By User:AllieCashel @timeAndDate(1280866100)
Around the turn of the 20th century, a company by the name of Elan revolutionized the world of skiing. They proposed the creation of a curved ski, one that would make turning and stopping possible for more people than simply the athletically inclined. Their invention became known as the parabolic ski and over the next fifty years all companies began to mimic the curved creation. By about 1980, no straight skis were sold by major manufacturing companies at all. There were still a group of people, though, who wanted to hold on to this tradition, who liked the skill and athletic prowess that was needed to maneuver them. Although that group has decreased in numbers due to the fineyou may still be hanging on, too. If you are looking to buy straight skis, I imagine you've been running into some serious trouble recently. Maybe you're still on the set your Dad bought in the 50s or maybe you're just looking for the straightest ones you can find. Don't assume the worst of parabolic skis; there's a reason why they've become so popular, and I'm going to help explain it to you.
The Change
Recent Sidecuts
Vintage Skis
If you're even more stubborn than I expected, there are a few places where you can still buy vintage straight skis. They're mostly from the Quick Picks: Parabolic Skis
