Telemark Talk / Telemark Tips Forum

Hi everyone!

I'm a beginner backcountry skier and I need your help with choosing the right gear. Currently, I use Salomon Contagrip BC 70-60-65 skis with NNN BC bindings and Alfa Synnfjell BC boots. My main problem is the lack of control during steep descents and turns.

I'm wondering what I should change in my setup to perform better in difficult terrain. I suspect that my boots might be the issue, but I'm not sure which models would be better for these conditions. Could you advise me on which boots or other gear elements could improve my control and comfort during steep descents?

I've read a ton of threads on the forum, but I'm still not sure. It seems from your posts that Alpina Alaska is the answer to everything, but maybe I just need to change the binding system because simply changing the boots might not help much?

Thanks for any advice!

Best regards, Piotr.

If those boots fit, they are almost certainly not the problem. I would look at:

1) Technique
2) Red stiff NNN-BC flexors
3) Skis

I don't think Salomon ever made XCD skis? Do yours have metal edges?

What you can try is get a cheap old pair of skinny alpine skis, NNN-BC bindings, and red flexors. If you are still having trouble on steep descents with that setup, then the problem is 1) Technique. Once you have that figured out, buy a pair of Åsnes skis (Otto Sverdrup are very nice XC skis for steep descents and there should be good sales this spring) and put the NNN-BC bindings on them.

Are you after better turning performance on hard or soft snow, or both?

Alfa Synfjell looks rather low with little support from pictures, but I don't know it personally. If so the Alpina Alaska BC would be a noticeable upgrade. Alfa Svartisen BC might be an alternative with even more support.

A ski with dimensions of 70-60-65 mm will be quite directional and hard do turn, especially if has a stiff camber and is long. A softer ski with more side-cut will help with turns, but will be slower xc on consolidated snow.

The NNN-BC binding system should be sufficient unless you want plastic boots and cable bindings, but then you would also want wider skis, and the weight will increase significantly from what you have now.

Capercaillie wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 20, 2025 10:47 pm

[...]
I don't think Salomon ever made XCD skis? Do yours have metal edges?
[...]

Solomon has some skis they market as, "a waxless backcountry ski" and "Nordic Backcountry". Like this: escape-outback-83

But, I don't know anything about them.

The only "Salomon Contagrip" I can find is a boot, not a ski.

paczek1722, Can you show us a photo of your skis and boots?

Hello and Welcome Piotr!

Echoing some of the responses you have already received- it is uncommon for a ski with a 70-60-65 ski not to have a pronouced, stiff double-camver underfoot...
How long are these skis? How much do you weigh? Can you evenly pressure them and squash the camber with both feet?
I don't own any backcountry touring skis that I cannot effectively pressure underfoot- even my stiffest 208 Amundsen- I can pressure into a turn (with my full weight) when I have to, and I can climb moderate slopes and pull significant weight.
What do these skis feel like if you stand on them on a hard surface? Can you easily pressure them- with both feet evenly; or with your full weight- or, do you have to apply significant mass and effort to pressure/compress them?

What are they like climbing a slope- can you pressure them to get consistent grip- or, are you having to herring bone up even a moderate grade?

As far as the boot- 60mm underfoot is actually fairly wide for a narrow touring ski...For example, many Nordic touring skis that are that wide are at least 80mm wide in the shovel...I would want Alpina Alaska BC-class boot to effectively hold 60mm on edge on a steep hard slope- if you want to drive that ski.

As far as the binding- any basic Nordic BC binding is adequate for 60mm- NN-3pin/NNN-BC/XP. XP would give you the most responsive edge-to-edge control, but it may not be worth the extra cost of XP unless you switch to a more downhill-tuned ski. For example, I don't think that XP is worth the extra cost on my Asnes Gamme, Amundsen and Fischer E99- but, I do think it is worth it on my Ingstad and Falketind 62.

You could certainly get more dowhill leverage-control with a 75mm Telemark binding- but, again, it might not be worth the extra cost unless you switch to a more downhill-tuned ski.

What is the environmental context of your ski touring? Terrain, slope? Snow conditions? Tree cover?

Wishing you most excellent skiing conditions from the Central Hills of New Brunswick, Canada,
Gareth

Hey everyone, thanks so much for your responses, and sorry for the late reply. I’ll try to answer all the questions.

Mostly I'm skiing in the southern part of Poland. There are a few small mountain ranges there with gentle slopes, ranging from 10 to 30 degrees. A typical trip involves a 10km hike up to a mountain hut, then a trek back down.

For context, I'm 175cm tall, weigh 85kg, and my skis are 179cm long. With winters gradually disappearing in my country due to climate change I’m looking for the most versatile solution possible for both hard and soft snow.
I’m planning to gradually upgrade my gear – this year I’m buying new boots, and next year, new skis.

Once again, huge thanks to everyone for diving into this topic. Greetings from Kraków!

HI Piotr,
What boots are you considering?
Gareth