Johnny, Pierre, and the beast. Or the new Telemark Tech Norm (TTN) vs the future of XCD (NTN-BC)

[12gaugesage]

nordictec.jpg


No skis were harmed in the making of this prototype...

What boots? Also curious how they are with no bumper...

[SawtoothsFNG]

Salomon X-ALP Explore Alpine Touring Boots

Not quite Skimo, but in walk-mode the range of motion is good enough I often drive in them

I'll probably have to add some kind of bumper, but trying not to add any new holes in the skis just yet.

[12gaugesage]

Salomon X-ALP Explore Alpine Touring Boots

Not quite Skimo, but in walk-mode the range of motion is good enough I often drive in them

I'll probably have to add some kind of bumper, but trying not to add any new holes in the skis just yet.


nordictec2.jpg

Those boots are pretty nice. I thought from the first pic they might have been an XC or BC boot that you added tech inserts to.
Curious about how that will work. Will there be enough flex in the forefoot?

[fisheater]

Looks like an AT boot to me.

[Johnny]

I just stumbled into this old post of mine, since after the release of the XPLORE system, my old NTN-BC idea seems to revive some new interest... (Hi Jeff!)

Obviously, XPLORE is still nowhere near my NTN-BC concept... But anyway, that's not my point. I just wanted to share this old promo picture of the Rottefella Backcountry Binding System. It's interesting to see that the early XPLORE prototype seemed to have the pin release system integrated in the sole itself, NOT on the binding... Something I had totally forgotten about. See that red cable running through the sole? It could have been a cool idea... (Or perhaps it was a heating cable? )

[Montana St Alum]

I just stumbled into this old post of mine, since after the release of the XPLORE system, my old NTN-BC idea seems to revive some new interest... (Hi Jeff!)

Obviously, XPLORE is still nowhere near my NTN-BC concept... But anyway, that's not my point. I just wanted to share this old promo picture of the Rottefella Backcountry Binding System. It's interesting to see that the early XPLORE prototype seemed to have the pin release system integrated in the sole itself, NOT on the binding... Something I had totally forgotten about. See that red cable running through the sole? It could have been a cool idea... (Or perhaps it was a heating cable? )

I think it'd detcord.

[TallGrass]

See that red cable running through the sole? It could have been a cool idea... (Or perhaps it was a heating cable? )

I think it'd detcord.

[Krummholz]

Salomon X-ALP Explore Alpine Touring Boots

Not quite Skimo, but in walk-mode the range of motion is good enough I often drive in them

I'll probably have to add some kind of bumper, but trying not to add any new holes in the skis just yet.

Does the sole flex? Or is it a hard shell? They almost could have put a forefoot tightening band like the old Solomon Equipe rear entry boots. My 92’s are all white…. They looked really cool on some Atomic 203 Super GS skis.

[Natirondack]

I will agree with much of this but I’ll also throw in my 2 cents.

The NTN system is amazing when control and hard driving is needed. The resistance when lifting the heel allows for a much more aggressive stance with lateral control over the skis edge. But… what good is that resistance if your boot cuff doesn’t compliment it.

I have done a lot of tight, narrow trail and tree skiing here in the Adirondacks while in my leather boots and I have discovered a few key things that help me pick my equipment for my ski adventures. In soft snow where the powder slows you down and you can glide through turns on a line you can see and think out, leather boots can get the job done. You think and pressure that ball of foot through the tele turn and are rewarded. When the trail narrows, the snow gets chopped, heavy, wet, or crusty, all this begins to change. The tele stance provides fore-aft stability that the leather boot lacks in the cuff, but if you can’t see more than 10ft ahead of you and the trail in only 2 or 3 ft wide, you can’t commit to a dropped knee because you don’t have any way to know what the next turn needs to be. This means you are doing an emergency turn and slashing your skis. Then a bump is hit and your boot sole is in a cable! Great for the boot sole but your ankle hinges and the cuff folds as your body lurches forward. The binding outmatched the boot and you are face first in snow.

My point is: in perfect conditions an active and strong binding can be used with a leather boot. However, when conditions aren’t powder you will find yourself wanting cuff support from your boot. In my experience In good conditions I use my leathers and don’t need a cable for support. You can anticipate your balance and the snow is predictable. In these conditions I only need a 3-pin like the voile HD mountaineer. That matches the Alaska perfectly.

When I find myself wanting some heel resistance I also need cuff support to match, or I just hinge at the ankle as my boot sole stays down. For this reason I skip the Voile cable and move straight to a T4 or T2 with a switchback. Cuff support to match heel resistance.

I think this applies to this post because an HD Mountaineer at $75 is a much better setup and lighter with that leather boot than any other option. Then when you get into less than ideal conditions on tight trails move into a t4 or t2. Should those adopt the 2 pin and duck butt? Absolutely! And guess what, they are. Fall of 2024 Scarpa is dropping their touring boot based on the old F1. It has pins and a duck butt and is light. Soon that gap will be filled.