902/9Q2)

FischerRCR- skis for active lovers. Perfect for lovers of ski marathons who run for fun, not for results. The sliding surface is the same WC Plus as on the RCS, Carbonlite, but the skis themselves are a little heavier - 1190 g. A new universal Plus structure has been applied at -10 and warmer. Ski design only 115.

• RCR Skate - 1190 gr. (115)

Models SCS, CRS, SC

Fischer SCS skis and below are intended for amateur “weekend” skiing. All 115 have a design that is more stable and comfortable for a person with poor technique. The sliding surface is made of lower quality plastic. Also, these skis are much heavier than the top models:

• SCS - 1270 gr.
• CRS - 1320 gr.
• SC - 1360 gr.

Fischer LS (low segment)- initial model of skis. The core is entirely made of wood with air channels. From the 17/18 season the skis will be produced with and without the IFP platform.

Fischer TwinSkin- a series of classic skis that do not require holding ointment. A special mohair casing is inserted into the last, which clings to the snow in one direction and does not interfere with sliding in the other.

There are 3 options:

• TwinSkin Carbon - 1080 g, (design 902/9Q2)
• TwinSkin Race - 1190 g, (design 812/8Q2)
• TwinSkin Pro - 1330 g.

The difference, as usual, is in the glide and weight; there are differences in the TwinSkin material. The Carbon skis feature a top-of-the-line WC Plus base, lightweight core and TwinSkin made from 100% mohair. Carbon also has a smaller last to improve glide, this will give an advantage to skiers with good technique. These skis can be used in winter classic marathons. Race and Pro are heavier skis with glides like those found on SCS models and below. The Pro version of TwinSkin consists of a mixture of mohair and man-made fibers. Race and Pro are best used only for training and walking.

Fischer Zero+

A special line of classic skis for difficult weather conditions - at temperatures around 0 degrees with differences from -3 to +3 degrees. The peculiarity of skis is that they do not require the application of holding ointments. The last area is made of a special material, the length of which can be adjusted. It is lengthened with fine sandpaper and shortened with paraffin. The model is perfect for spring marathons and loppets.

The line consists of 2 pairs. Both feature top-of-the-line sliding surfaces and 902/9Q2 construction. The only difference is the weight of the skis and the method of gluing the plastic.

• Speedmax Zero+ (1030 g, design 902/9Q2)
• RCS Zero+ (1090 g, design 902/9Q2)

STRUCTURES OF THE SLIDING SURFACE OF FISCHER SKIS

It is impossible to reproduce the same metal grinder on two different machines. It must be the same stone, the same diamond, the same water used for washing. This means that real Fischer structures can only be made at the Fischer factory, and at the moment this opportunity is only available to members of national teams competing at the World Cup. Structures P5-1 (universal warm, formerly P1-1) and C1-1 (universal cold) are applied to stock skis. They are also most often used by racers at the World Cup level. Highly specialized structures are less common.

• P10-1 for dry snow at temperatures below 0°C
• S1-1 all types of snow, including fresh, temperature below -5°C
• S3-1 for artificial snow, temperature below -5°C
• S8-1 narrower structure for artificial snow from 0°С...-10°С
• S12-1 any type of snow, -5°С...-15°С
• P1-1 temperature +3°С...-5°С, fresh snow
• P3-1 structure for fresh snow, for temperatures above 0°C
• R3-2 on old wet snow
• R3-3 watery snow, from +5°С and above
• P5-0 dry fine snow from 0°С...-5°С
• R5-9 structure for classic skis on old wet snow, temperatures from 0°C and above
• TZ1-1 structure for fresh snow at temperatures below 0°C
• P5-1 universal structure for temperatures from +5°С...-10°С, any type of snow
• P22-6 transitional structure for any type of snow, temperature from +5°С...-5°С

HARDNESS INDEX FA, HR, SVZ

HR-gap in millimeters, which remains after pressing the ski with half the weight of the average skier. The load is applied to the ski 7 cm below the balance point. The remaining gap is HR. Simply put, this is the stiffness of the tips and tails of the ski.

SVZ- a characteristic showing how much the ski differs from the ideal ratio of HR and FA. The value is used in production to check the quality of pairing skis. When choosing a pair of skis for yourself, the indicator does not matter.

Hardness index F.A.- this is the maximum load, measured in kilograms, applied 7 cm below the balance point, compressing the ski to a gap of 0.2 millimeters (the thickness of the ointment layer).

For each athlete’s weight, depending on qualifications, technical features and track conditions, there is a fairly wide range of stiffness index with a spread of ten units.

optimal selection for skating: skier weight + 15 - 25%. 15% for soft track. 25% for hard.

optimal selection for the classic move: weight/2.

The index is indicated in the production barcode and on the sidewall of the ski - three digits located at a small interval from the serial number. (for models of the 15/16 season, the index is indicated on a separate sticker, 17/18 - on a common production sticker).

The serial number of the pair is indicated on the side of the ski (picture below):

202/1353513931 043

202 — ski length in cm

13 — year of manufacture (2013)

5 — hardness (4 — soft, 5 — medium, 6 — stiff)

35 — serial number of the week of release from the beginning of the calendar year

13931 - ski serial number

043 — hardness index (FA)

For skis of the 17-18 season, the selection is carried out according to this table:

The top segment of skis is produced only in Austria (from RCR to Speedmax), juniors Speedmax and Carbonlite. Austrian skis say “Made in Austria”. Ukrainian skis have “Austria” written on them.

Sports workshop skis and pre-order.

There are 2 myths. The first is spread by manufacturers: there is no sports shop, regular stores sell the same skis that win at the highest level. The second myth (closer to the truth) is spread by sellers: there is a sports shop. This is how skis “from a collection” appear, designed for 100 kg of an athlete, or pre-order offers when workshop skis will be “made” directly for you.

Fischer certainly has a racing department. Individual changes during the production of skis are made to the design at the request of the racers. But this only applies to the world's elite racers. The label of workshop skis contains more information for selection, and servicemen know from year to year which skis a particular athlete uses. But in any case, all other things being equal, they have to roll their skis back every time, and only tests on snow can show which pair of skis works in this weather, in this place. Workshop skis that do not pass the tests will certainly end up in stock. Who will sell a perfectly working pair with a large residual life (and not a “standing” pair that has been sanded and burned many times)???

Pre-ordered skis - selection from stock to suit your parameters; individual production is out of the question. Exactly the same as in the store, just selected. There will be a special sticker on the skis on which you can see all the measurement indicators skis, not just FA.

Fischer skis occupy a leading position in the global market. They are popular in Russia and other CIS countries. The devices are distinguished by high quality, the use of the latest materials, and also a considerable price. They are used by leading athletes and amateurs actively involved in skiing.

About the manufacturer

The Fischer company was founded back in 1924 by the then little-known carpenter Josef Fischer. The first production workshop was erected in the city of Ried (Austria). At first, the company produced various carpentry products. Fischer cross-country and alpine skiing began to be produced only in 1934. Now the corporation occupies a leading position in the manufacture of relevant products in the world.

On the domestic market, professional samples of this brand are also a priority. In addition, the company produces ski poles, boots, special clothing and sports accessories. The main product line consists of training, amateur, racing and alpine skis.

Marking

Designations are placed on the toe of the skis and on their side surface. In the first case it is two digits. One of them indicates the type of sliding surface. The cold type is marked with the symbol A5, and the warm type - 28. The second marker indicates the design features. Fischer 610 (610Q) skis are aimed at soft, prepared pistes. The option with index 115 (1Q) is intended for hard and icy areas. A number of numbers are also printed on the side surface. The first of them indicates the height group in centimeters, the second - the year of production. The next number indicates the hardness (can be 6, 5 or 4 - stiff/medium/hard). The next five digits correspond to the batch number, and the last index is the hardness indicator.

Peculiarities

The range of thermal loads that Fischer skis have is divided into two categories, namely:

• Cold type is intended for use at temperatures below -5 degrees Celsius.
• Warm class (Plus) is designed for operation at higher temperatures.

In fact, the second type is considered more universal. The devices have a soft base, which makes it possible to achieve optimal gliding on soft tracks with high humidity. In severe weather, they can be adjusted by rubbing with paraffin or special knurling. Cold analogues will glide worse on soft snow, and at frost below five degrees this figure is almost the same.

Fischer alpine skis

The Speedmax model is a high-level professional model. The most famous skiers perform on this modification. This series includes skating and classic variations. In the first case, the devices are equipped with a characteristic cutout in the toe of the ski, which reduces the weight of the model.

They are equipped with a special carbon core and processed using cold sticker technology for the sliding part. To do this, the base is first made in a molding oven at temperatures above 100 degrees, and then the working surface is attached at room temperature. This improves gliding, regardless of weather conditions. The mass of such a pair is 1.02 kilograms with a length of 1.86 meters.

• Alpine skis Fischer Carbonlite. They differ from the previous series in the lightweight Air Core Carbonlite system and production technology. The product is completely manufactured in an oven. With a pair length of 186 centimeters, its weight is 0.97 kg.
• The RCS modification is the previous version without the toe hole. The use of laminated elements and fiberglass in the design means that the product weighs 1.08 kg with a standard length (186 cm).

Training copies

This category is classified as a series for training runs by professional skiers and amateur skiers with extensive experience. Skate-type options and Fischer Classic skis are available. Simpler and cheaper materials are used in production. The manufacturing scheme is identical to the elite variations. This combination allows us to guarantee high performance parameters at a lower price.

For example, the Fisher modification (SCS) has a universal structure designed for different climatic conditions. Reinforced edges provide high directional stability, and additional inserts on the heels and toes increase the service life and rigidity of the product. Additionally, a core is used, consisting of a material containing volcanic basalt elements. The weight of the pair with a length of 1.87 meters is 1.27 kilograms.

Another modification for training, “Fisher” (CRS), is equipped with a universal design of the sliding part, differs from the previous version in the presence of other materials, as well as in dimensions. Weight is 1.35 kilograms, length - 187 centimeters.

Amateur and tourist options

In this class, Fisher skis are divided into skating, classic, children's and combined options. They are intended for use by beginner athletes, young skiers and other people who enjoy regular skiing on such a device. High-quality but simple components and materials are used in production. This approach ensures that the desired speed characteristics are preserved in combination with an acceptable price. Among the tourist options, the following modifications stand out:

• SC - the pair has a mass of 1.38 kilograms and a length of 1.87 meters.
• Fischer Sprint LS skis weigh 1.45 kg and are 187 centimeters long.

Consumer Feedback

Owners note a lot of advantages and minor disadvantages in the modifications under consideration. Users consider the advantages to be reliability, strength, excellent maneuverability and gliding. In addition, owners are satisfied with the external design, the ability to purchase similar additional accessories and a wide selection, depending on the purpose.

Among the disadvantages, amateurs and professionals note the high price, especially for professional models. However, they agree that quality remains high thanks to the use of productive technologies and high-quality components in manufacturing. Fischer cross-country skis, reviews of which are mostly positive, are rightfully the leaders in their class, both at the amateur and professional level.

Conclusion

Fisher skis have become very popular largely due to their top-end skis. They are designed for athletes of various levels and simply connoisseurs of this sport. It is worth noting that Fischer children's skis are identified by the name Junior.

They differ in size, but are perfect for training and moving young skiers on different snowy slopes. Despite the decent cost, the products in question are in demand all over the world. In addition, Fisher skis stand out among their closest competitors due to their combination of price and quality.

Hans HUBINGER:

THE SAME SKI CAN FIT A STRONG 70KG SKIER WITH GOOD TECHNIQUE

AND GOOD PHYSICAL DATA, AND A 90-KIG MAN WITH OVERWEIGHT AND MEDIOCREE TECHNIQUE.

AT THIS WAY, FOR BOTH THE FIRST AND THE SECOND, THIS WILL BE CLOSE TO THE IDEAL SKI.

HOW TO SEW THIS INFORMATION INTO A LABEL?

I visited the Fischer factory in Ried twice before this trip - in 1998 (see L.S. No. 10) and in 2006 (see L.S. No. 35). Each time we managed to bring back a lot of materials from these trips, and each time we managed to publish all these materials in one issue. This trip will be an exception, because we will not be able to publish everything that we managed to bring from Reed this summer in one issue. Therefore, we are publishing a smaller, but most relevant part now, in this issue, and you can get acquainted with the larger part in the next, January issue, in 2014.

This year, Fischer announced a new top-of-the-line Speedmax model, which is manufactured using the revolutionary new Cold Base Bonding technology. Naturally, I was interested in the opportunity to see for myself how this model is produced.

Let me remind you in a nutshell what is the traditional procedure for manufacturing any Fischer ski model (and not only Fischer): assembled in a special cassette, all the components of the future ski go into a press, where they are sintered/glued under high temperature and pressure, and a completely finished ski comes out of the press - after the oven it only has to undergo “cosmetic procedures” in the form of trimming, sanding and applying varnish. This technology has been developed not even for years, but for decades, and nothing fundamentally new has been introduced into it in recent years.

And now - Speedmax. A revolution, a breakthrough, a fundamentally new technological process, the essence of which is that the ski is assembled/glued/sintered in a press under the same high temperature and pressure, but... without a plastic sliding surface! And the plastic of the sliding surface is then cold glued to the finished ski. Thus, the plastic of the sliding surface is not exposed to high temperatures and pressure and, according to Fischer representatives, better retains its original properties: it absorbs lubricant better, is processed better, glides better...

Interesting? Yes! But where, where is the very area where this magic happens? Alas, in the workshop where the “marriage” takes place (From the author: let me use this term from the world of automobile assembly, where this is the name for the procedure for connecting a body and an engine on a conveyor), that is, the connection of an absolutely finished ski with the plastic of the sliding surface, we were not allowed. They say: secrets, no way for journalists to go there. But they showed us a completely finished, absolutely weightless Speedmax ski without a sliding surface. Here it is - in the hands of Fischer representative in Russia Elena Rodina (see top photo on page 82). When you hold this ski in your hands, it is very difficult to get rid of the feeling that all this is some kind of fantasy: you are holding in your hands what seems to be an almost finished ski, but it weighs nothing. It is clear that when the plastic of the sliding surface is glued to it, it will become heavier and become quite familiar in weight. But this feeling - when you hold in your hands an as yet “unshod” ski of the weight of a feather - is indescribable.

All female workers at the factory are dressed in branded Fischer workwear - comfortable and beautiful.
photo: Ivan Isaev

So, our interlocutor today is Hans Hubinger, head of the racing ski development department at Fischer. It was with him that we talked seven years ago (“L.S.” No. 35 for 2006), it was him who I asked seven years ago numerous questions about why the Fischer company is a leader in the market, and how it manages to maintain this leadership for so many years. Since then, to be honest, little has changed on the market, or rather, Fischer’s leadership has become even more noticeable, but we will talk about this in detail in the January issue of the magazine, but for now I ask Hans to answer our questions and the questions of our readers, given on the website before our trip to the factory in August 2013.

We spent one night “while passing through” in Salzburg, and in the morning we went out into the city for a run. That's when I took a photo of this now, in August, empty bike rack in front of the local college building. They say that during the school semester it is not so easy to find a free place for a bicycle.
photo: Ivan Isaev

While we were walking through the factory to the meeting room, we were discussing the issues of ski testing, so the first question to Hans Hubinger (by the way, from Elena Rodina) after I turned on the recorder turned out to be a continuation of our “corridor” dialogue:

- Why do Norwegians test skis so much in the fall on glaciers - does this really make any sense?

In principle, all our athletes receive skis in the fall. They test them in September and October on glaciers, as well as at the first stages of the World Cup, and if something is wrong, some skis do not fit, we then change these skis for them. At the same time, we try to take into account many of the individual needs of the racers: for example, an athlete has good technique and physical strength and can cope with grip even with a short block - we select hard skis for him. At the same time, he, being able to cope with such a short block, naturally begins to win in sliding. And someone needs a longer, softer last, more forgiving of technical flaws, and we try to select or make such skis for the racer - we meet such wishes. That is, we can make some individual changes to the design at the request of the riders. But this only applies to world elite racers; we cannot do this for every athlete.

In addition, if we return to the question of the advisability of autumn tests on a glacier... You see, for us it is not even so important to test skis on this autumn snow, as it is important to communicate with athletes in a calm, relaxed atmosphere, to be close to them, to collect their impressions from last season, see in which direction to go next. Because it’s one thing to communicate with them during the World Cup, World Championships and Olympics, and quite another thing on the glacier, when the season has not yet begun and no one is in a hurry.

Another thing that surprised me in Salzburg is the combined crossings/crossings across the street for pedestrians/cyclists. There are so many cyclists on the streets of Salzburg that together with pedestrians on the same zebra crossing it would be crowded for them, and separate corridors are allocated for them at all crossings.
photo: Ivan Isaev

After Hans answered the “zero” question from Elena Rodina, we took out a printout with questions from the news announcement on the website dated August 13, 2013 and explained to Hans that these were questions from our readers.

Well, let's see what interests Russian skiers.

So I ask Hans the first question:

Andrey Gruzdev:

Where can I make a grinding of P5-1 and C12-1? What kind of pitch on shop skis (name or code)?

We mainly use P5-1 and C1-1, including on production skis. And we apply these structures to “shop” skis because in World Cup races, elite athletes mainly use these structures. Of course, we have many special structures for narrower temperature ranges (for example, the C-12-1 mentioned by your reader), but nevertheless, it is the P5-1 and C1-1 that are most often used at the World Cup stages.

Malex:

I agree with the question below - where can you create (or update) Fisher structures?

I can tell you a “secret”: we realized that even within the company we cannot transfer into mass production the structures that we use in experimental production. It is impossible to reproduce the same metal grinder on two different machines. It is necessary not only to take into account certain technical parameters of this grinding stone, but you must also have the same stone, the same diamond, the same water used for washing. Racers and dealers often come to us with requests to reproduce this or that grind, but we always explain to everyone that it is literally impossible to reproduce the same pattern on two different cars. And then, let's not forget that this is still partly our know-how. That is, you need to understand that real Fischer structures can only be made at the Fischer factory, and at the moment this opportunity is available only to members of national teams competing at the World Cup stages.

Malex:

Can you tell us about the Fischer structures? The description that I came across on the Internet looks uninformative. Why did they change the standard (store) plus structure? It seems to me that she was very good. If you compare the new one with the old one, which one has what advantages?

The new P5-1 structure is more universal - the range of its use is shifted even more towards the plus side. At the same time, the old plus structure P1-1 continues to be successfully used by our racing department. But we noticed that in warm weather the P1-1 still has some kind of suction effect. And since we use only two types of skis in mass production - cold and warm - we would like these two types to cover the widest possible temperature range.

Andrey Pshenichnikov:

Tell us about the further development of the RCS Classic Zero line (in my area it is especially relevant).

- I’ll add on my own behalf to Andrey’s question: I heard that the range of use of Zero skis is now significantly expanding. How true is this?

Yes, it's true. When we started working on the Zero ski in the late 1980s, we may have made a slight mistake because we wanted to use it as a replacement for the Crown notched ski, a ski that was quite versatile and could be used in a relatively wide range of applications. range. But it turned out that, being indispensable in the near-zero zone, Zero skis still have a significantly narrower range of use. We looked at the statistics and saw that athletes use these skis extremely rarely - once, maybe twice a season, so rarely did the snow and temperature conditions suit them.

We began to think - how to expand the range of their application? The fact is that when using this model there is one danger: it occurs when there is high humidity, the temperature is about zero degrees, but at the same time in the shaded areas of the route it is slightly below zero. Under such conditions, there is always a possibility of freezing of the water that is on the surface of the ski and directly in the fibers. We began to think - what can be done in this situation? They began to look for other, more suitable materials for this purpose for the block area. In addition, we turned to representatives of lubricant manufacturing companies with a request to find lubricant options for Zero skis under the block: we needed an ointment that would prevent moisture from penetrating into the space between the fibers and would prevent water there from turning into ice. And ointment manufacturing companies responded, such lubricants appeared, and the possibility of using them helped us expand the range of application of these skis towards a slight minus. On the other hand, tests have shown that in warmer, above-zero weather, when klisters are typically used, these skis can also be used instead of traditional wax skis. That is, as you can see, these skis turned out to be possible to use in positive weather.

Marit Bjorgen is one of the most successful sports “projects” of the Fischer company. Perhaps only the legendary eight-time Olympic champion Bjorn Daly was more successful. Since the last World Championships in Val di Fiemme in 2013, Marit has brought four gold and one silver medal (out of a possible six) for Fischer and Norway.
photo: Reuters

Another important circumstance was the fact that we now began to use two different materials for the pad - more aggressive in the middle of the pad, and less aggressive at the edges. Now that you have determined the last on a specific pair of skis for a specific rider with his weight, you can fix the last you need on these skis by waxing the “extra” pieces of it, consisting of non-aggressive plastic. On the other hand, in case of unsteady grip, these “extra” areas of non-aggressive plastic under the block can be sanded and used for holding rather than sliding.

- Are Zero skis harder or softer than standard skis?

Softer. Regular skis need to be stiffer, because you also need room for several layers of wax. But there is no ointment here.

- Still, I would like to hear some specific information: what is the current current temperature range for using these skis - plus or minus half a degree, one degree, two degrees?

With high humidity (and therefore a low probability of ice formation), these skis can be used at fairly low temperatures, down to minus three and even minus five degrees. For example, at the 2011 World Championships in Oslo, where the sea is close and there is always high humidity and fog, these skis worked even at minus three to five degrees.

In low humidity and sub-zero temperatures you are less likely to use these skis.

If we try to give a universal recipe for using Zero skis, it would be as follows:

at sub-zero temperatures, these skis can be used down to minus three to five degrees, provided there is high humidity. When the humidity is low, your chances of using these skis are greatly reduced due to the high likelihood of ice forming under the pad. True, modern pad treatment products from leading lubricant manufacturers will help you reduce the severity of this problem;

in the near-zero zone at a temperature of plus/minus half a degree, these skis are ideal, and it is not so easy for them to find an alternative;

at above-zero temperatures, the probability of ice formation between the fibers becomes negligible, and in this sense, using these skis at a temperature of plus one, two, or three degrees seems ideal. Except for one “but”: the warmer it is, the more moisture appears in the ski track, the more suction the villi create. If you exercise, this will not be a problem for you. But in a race, this suction can play a negative role - you will lose to your competitors in gliding, and if the ski track is frankly damp, you will still need to look for an alternative to Zero skis in the form of skis with lubricant.

On the streets of Salzburg we came across a “floating” silver statue, with which passers-by threw coins into buckets; after that, the statue “came to life” and presented the donor with a memorial card with his image.
photo: Ivan Isaev

Bicycle parking in Salzburg is literally at every step.
photo: Ivan Isaev

- How far from zero to plus can you use these skis?

Temperature doesn't really matter much - we know conditions where these skis definitely won't perform at any temperature - on a hard, icy piste. Because the microvilli of the pad do not have the slightest chance of clinging to such a hard snow cover, almost ice. But fresh or, especially, falling snow at near-zero temperatures gives Zero skis a very good chance, since the use of liquid or semi-solid ointment in such weather is very likely to provide you with a stick.

Andrey Chernyshev:

Does plastic differ in its technical parameters on RCS and RS skis (carbon and non-carbon)?

- Let's add Speedmax skis to the list voiced by Andrey.

Initially, the sliding surface on all these types of skis is the same. True, Speedmax is a different story; their sliding surface is not exposed to high temperature and high pressure during the production process, and we consider this a significant advantage. But initially the material on Speedmax is the same.

In fact, modern trends in preparing skis for a race are such that the plastic of the sliding surface itself is no longer as important as it used to be. The structure applied to this plastic is much more important. Yes, the 11th base was not bad, it showed very good results on cold fresh snow, but, nevertheless, A5, in our opinion, works better. But, again, if you apply the wrong structure to any cold base, then there is no chance that such skis will work well. The 11th base worked well when a variety of hand knurling was common. But now the system of machine processing of skis has gone far ahead. We still let athletes try 11-base skis every year, but they don't use them.

Andrey Chernyshev:

How to distinguish skis made in Austria from Ukrainian or Belarusian or some other?

What prompted this question? Does this make any difference?

- In Russia, when people buy top models of skis, they want to be sure that these skis are made in Austria and not in Ukraine.

In principle, this is also a rather important story for us. The owners of the company have a long-standing principled position on this matter: all high-quality products, all top models, should be produced here in Austria. Currently, six top models are produced in Reed: Speedmax, Carbonlite, RCS, RCR, SCS and the junior Carbonlite Jr. model.

- How can you understand this by looking at the ski itself? Is there some kind of distinctive inscription, or perhaps part of the individual ski number?

Austrian skis say “Made in Austria”. On Ukrainian skis it is written “Austria” - it’s easy to distinguish.

The procedure for placing components in a cassette before sending the future ski to the press has remained unchanged for several decades...
photo: Fischer press service

But the high-precision, fully computerized press is new, it is only two years old. It allows you to set the technical parameters of skis with maximum accuracy and subsequently makes it possible to reproduce the characteristics of the most successful skis.
Now two fully assembled cassettes went inside the press.
photo: Fischer press service

Vladimir Smirnov:

I'm also interested in the markings (base, design, FA, HR, SVZ)...

Osipov Vladimir:

And I would join the question regarding stiffness designations and note the discrepancy between the FA calculations and the actual stiffness and measurements of skis on the “flexor”. There are some tables of “rigidity” circulating around Russia... in my opinion, amateur ones. For some time now, SOFT skating skis have not been supplied to Russia, at least it is difficult to find them, which is why athletes of small weights, especially tall young people with a small mass - young men, juniors, are missing out. This problem exists even in the country's national teams. A. Zavyalov’s explanations look unconvincing and are more like an attempt to justify the excessive rigidity of Fischer skate skis to the sports “market”.

We are saying that when selecting skis it is really very important to take into account a large number of parameters. On the one hand, in our tables we primarily rely on a person’s weight; on the other hand, there are many other parameters, for example, height - with the same weight you can use skis of different sizes. There are different levels of skiing - everyone knows that a person with good technique can, all other things being equal, take stiffer classic skis - they will roll better, and his good technique and good physical data will allow him to push normally on stiffer skis. And another athlete, all other things being equal, will not be able to cope with these skis. The FA stiffness selection table, which actually exists and can actually be found on the Internet, is just a general direction; you need to take into account many other parameters in the selection of skis, in addition to this FA. Therefore, for each weight there is a certain range of the stiffness index; this is not a specific unit with a spread of one or two points, but a fairly wide range with a spread of ten units.

- Can I ask a stupid question? Why is it still impossible to write stiffness on skis in kilograms, and not in these tricky FA?

We discussed this issue for a long time - writing kilograms or FA. But as we said, if a person comes to the store and sees kilograms on a ski that do not match his weight, he will not buy them. But in fact, depending on your skiing technique, these parameters may change - with good technique, you can and should take stiffer skis with more weight. And vice versa. In our opinion, for a person who understands the subject, the technical parameters (FA and HR) will give more information about the skis than just the weight in kilograms. The seller must know the technical characteristics of this ski and must be able to, in a conversation with the buyer, depending on his level of training and physical data, give him a recommendation on deviation in one direction or another.

- Okay, then tell me, what is FA anyway?

Hans takes a piece of paper and begins to draw.

Look, this is the balance of the ski, this is the point of application of force 7 centimeters from the balance point.

- Why 7 cm? ?

We consider that the rider applies maximum force to the ski at the ball of the foot, which is approximately 7 cm from the balance point.

So, the binding is at the balance point, but we apply pressure not at the balance point, but where the balls of the foot are located. We increase the pressure until the gap between the surface of the stand and the ski is 0.2 mm (the thickness of the ointment). Let's see how much weight needs to be applied to the ski to get this gap of 0.2 mm? For example, on a classic ski with a length of 207 cm, we need to apply a force of 42-43 kg so that there is a gap of 0.2 mm under the block. This is the FA value. Because in order to completely crush this ski, to select this gap of 0.2 mm, this particular ski needs to be given an additional load of another 5-6 kg above these 42-43. Now is it clear how FA differs from the weight required to completely crush the ski?

There are two more parameters that are written on racing skis: HR - stiffness, and SVZ.

HR is a weight fixed for each size with which we apply pressure to the ski during testing. For example, for a height of 207 cm, our fixed weight is 32.5 kg. That is, we influence each size with our own separate weight, but inside the size, the weight with which all skis are affected is the same. Ideally, of course, I would like to take the weight of each individual person and, with half of his weight, influence the ski he selects. But it is clear that you cannot bring every buyer to Austria, so when selecting skis in the racing department, we use these two parameters - FA and HR, since this allows us to select skis more accurately.

- That is, HR is the amount of residual deflection after the ski is exposed to a standard weight fixed for this size?

Absolutely right. FA is the maximum load up to a clearance of 0.2 millimeters, measured in kilograms, and HR is the residual deflection after applying the standard weight for this size to the ski, measured in millimeters. At FA we measure the pressure (the weight with which we press on the ski), and when we receive HR we measure the remaining clearance.

I ask Hans to draw the weights that are applied to certain ski sizes. Hans draws these ranges in the upper left corner and explains:

The difference between sizes 207 cm and 202 cm is 2.5 kg. But between 202 and 197 the difference is no longer 2.5, but 5 kg. This is due to the fact that 202, as we believe, is usually still a men's ski, and 197 is already a women's ski.

- What is SVZ?

This is a characteristic that shows how much the ski deviates from the ideal straight line.

- And how is it measured - in millimeters, microns?

This is not so important - this is, in fact, our internal indicator of quality, which has nothing to do with the performance of the skis. This indicator helps us to reject low-quality skis, nothing more.

I tell Hans that we will publish his drawing in the magazine and ask him to sign it in the upper right corner. Everyone present laughs.

Do you want to make Picasso out of me? - Hans grumbles with a smile, but still signs the drawing.

Drawing by Hans. In the upper corner are the values ​​of fixed loads applied to certain ski sizes; on the right is a handwritten signature.

- Let's try to answer the question about Soft skis...

Here your reader is right - several years ago we stopped producing skate skis in Soft hardness, but nevertheless, Medium hardness has a certain range in which you can find both softer and harder skis. You also need to understand that usually when choosing skate skis, the buyer often goes in the direction of the stiffer ones, because it is believed that such skis glide better.

But if we talk about classic skis, then the average consumer, on the contrary, often goes in the direction of softer skis in order to ensure a reliable grip. Maybe he will lose a little when using such skis in gliding, but in the classics, grip is still the most important thing, because it is this aspect, and not gliding, that ensures comfortable skiing with this style. In skating skiing, it is important that the ski is something like a springboard, a catapult, so that there is not full contact between the ski and the snow, but in classic skiing you definitely need full contact. Therefore, we retained the Soft stiffness in classic skis, abandoning it in skate skis.

- Question a little aside: what, in your opinion, is most important in the sliding of a ski: the deflection (diagram) of the ski, the structure of the ski or lubrication? 15 years ago, the first Russian world champion in ski orienteering, Ivan Kuzmin, wrote on the pages of our magazine: “... it is generally accepted that the weight deflection of a ski determines 60% of the sliding properties of the ski, 20% is determined by the material and structure, and only the last 20% is determined by lubrication skis..." To what extent, in your opinion, does this proportion correspond to reality? ?

Gliding isn't everything. If you just slide down a hill at speed, then that’s one thing. If we are talking about the work of skis, then this is completely different. For gliding, I can take alpine skis and the main thing there is the structure and ointment, the diagram of the ski fades into the background. And in order to move not only down, but also up, alpine skiing is not suitable for me, I need cross-country skiing, and there I need a completely different set of characteristics and working properties.

- And yet, this is important to us - how correct, in your opinion, is this statement?

This question is not easy to answer. If any of these three parameters does not work, then there will be no result in any case. That is, if you have chosen a good pair of skis for yourself, but have not guessed correctly with the structure or lubrication, you still will not get good skis; you will not have a chance in the fight against competitors. That is, in fact, I do not have a universal answer to your question. But, since you still insist on an answer, I can say that on the whole I like these numbers, the proportion you give is similar to the truth. Because I deal with these sixty percent, I also deal with these twenty percent, well, but these twenty percent (lubrication) are none of my business (laughs).

A completely finished Speedmax ski (but so far without a plastic sliding surface) in the hands of Fischer manager in Russia Elena Rodina. Believe me, this ski in this form is really lighter than a feather - absolutely weightless...
photo: Ivan Isaev

This is the NIS plate (its back side) that will soon be glued to the Fischer ski. As you can see, the plate has four spikes, which, when glued, will fit into four technological holes drilled in the ski with glue.
photo: Ivan Isaev

Reference skis, with the help of which the machine settings for pairing skis are checked from time to time. This machine was purchased by the factory five years ago, and since then the accuracy of pairing skis has increased quite noticeably - now skis with a weight difference of more than three kilograms cannot appear in one pair. But at Fischer they especially emphasized that mating with a spread of 3 kg is the most extreme case; they have no more than one such pair in a hundred. And the usual error during mating is no more than one or two kilograms.
photo: Ivan Isaev

What do you think is this glass box in front of the entrance to the workshop? Didn't you guess right? That's right, smoking room. Smokers cannot just stand and smoke on the territory of the factory (even on the street, outside the premises) - they are obliged to enter this glass “aquarium” and, after smoking, leave the cigarette butt there. I asked Fischer Racing Marketing Director Tanja Winterhalder how many people smoke in their factory? Tanya winced in response and, it seemed to me, answered a little guiltily:
- A lot, 10 or even 12 percent. But the process of parting with a cigarette is slowly but surely going on.
I thought and mentally asked myself - how many people smoke at some Russian enterprise in the outback? 40 percent? 50? 60? I think that this Austrian 10-12 percent for a purely provincial city in Austria is a very, very good indicator.
photo: Ivan Isaev

“Made in Austria” - this inscription is on all skis made in Austria. This is a sign of the Austrian origin of this product.
photo: Ivan Isaev

Walking past a garbage container, I saw an empty box of a 900-gram package of Swix paraffin wax. I asked - what is it? I was told that this particular paraffin is used for the basic treatment of Fischer skis. As you can see, this is “Swix” LF8 ointment for a temperature range of +1 – 4 degrees.
photo: Ivan Isaev

This is Max Buttinger's finger. He shows us the skid plastic used on six of Fischer's top ski models. True, out of caution, Max still covered up part of the identification code of the plastic (secrets, secrets everywhere!).
photo: Ivan Isaev

Maxim Churikov:

I have only one wish: to finally make clear the designation of skis by place of production, hardness, type of snow, structure, etc. So that anyone, taking skis in their hands, can immediately understand whether this pair is suitable for them or not? If it is difficult to print, then a program for reading and decoding the barcode should be freely available (on the Fischer website). It's the 21st century, and the shamanism around Fischer skis continues.

We have already discussed this. It is not enough to know two parameters in order to understand whether this ski is suitable for you or not, you need to take into account a lot of things, and it is quite difficult to “sew” this information into the label on the ski. The same ski can suit both a strong 70-kilogram skier with decent technique and good physical characteristics and a 90-kilogram overweight person with mediocre technique. Moreover, for both the first and the second it will be a close to ideal ski. How can I put this information on the label? That is, we return again and again to the question that it is impossible to perceive a ski solely by its weight characteristics. If we need an ordinary ski for wide sale to unassuming buyers, then we can write on the ski a range of 70 - 75 kg, and go ahead - buy everyone who weighs in this range. But in order to select a ski better, more precisely, it is still better to write more difficult, but it will be of higher quality and more objective information.

Let's take our racing department as an example: there is more information on the skis on the label, and servicemen know from year to year which skis a particular athlete is using. But in any case, all other things being equal, they have to ski every time on a specific day in a specific place on a specific snow in a specific weather, and only tests on the snow can show which pair of skis works in this weather. We can't write all this on skis because no one knows. I have been working in the Fischer racing department for many years, thousands, if not tens of thousands of pairs of skis have passed through my hands, I can roughly say about this or that pair of skis whether it will work or not, but still you have to try every pair.

- Ok, question aside from the topic of indices and rigidities. “Fischer” and Sochi - is there any intrigue here, or is this the same routine event for you as Salt Lake City 2002, Turin 2006, Vancouver 2010? Are you preparing something special for Sochi?

We were already in Sochi during the pre-Olympic week, and we had some experience. But it all depends on what the conditions will be during the Olympic year. For example, during the pre-Olympic week in 2009, we thought we had found some solutions, but the following year the weather conditions completely changed. We were in Sochi for about two weeks, we tested and tried a lot of things, we have certain ideas about what we might need there, because we have repeatedly participated in competitions in similar conditions - at high temperatures and high humidity, typical for this place. Of course, we will bring a large number of skis that performed well last season. But, without any doubt, we will take to Sochi not only what we tested, we will take there everything we have, because no one knows what exactly will work next year - what bases, what structures? In my life I have done a lot of testing and research in the snow and came to the conclusion that it is impossible to foresee anything, everything changes every time. It’s very good to have this experience, but relying on it alone still won’t work.

We talked

Elena RODINA and Ivan ISAEV,

Moscow - Reed - Moscow