Double Fall Lines: Love 'em or hate 'em?

[JimG.]

The fall line is from a point. if you look at it as being the line the ball takes from the top of the trail then every angle change indicates a new fall line and unless the trail is perfectly flat then you will have a very large number of fall lines.

This must explain Denton PA's famous triple fall line.

 

[eastcoastpowderhound]

The fall line is relative to the point you are talking about and in simple terms is the direction a ball would take from that spot. Again physics dictate that the ball will only go in on direction from any one point. I would like someone to show me the point where the ball will go 2 directions and thus give us a double fall line.

wow, talk about narrow in your scope here...:roll: Keep in mind we are referring to double fall line TRAILS. Okay, take that little piece of paper you've been using as a visable aid...still on the straight slope if you'd like, Fold it in half down the "pitch" so you've got a ^ shape, this is your TRAIL...tilt the a-frame shaped piece of paper up on an angle with the spine as the highest point...now imagine a ball on top of that...if it goes off to the right, it'll go one way, off to the left another, straight down the spine, a third...so there's your 2 directions and another for good measure.

 

[SkiDork]

the Gnarlier the better

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

i'v always noticed that highline has a rather pronounced double fall line.

Not really double fall lines but the hard left turns on some of the hunter trails are always tough in regards to trying to hold a line in the bumps. I think i tried all day last december on hellgate to maintain a line around the turn and wasnt able to do it.

twilight zone at magic has a nice double fall line.

The vast majority of the steeper trails at Magic are DFL, Both on Map glades, Parts of Redline, The upper part of lucifer, Witch, Blackline (whether or not that's really a trail is a point of contention).

I think Magic is where I first heard the term "Double Fall Line".

 

[tree_skier]

wow, talk about narrow in your scope here...:roll: Keep in mind we are referring to double fall line TRAILS. Okay, take that little piece of paper you've been using as a visable aid...still on the straight slope if you'd like, Fold it in half down the "pitch" so you've got a ^ shape, this is your TRAIL...tilt the a-frame shaped piece of paper up on an angle with the spine as the highest point...now imagine a ball on top of that...if it goes off to the right, it'll go one way, off to the left another, straight down the spine, a third...so there's your 2 directions and another for good measure.

So let me see if I have your perspective down.

Single fall line - no tilt to eaither side

Double fall line - tilts to one side

Triple fall line - tilts to one side then tils to the other further down

Quad fall line - tilts to one side then the other then back to the first

That does make alot of sense seeing how the only point that affects you skiing is the point that your skis are in contact with the snow, and at that point there is only one fall line.

 

[Greg]

That does make alot of sense seeing how the only point that affects you skiing is the point that your skis are in contact with the snow, and at that point there is only one fall line.

Which is constantly changing; unless of course you prefer to ski standing still...

Talk about overanalization! :roll:

 

[Dr Skimeister]

See if this explanation works.....

On a trail with a single fall line, if you were to allow your skis to run unchecked they would end up at the bottom/terminus of the trail.

On a trail with a double fall line, there is a better chance of skis running unchecked ending up in real estate lateral to the axis of the trail than at the terminus.

Next on "Ask the Ski Physicist"....Why does snot fall "up" when you're skiing?

 

[ctenidae]

See if this explanation works.....

On a trail with a single fall line, if you were to allow your skis to run unchecked they would end up at the bottom/terminus of the trail.

On a trail with a double fall line, there is a better chance of skis running unchecked ending up in real estate lateral to the axis of the trail than at the terminus.

Next on "Ask the Ski Physicist"....Why does snot fall "up" when you're skiing?

And on a triple fall line trail, if left to run unchecked you would end up back where you started.
Given, of course, that you reach 88 mph.

 

[prisnah]

I loved DFL's when this thread started, now I'm just sick of hearing about physics. I thought we were here to talk about skiing, not argue moot points. The only science I wanna listen to now is gravity and acceleration. Oh and maybe some frozen condensation. Who cares about the technical aspects, just ski it.

 

[eastcoastpowderhound]

I loved DFL's when this thread started, now I'm just sick of hearing about physics. I thought we were here to talk about skiing, not argue moot points. The only science I wanna listen to now is gravity and acceleration. Oh and maybe some frozen condensation. Who cares about the technical aspects, just ski it.

its september...we're bored at work, and we can't ski...whaddaya expect? At least we're not using a ski forum to talk about baseball and football like some of the others I've seen.

 

[prisnah]

its september...we're bored at work, and we can't ski...whaddaya expect?

I expect some Friday afternoon stoke.....please have it on my desk by close of business. ;-)

Wow i messed that quote up pretty bad.

 

[Phildozer]

I loved DFL's when this thread started, now I'm just sick of hearing about physics. I thought we were here to talk about skiing, not argue moot points. The only science I wanna listen to now is gravity and acceleration. Oh and maybe some frozen condensation. Who cares about the technical aspects, just ski it.

Some of us nerds love the physics of skiing.

 

[JimG.]

At least we're not using a ski forum to talk about baseball and football like some of the others I've seen.

Hey! Wait just a durned minute.

Don't get us all American sports fans involved in this science project.

 

[ctenidae]

Hey! Wait just a durned minute.

Don't get us all American sports fans involved in this science project.

Football and baseball? More like "Only" American sports fans, there.

 

[Marc]

Some of us nerds love the physics of skiing.

Except I haven't seen any physics being discussed in this thread as of yet.

 

[jack97]

Some of us nerds love the physics of skiing.

It's a great book :smash:

http://www.amazon.com/Physics-Skiin...5895615?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1190402053&sr=8-1

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I think they are awesome..Liftline at Castlerock is a great example along with the top of goat..and many other east coast classics..Any challenge is a good thing..especially here in the east since our terrain is on the flat side compared to out west..great pictures

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

What's it like to have skied every trail in the East?

ahahahahahahaha:smash::flame:

 

[riverc0il]

I like a good bottom turn, but I like the terrain to change thru the course of a run. DFL the whole way get's old.

I have come around to this line of thinking. A weird kink in the trail, weird angle on a turn, etc. is exciting but a double fall for a long period of time definitely gets old when the terrain is not changing. A long double fall often means that the trail isn't turning. I like trails that buck like a mule.