Which is faster, a snowboard or skis?

[tylerbrowner]

I would think that snow boards are faster because they have a much larger over all surface area so the weight distribution would be a lot better so there would be less friction. this would be of cores a perfect run with the same steepness and no imperfection and it would not be groomed.

[StringJunky]

I would think that snow boards are faster because they have a much larger over all surface area so the weight distribution would be a lot better so there would be less friction. this would be of cores a perfect run with the same steepness and no imperfection and it would not be groomed.

Snowboard is about 200 km/h and skis 250 km/h. There's less surface area over the length of skis in contact with the snow. One would think there was more pressure per area negating that advantage but that extra pressure creates more frictional heat in motion, melting the snow more and thus lubricating the skis better; you want to be 'floating' on a decent film of water for fastest speed. You want minimal cross-section at the front so you aren't pushing too much snow out the way to slow you down; think of the front of a boat with a sharp bow versus a blunter bow. Also, skiers can keep a straight line better because their centre of mass is between the skis and thus more stable; the more you weave to stay upright, the further you travel and the longer it takes to travel between two points hence slowing you down as well.

Edited December 28, 2014 by StringJunky