Can you tell that I get cranky when I'm tired?
It is interesting to see this thread literally take off.
over 3 pages in less than 20 hours. Many page views. Perhaps there is demand for tighter slalom than "slalom".
I do think that there is a biomechanical relationship here in cone width spacing, pitch of the hill, and wheelbase- to optimize the set up for maximum speed and CPS. And I am talking about a technical course not just straights.
You'll note that many racers are within 100ths or tenths of each other for a relatively long course.
Because we are rolling and not climbing- fat percentage, and body type don't really play in much. You'll see a Well fed practiced Arab to extremely well against a Lean Michael Breem. The power to weight ratio for human muscle tissue is likely very consistent. Having better power to weight ratio is achieveable and desireable- but who wants to work that hard
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So our power to weight ratio is pretty much equal.
So now on to Transmissions. The Tranny is the wheelbase and truck geometry of the deck as well as the flex of the deck that translates our upper body movement into forces that turn our wheels with each pump.
Clearly it is important to have the right gearing to be successful in a race- especially if the power to weight ratios are similar.
The wheels are our tires and we - for the last season have mostly been running on Avalons so this is pretty equivalent. if not we were using laCostas or stingers. And of course Flashbacks as well.
So we are seeing development in the transmissions the most active at this time. truck manufacturers and Deck manufacturers.
It is all so interesting. And really so much like car Racing that I have dubbed the sport- poor man's formula one-
I'm offline for a while as I also try to head to ECES- but I do need a ride in a snow worthy car. Anytakers?- I'm covering gas and tolls and lunch for the way up there.
I would like to go up any time after Tuesday afternoon, Wednesday is good also.
Email me a private message through slalomskateboarder.com as my yahoo email is always full.