boot rocker?

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lilcliffy
Posts: 4112
Joined: Thu Jan 01, 2015 6:20 pm
Location: Stanley, New Brunswick, Canada
Ski style: backcountry Nordic ski touring
Favorite Skis: Asnes Ingstad, Combat Nato, Amundsen, Rabb 68; Altai Kom
Favorite boots: Alpina Alaska BC; Lundhags Expedition; Alfa Skaget XP; Scarpa T4
Occupation: Forestry Professional
Instructor at Maritime College of Forest Technology
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boot rocker?

Post by lilcliffy » Sat Feb 09, 2019 2:37 pm

The Alpina Alaska BC boot has a rockered sole:
20190209_095719.jpg
It is rockered like a modern hiking/backpacking boot- like my Scarpa Kinesis backpacking boot:
kinesis1.jpg
It is the only ski boot I have ever seen with a rockered sole.
All of my other NNN-BC boots have a completely flat sole- including:
- Alfa Guard Advance
- Crispi Svartisen BC
- Fischer BCX6
- Rossignol BCX6

Here are some photos of a few of them for comparison:
20190209_095652.jpg
20190209_095659.jpg
20190209_095729.jpg
The Guard Advance is completely flat, the Svartisen BC has a very slight rocker.
The Rossi and Fischer BCX6s that I own have completely flat outsoles.

So- question- what do you think the effect is of that rockered sole? I have sole thoughts- wondering what others think...

I know one thing- unweighted, the Alaska sits with the highest heel off the ski:
P1020315.JPG
The Alaska BC also engages the flexor earlier than the other boots...

The Alaska BC also has the stiffest sole of all of these boots- by far...

What do you think? Does the sole rocker produce performance that is unique to the Alaska? OR- is the difference only in the stiffer sole flex of the Alaska BC?

BTW- I did not include any NN-75mm boots in this comparison because I have never seen nor heard of a 75mm boot with a rockered outsole.
Cross-country AND down-hill skiing in the backcountry.
Unashamed to be a "cross-country type" and love skiing down-hill.

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bgregoire
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Ski style: Nordic backcountry touring with lots of turns
Favorite Skis: Fisher E99 & Boundless (98), Åsnes Ingstad, K2 Wayback 88
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Re: boot rocker?

Post by bgregoire » Sat Feb 09, 2019 2:43 pm

LC, What a special way or presenting your new pair of Alfa Guards to the world! lol

I am looking forward to your report, and more pictures of them!

I've noticed the "rocker" on my older Alpina Alaskas too but had assumed it was because they were well used and had been stretched by the glued on supergaiters that cover them.

By the way, all the plastic shell tele boots I own have significant "rocker" at the duckbill.
I live for the Telemark arc....The feeeeeeel.....I ski miles to get to a place where there is guaranteed snow to do the deal....TM



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Cannatonic
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Re: boot rocker?

Post by Cannatonic » Sat Feb 09, 2019 2:56 pm

mmmmmm.....those Alfa boots do like nice!!
"All wisdom is to be gained through suffering"
-Will Lange (quoting Inuit chieftan)



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lilcliffy
Posts: 4112
Joined: Thu Jan 01, 2015 6:20 pm
Location: Stanley, New Brunswick, Canada
Ski style: backcountry Nordic ski touring
Favorite Skis: Asnes Ingstad, Combat Nato, Amundsen, Rabb 68; Altai Kom
Favorite boots: Alpina Alaska BC; Lundhags Expedition; Alfa Skaget XP; Scarpa T4
Occupation: Forestry Professional
Instructor at Maritime College of Forest Technology
Husband, father, farmer and logger

Re: boot rocker?

Post by lilcliffy » Sat Feb 09, 2019 3:00 pm

The only plastic 75mm boots I own is a pair of Scarpa T4s- older gen. They have a very slight rocker right at the duckbill. Much less than the Alaska in terms of both height and length.

BTW- all of the Alaska BCs I have seen have this rockered sole- including the brand new set my close friend just bought.
Cross-country AND down-hill skiing in the backcountry.
Unashamed to be a "cross-country type" and love skiing down-hill.



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bgregoire
Posts: 1511
Joined: Fri Aug 22, 2014 9:31 am
Ski style: Nordic backcountry touring with lots of turns
Favorite Skis: Fisher E99 & Boundless (98), Åsnes Ingstad, K2 Wayback 88
Favorite boots: Crispi Sydpolen, Alico Teletour & Alfa Polar

Re: boot rocker?

Post by bgregoire » Sat Feb 09, 2019 3:25 pm

lilcliffy wrote:The only plastic 75mm boots I own is a pair of Scarpa T4s- older gen. They have a very slight rocker right at the duckbill. Much less than the Alaska in terms of both height and length.
My 3 buckle Garmont shells have deeper rocker than my Excursions.

Coolio, neat. Keep on rockin' Gareth!
I live for the Telemark arc....The feeeeeeel.....I ski miles to get to a place where there is guaranteed snow to do the deal....TM



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lowangle al
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Location: Pocono Mts / Chugach Mts
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Occupation: Retired cement mason. Current job is to take my recreation as serious as I did my past employment.

Re: boot rocker?

Post by lowangle al » Sat Feb 09, 2019 3:48 pm

I'm surprised the heel isn't higher in the pic where it's mounted on the ski. Do those bindings ramp up?



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Leo Tasker
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Re: boot rocker?

Post by Leo Tasker » Sat Feb 09, 2019 4:23 pm

I wonder if having a rocker sole and a flat binding would increase the likelihood of the toe section delaminating? Probably depends how stiff the sole flex is. Does the heel contact the binding when weighted? FWIW My Alfa Skarvet also have a flat sole. I imagine the Alaska may feel more natural to walk in...



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bgregoire
Posts: 1511
Joined: Fri Aug 22, 2014 9:31 am
Ski style: Nordic backcountry touring with lots of turns
Favorite Skis: Fisher E99 & Boundless (98), Åsnes Ingstad, K2 Wayback 88
Favorite boots: Crispi Sydpolen, Alico Teletour & Alfa Polar

Re: boot rocker?

Post by bgregoire » Sat Feb 09, 2019 5:08 pm

My guess is that rocker on NNN-BC boot has not perceptible effect on skiing. I mean, 185lbs of flesh and bones above it will flatten out that sole in no time.

Well that is just me thinking on my couch. I'd love to hear your theories about it LC!
I live for the Telemark arc....The feeeeeeel.....I ski miles to get to a place where there is guaranteed snow to do the deal....TM



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phoenix
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Re: boot rocker?

Post by phoenix » Sat Feb 09, 2019 5:43 pm

Looks like the old T2 rocker, but probably has less effect, having a softer flex. I never liked the rocker much on the T2's... maybe with the BC toe rather than a duckbill the effect is different. I'm a little surprised they engage more quickly, I'd think it was the other way around. There's a reason Voile developed the wedge for 75mm's, to compensate for that rocker.



User avatar
lilcliffy
Posts: 4112
Joined: Thu Jan 01, 2015 6:20 pm
Location: Stanley, New Brunswick, Canada
Ski style: backcountry Nordic ski touring
Favorite Skis: Asnes Ingstad, Combat Nato, Amundsen, Rabb 68; Altai Kom
Favorite boots: Alpina Alaska BC; Lundhags Expedition; Alfa Skaget XP; Scarpa T4
Occupation: Forestry Professional
Instructor at Maritime College of Forest Technology
Husband, father, farmer and logger

Re: boot rocker?

Post by lilcliffy » Sat Feb 09, 2019 6:08 pm

Master Phoenix- as usual- you hit the nail on the head...

Boot rocker is a liability when it comes to free-heel downhill skiing- exactly the reason why Voile risers have a backslope to them.

BUT- when it comes to XC skiing on soft snow?
Cross-country AND down-hill skiing in the backcountry.
Unashamed to be a "cross-country type" and love skiing down-hill.



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