Alpina Alaska 75 boots
- fisheater
- Posts: 1053
- Joined: Fri Feb 19, 2016 9:06 pm
- Location: Oakland County, MI
- Ski style: All my own, and age doesn't help
- Favorite Skis: Gamme 54, Falketind 62, I hope to add a third soon
- Favorite boots: Alpina Alaska, Alico Ski March
- Occupation: Construction Manager
Re: Alpina Alaska 75 boots
Nitram, my perspective is from a guy that has worn work boots almost every day for the last 40 plus years, and I like my Ski March boots.
The Alaska is high, with a lot of ankle support. However I don’t feel the boot restricts my movements. The sole is also pretty stiff, but flexes easily for me. I don’t have any issues, and ski fast on my Gamme. I’m not a great cross country skier, I came to this from Alpine skiing, and only have had Alpine ski training, but I have complete confidence in my Gamme/Alaska combo. It is great for being out all day, and skiing lots of miles. It is also very comfy. The boot fits as though it was custom made for my foot. A little extra ankle support isn’t really a bad thing!
The Alaska is high, with a lot of ankle support. However I don’t feel the boot restricts my movements. The sole is also pretty stiff, but flexes easily for me. I don’t have any issues, and ski fast on my Gamme. I’m not a great cross country skier, I came to this from Alpine skiing, and only have had Alpine ski training, but I have complete confidence in my Gamme/Alaska combo. It is great for being out all day, and skiing lots of miles. It is also very comfy. The boot fits as though it was custom made for my foot. A little extra ankle support isn’t really a bad thing!
- Johnny
- Site Admin
- Posts: 2054
- Joined: Wed Dec 18, 2013 6:11 pm
- Location: Quebec / Vermont
- Ski style: Dancing with God
- Favorite Skis: Redsters, Radicals, Objectives and all Asnes skis.
- Favorite boots: ALFA Guard Advance, Scarpa TX Comp
- Occupation: Full-time ski bum
Re: Alpina Alaska 75 boots
Nitram Tocrut wrote: ↑Thu Sep 24, 2020 6:13 pmJust a quick comment on my Alaska... both soles are cracked just behind the holes. I used for 2 winter only but most likely over a 100 days... I called the store to get the info for a possible warranty and he first asked me if I used them for telemark... he told me those boots are not designed to do telemark turn on a regular basis...
1- PROPER TECHNIQUE. If your ball of foot is flat on the ski when you turn, there is absolutely NO STRESS AT ALL on the duckbills. If all the front part of the sole is pressed on the ski, i.e. the proper technique, then the duckbills are not affected by any wear, stress or tension and they will last forever, no matter how thin they are or where you ski.
But what most people do is the opposite. Clamping down the duckbills as tight as possible in the binding, and totally relying on the fragile and tiny duckbill itself for stirring, driving, turning and controlling the ski. Totally wrong. Sometimes even adding cables to add even more stress on it. Then the poor people complain to the stores and try to put the blame on manufacturers, product quality and warranties.
Even more wrong: putting the blame on the boots, these people go for sturdier ones with thicker duckbills instead of learning the proper technique and addressing the very source of their problem.
2. Duckbills are retarded. They are an obsolete invention created over 100 years ago. Seriously, would you expect to do something with a 100 year-old computer? Would you expect to go far with a 100yo car? Would you expect not to crack skiing with a 100yo human body?
What is the way to ski 100yo wooden skis in order not to break them? Proper technique and finesse.
What is the way to ski leather boots and duckbills in order not to break them? Proper technique and finesse.
Alpina Alaska 75s are awesome.
Alpina Alaska BCs are awesome.
Alpina Alaska NTN-BCs would be even more awesome.
/...\ Peace, Love, Telemark and Tofu /...\
- Never trust a guy who recommends T4s and pins
"And if you like to risk your neck, we'll boom down Sutton in old Quebec..."
- Never trust a guy who recommends T4s and pins
"And if you like to risk your neck, we'll boom down Sutton in old Quebec..."
- Nitram Tocrut
- Posts: 271
- Joined: Thu Dec 27, 2018 11:50 pm
- Location: Quebec, Canada
- Ski style: "Doorstep" backcountry skiing and groomed trails
- Favorite Skis: Asnes Ingstad and FT62, Fischer Europa 99 and Madschus TL-70
- Favorite boots: Alpina Alaska 75 mm
- Occupation: Organic vegetable grower and many other things!
Re: Alpina Alaska 75 boots
Just to clarify, I am not blaming the boots and I am not complaining to the boots manufacturer... i just got the info on the warranty and I got an answer that I shared. Of course the answer does not apply to everyone but for most of us yes.! I really do love those boots and I got a lot of ski days with them. But we all know now that most things are not meant to last long and I probably ski more in a winter than a lot of people in their whole life so yes it is taxing on the boots as I almost only use them... I don’t have a quiver of boots...Johnny wrote: ↑Fri Sep 25, 2020 7:11 amNitram Tocrut wrote: ↑Thu Sep 24, 2020 6:13 pmJust a quick comment on my Alaska... both soles are cracked just behind the holes. I used for 2 winter only but most likely over a 100 days... I called the store to get the info for a possible warranty and he first asked me if I used them for telemark... he told me those boots are not designed to do telemark turn on a regular basis...
1- PROPER TECHNIQUE. If your ball of foot is flat on the ski when you turn, there is absolutely NO STRESS AT ALL on the duckbills. If all the front part of the sole is pressed on the ski, i.e. the proper technique, then the duckbills are not affected by any wear, stress or tension and they will last forever, no matter how thin they are or where you ski.
But what most people do is the opposite. Clamping down the duckbills as tight as possible in the binding, and totally relying on the fragile and tiny duckbill itself for stirring, driving, turning and controlling the ski. Totally wrong. Sometimes even adding cables to add even more stress on it. Then the poor people complain to the stores and try to put the blame on manufacturers, product quality and warranties.
Even more wrong: putting the blame on the boots, these people go for sturdier ones with thicker duckbills instead of learning the proper technique and addressing the very source of their problem.
2. Duckbills are retarded. They are an obsolete invention created over 100 years ago. Seriously, would you expect to do something with a 100 year-old computer? Would you expect to go far with a 100yo car? Would you expect not to crack skiing with a 100yo human body?
What is the way to ski 100yo wooden skis in order not to break them? Proper technique and finesse.
What is the way to ski leather boots and duckbills in order not to break them? Proper technique and finesse.
Alpina Alaska 75s are awesome.
Alpina Alaska BCs are awesome.
Alpina Alaska NTN-BCs would be even more awesome.
PROPER TECHNIQUE is something I sure don’t possess


And in the end, it does not mean I am not going to buy those boots again and hopefully my technique will be better by then

- bgregoire
- Posts: 1386
- 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: Alpina Alaska 75 boots
I would not bother with a 100 year old computer but I would take a nice picture of furniture from the 50-60s anyday over most any of the contemporary crap you buy new these days.Johnny wrote: ↑Fri Sep 25, 2020 7:11 am2. Duckbills are retarded. They are an obsolete invention created over 100 years ago. Seriously, would you expect to do something with a 100 year-old computer? Would you expect to go far with a 100yo car? Would you expect not to crack skiing with a 100yo human body?
Comparing duckbilled boots to computers is like comparing apples to flamingos. I know you can do better!
There is always room for improvement in the ski technique department, that is for sure!
As an aside, my partner's Alaskas tore and cracked after 600km of flattish nordic skiing, no tele. Granted that was in 2014 but I doubt the boot was significantly improved upon since. It remains nonethless an excellent boot for era and price IMO.
Take care friend!
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