Spectra & The Force Factor

When I string up a Spectra handle I make it 4' 9.5" long which is 1.5" short of actual.  The reason why is because the Spectra initially stretches with most male short line skiers stretching it out to 4' 11". My pro skiers stretch the Spectra 3"! That demonstrates the difference in force needed to get into 41' off.

55' versus 5'

While taking a handle order the other day, the skier said he wanted his handle strung up in polypro instead of the spectra because the spectra hurt his elbows; he did add that he is an older skier.  I am not disputing his experience, but would like to throw a few things out there for my skiers to think about.  The handle section is 5' long.  My spectra rope is 1/4" in diameter and since it is so strong I can string spectra handles up using 2 rope construction at the V to a single braid which means I only have 11' of rope in the handle section.  Using polypropylene rope I have to use 4 rope construction at the V to a double braid which means I have 19.5' of rope in the handle section.  Double thickness of rope makes the rope stiff alleviating stretch or give to the handle section.  In the polypro handles you not only have double thickness of rope, but also four thickness of rope in two different places, at the V and right after the loop.  My competitor uses 3/8" polypro rope in their handle sections.  I contend there is not a significant difference in 'give' between a 1/4" spectra 5' section with 11' of rope compared to a 3/8" polypro 5' section with 19.5' of rope.  That's why I use 5/16" rope to string up my polypro handles.  

Really what I think my skiers ought to consider is the 31' to 55' section of rope that they hook their slalom handle up to.  This length of rope has a much stronger bearing on how your elbows feel, your shoulders, your back, your neck.....polypropylene dries out and becomes stiff which makes skiing on old ropes hard on a skier's body.  Most skiers don't even realize just how long it has been since they got a new slalom mainline.   

Handle Measurements

If you bring your own handle to a tournament the measurements are different from those of a tournament-supplied handle per AWSA Official Tournament Rules.

2014 AWSA Rule Book

Note: For tournament-supplied handle sections, the bridle length shall be 150 cm 

 2.5 cm (4’11”  1”) the triangular portion of the bridle 28 cm ± 4 cm (11 ½ " ± 

1 ½" ), and the length of the handle 30cm ± 6 cm (11-13/16" ± 2-3/8") (see 

diagram). For skier-supplied handles in the Slalom and Jumping events, the 

tolerance on the bridal length shall be +2.5 cm/-10 cm (+1"/-4) with no tolerance 

on the triangular portion of the bridle. All measurements shall be from inside of 

handle to inside of loop (p. 93).

All measurements of tow lines shall be made under 20 kg (44 lbs.) tension for at 

least 30 seconds and shall be made between the following points, as applicable: 

 

1. The inside of that portion of the handle closest to the inside of the 

attaching loop; 

I ship my handles short of actual (1/4" Spectra 1.5" short and 5/16" Polypro .5" short) because with most of my skiers the handle section will stretch to the actual length of 4'11".  On skier supplied handles the tolerance is +1"/-4" or 5' to 4'7" with 44 pounds of tension.  A nice feature of my Spectra handle is that it is easy to make the handle section longer without needing a fid or untying the knot.  To see how:

Lengthening Spectra Handle

America 7 China 0

Recently a skier purchased an IN TOW slalom mainline and handle.  His previous rope and handle was an HO Accurate who gets their ropes and handles from China.  Buying an IN TOW slalom mainline and handle affected 7 different American companies:

1. Polypro Yarn
2. Polypro Rope
3. Spectra Rope
4. Handle Core Bar
5. Vinyl Sleeves
6. Caps
7. IN TOW

Benefits of Spectra Rope

 Why string up a handle in spectra rope instead of polypropylene rope?

• Superman Strength - 1/4" spectra rope has an average breaking point of 7000 lbs versus 3/8" polypro rope has an average breaking point of 1800 lbs.  Spectra provides skiers super strength at the most skier stressed spot of a handle...the rope around the grommets.

• Lightness Factor - An IN TOW Team 12" (1.03) strung up in 1/4" spectra rope with the short grey sleeves weighs 11.1 ounces compared to a Masterline Team 12" (1.03) strung up in 3/8" polypro rope with the short black sleeves weighs 13.1 ounces.  (Note:  IN TOW and Masterline handle core bars are exactly the same purchased from a U.S. manufacturer).

• Precision Measurement - With spectra rope a skier can fine tune the length of the handle without a fid and without untying any knots providing slalom skiers as much length as possible.

• Durability - Nick Parsons states, "I like the spectra rope because of durability and thickness.  My spectra handles don't fray and last longer".

• Extra Length - Freddie Winter states, "I like the thin rope because it gives me a little extra length when tied to a tournament line".  The loop of a handle strung up in 1/4" spectra rope is a single thickness while a handle strung up in 3/8" polypro rope is a double thickness.  These handles will measure the same by themselves, but when connected to the slalom mainline the spectra handle gains an extra inch over the thicker polypro rope.  

Nick Parson's Elbow Issues

Nick had always used a straight handle, Team 13" (.970), strung up rope exposed around the grommet in spectra rope with tubing on the V.  In 2012 he had me string up a bent handle because he had started having elbow issues; his ski partner, Chris Rossi, skis with a bent handle.  Then last season Nick wanted to try a Team 13" Bent handle in two different sizes, (1.03) and (1.06), strung up in the Anti-Roll System (ARS) with endcaps in polypro rope.  He ended up liking the (1.06) diameter.

For the start of the 2014 ski season, Nick will be skiing with a Team 13" (1.06) Bent handle strung up rope exposed around the grommet with spectra rope in the Anti-Roll System (ARS) with orange Xtreme tape (he doesn't like the tubing).  This 2014 Nick Parson's In Tow Handle is a combination of the things he liked about his rope exposed spectra handle and his ARS handle.

I asked Nick some questions about his elbow pain...bent handle...diameter sizes...ARS:

When I started to use clinchers I went to the bigger diameter handle. If I went back to normal gloves I'd go back to the narrow handle so it would fit in my fingers better.

When I switched to the bent handle it helped my elbows almost instantly. I recommend the bent handle all the time to people with sore elbows.

The ARS was just something new I wanted to try. I ski with Chris Rossi a lot and he had an ARS and liked it so I thought I'd try it.  I'm not sure if it helped my elbows.  I do like the ARS after using it most of the summer. If you could make it with spectra that would be the all time best handle!

I didn't notice any elbow pain difference with diameter. The elbow pain relief came from the bent handle only in my opinion. 

Head Guard Protection

The patent pending cross bar design by In Tow utilizes Lexan 1/4" x 3/8" rigid clear tubing.  This tubing is virtually unbreakable with excellent UV resistance and impact strength.  It is placed three inches from the handle.  I just mailed one out today to a skier so I should be getting feedback soon.

                            Brenda