Patent ID: 7793969

Claim:
A ski comprising: a ski body having a first end and a second end; and a suspension system connected to the ski body so as to apply a vertical downward force to the first and second ends of the ski body, the suspension system comprising a spring applying the vertical downward force to at least one of said ends of the ski body, the spring being under compression when the ski is free of external forces, wherein the suspension system is configured to provide the ski with a spring rate that diminishes as the ski is flexed from a normal unloaded state or a predetermined state of deflection to a state of greater deflection, the suspension system further comprising a second spring applying a second vertical downward force to the other end of the ski body and a support structure that is attached to a longitudinally central area of the ski body, wherein the vertical downward forces applied to the first end and the second end of the ski body are different that one another, and wherein each of the vertical downward forces applied to the first end and the second end are at least partially determined by a fore/aft rotation of the support structure about a pitch axis relative to the ski body.