Small / larger contact patch

(sorry Bill, back to tyres):

If weight is a constant, surely having more weight in one spot will offer no more friction than less weight but over a greater surface area. I'm trying to imagine pushing something heavy on ice. Is it harder to get the initial movement with less surface area?

Maybe skis can tell us something. Longer skis (more surface area) are quicker.

Does that tell us anything?

it tells me that ski analogies are confusing.