Karhu xcd gt full metal edge xc skis 62 54 59

[Chisana]

Thanks lowangle al and l Hartley. Resizing worked!

[Capercaillie]

It seems in the old days all those xc skis were long stix and that's what the stores were pushing. I see quite a few 210,215 and 220cms in the thrift stores and think holy crap those are long. I have a pile of older skis kicking around ranging from 220cm and downward. The 220cm Karhu waxless generic XC skis are in good shape but think they would only be good on the flat groomed tracks as jumping jacks for my weight.

I lucked into finding another pair of 220cm skis this season (Kazama Telemark Comps - I guess people raced on these, mine have a "race tune by <local shop>" sticker on them - but by all metrics they are heavy-duty metal-edged XC skis). And those confirmed my impression of 220cm skis I had from my first pair last season: long skis glide really well in all conditions even if the wax is less than ideal, track straighter and do not get deflected as much, "bridge" undulations and debris (you barely even notice post-holes), and are great on crust, and better than short XC skis in powder. I think the key is that both my pairs have relatively soft second cambers - length does not have to mean too stiff for your weight. They hold wax and even klister well despite having softer cambers. And I like them much better than the "appropriate for my weight" cambered shorter skis I have tried. In fact, the "modern" stiff-cambered 193cm skin skis a local shop sold me really sucked in comparison (fortunately everyone seems to have been brainwashed by marketing into wanting skin skis, so I was able to sell them easily; to quote Ivan Trumble, "retailers should be shot for selling this stuff!" https://ski.itrundle.com/appendices/waxing.html). I am 75kg, 82cm inseam; "average" dimensions. People with shorter legs might find 220cm skis too much when it comes to herringbone and skating.

[DPO777]

20240315_162251.jpgDO-
Have tried to post photos of my recent tours. Skied a local seismograph trail which is mostly flat and usually has some Wildlife viewing. Can count on seeing lots of eagles and ravens, occasional moose, and recently caribou , coyote and ermine. Also enjoy seeing tracks and sign in the snow.
Usually ski this trail with my old woodies, but temps are warming. The snow is transitional, so used the e 99s which are my only waxless b/c skis.Even with their short length and soft camber, they skied beautifully.
Apparently, my internet skills are on par with my skiing skills, as I can't seem to post the photos. Not sure why, as I have posted photos on this site in the past.
Anyway, ski on!

Some really great shots you got and your pics seem to be posting well.

[DPO777]

IMG_8886.jpegno turns or even hills require to post a pic. There’s something missing in this picture.

Chisana, from my iPhone after I choose my photo but before I press “add” on the bottom of the screen it says “show photo” and “options”. I press options and it gives me the option to change size. It defaults to large so I change it to medium and then it works. I’m still trying to figure out how to do it on my new laptop though.

Your going poleless in the middle of the day LOL

[DPO777]

It seems in the old days all those xc skis were long stix and that's what the stores were pushing. I see quite a few 210,215 and 220cms in the thrift stores and think holy crap those are long. I have a pile of older skis kicking around ranging from 220cm and downward. The 220cm Karhu waxless generic XC skis are in good shape but think they would only be good on the flat groomed tracks as jumping jacks for my weight.

I lucked into finding another pair of 220cm skis this season (Kazama Telemark Comps - I guess people raced on these, mine have a "race tune by <local shop>" sticker on them - but by all metrics they are heavy-duty metal-edged XC skis). And those confirmed my impression of 220cm skis I had from my first pair last season: long skis glide really well in all conditions even if the wax is less than ideal, track straighter and do not get deflected as much, "bridge" undulations and debris (you barely even notice post-holes), and are great on crust, and better than short XC skis in powder. I think the key is that both my pairs have relatively soft second cambers - length does not have to mean too stiff for your weight. They hold wax and even klister well despite having softer cambers. And I like them much better than the "appropriate for my weight" cambered shorter skis I have tried. In fact, the "modern" stiff-cambered 193cm skin skis a local shop sold me really sucked in comparison (fortunately everyone seems to have been brainwashed by marketing into wanting skin skis, so I was able to sell them easily; to quote Ivan Trumble, "retailers should be shot for selling this stuff!" https://ski.itrundle.com/appendices/waxing.html). I am 75kg, 82cm inseam; "average" dimensions. People with shorter legs might find 220cm skis too much when it comes to herringbone and skating.

Yes I agree there is a lot of brainwashing on the newer skin capable skis although there are some tricky days where the temps drop from just above freezing to to below where the skins could save the day. One thing for sure the skins are pricey but imagine skiers on difficult multi day trips could be happy they packed them. My Karhu 210s have never let me down for glide and tracking even making trail in 3-6" of fresh snow. They are predictable but not speedsters. As well I agree you have to be used to the long length not to get tangled up. The longer skis are all I have ever skied so this year will be my first season on shorter skis around the 180cm so I guess by the spring I will have a better idea. I keep looking at them and saying to myself boy they look short. Friend of mine skis e99s at 195s even though on his new ski purchase of some Salomon Outback 68s they said 195s were too long but he still went with them and doesn't regret it. Guess us old school skinny skiers have just put too much mileage on the longer skis to heed the recommendations.

[Chisana]

Probably have more mileage on 210 karhu xcd waxables than any others in my quiver, but last year made an impulse buy on a set of 195 waxless fischer e99. Man do I live these baby's for the type of skiing I do- mostly ungroomed snowshoe or snowmachine trails that are twisty and turns and not wide enough for linking turns, at least for my limited ability.

[DPO777]

Probably have more mileage on 210 karhu xcd waxables than any others in my quiver, but last year made an impulse buy on a set of 195 waxless fischer e99. Man do I live these baby's for the type of skiing I do- mostly ungroomed snowshoe or snowmachine trails that are twisty and turns and not wide enough for linking turns, at least for my limited ability.

You were lucky to score those e99s as they are getting rare new now that they have renamed them Transnordic 66.

I got a pair of new e99 195s at end of season last year at a blow out last one sale price for Lifesport in Calgary.

Finally getting the BC bindings on all the sale skis I picked up last year.

First run on the the e99s a few days ago I wasn't feeling it. That magic feeling I was getting tromping around on the old Karhu XCD GTs 205. Was using blue wax. Wasn't getting any glide. New Rossi boots were warm and comfortable though.

Second day put on some paste glide was tip to tail and buffed out. Wow there's that magic, good glide on some track out back and did OK making some tracks through 12" of snow (4" fresh). Pretty happy with them for sure.

Third day still good. Took the Gammies out for a first spin and can see they will be good for the short tight up and down trails through the forest. Good glide and good grip with blue grip wax for the cooler day.

Fourth day took the better half out on her first run on the Rossi BC 65s and new Rossi X10 Boots. She was lovin the new boots and the shorter skis. Her old leather Alico boots were too tight and her feet got cold.

Fifth day took her back up Sporten Explorer 175 skins out for a test run. Got about 30 feet and kick foot was coming to a dead stop on the skins. Could likely mountain goat straight up a hill with them. Put them back to rethink wax and took e99s back out again.



Rewaxed the Sportens with some paste glide wax and some special skin wax and second run was much better. The skins were gliding netter now. Can see I would need 195s on those but the 175s should be fine for better half.

Took a shovel and went out on the Sportens to make a snow bridge over a creek ravine outback. The short length make good work skis shoveling snow LOL