M62 for Massachusetts

[riel]

The 88s would be harder to turn compared to M62, but better in some # of inches of fresh snow or in variable packed conditions?

When you have more than about a foot of fresh snow, the Excursion 88 skis would probably be better than than the M62. With less than a foot of snow, they'll both be fine.

That means for typical New England winter conditions, there maybe 2-3 days a year where the Excursion 88 is better than the M62, at least on non-steep terrain.

Steep terrain being more than the wildcat ski trail or sherbie on Mt. Washington?

There are a bunch of good all-round XC skis you can use in New England, including the Fischer Traverse 78, Excursion 88, Madshus M62 and M68, Asnes Nansen and ingstad, and the Alpina Discovery 80.

You won't be unhappy with those 80% of the time.

However, the Wildcat Ski Trail and the Sherbie are not typical cross country ski trails. Especially the Sherbie is more like a downhill ski trail that just never gets groomed.

The same quality that makes a ski a good cross country ski (stiff camber and flex underfoot, to lift the traction pattern off the snow when you glide) will also make a ski harder to handle on downhill trails. For easy turning on trails like the Sherbie, people often use skis where the camber instantly collapses, that is a ski that has a totally soft flex along its entire length. These could be skis like the Fischer S-Bound series, the Altai Kom, Voile V6, etc...

However, the soft flex of those downhill-oriented skis will make them miserable to use on flatter places like golf courses or forest roads.

I would get a ski that serves you well on 90% of the trails, and if you're thinking of skiing the Wlidcat Valley Trail, go to Jackson XC and ski up that trail a little bit at their Prospect Farm ski area.

The Sherbie, and many of the other trails across the street from Wildcat, are a whole other game.

[NewEnglandXCguy]

When you have more than about a foot of fresh snow, the Excursion 88 skis would probably be better than than the M62. With less than a foot of snow, they'll both be fine.

That means for typical New England winter conditions, there maybe 2-3 days a year where the Excursion 88 is better than the M62, at least on non-steep terrain.

Steep terrain being more than the wildcat ski trail or sherbie on Mt. Washington?

There are a bunch of good all-round XC skis you can use in New England, including the Fischer Traverse 78, Excursion 88, Madshus M62 and M68, Asnes Nansen and ingstad, and the Alpina Discovery 80.

You won't be unhappy with those 80% of the time.

However, the Wildcat Ski Trail and the Sherbie are not typical cross country ski trails. Especially the Sherbie is more like a downhill ski trail that just never gets groomed.

The same quality that makes a ski a good cross country ski (stiff camber and flex underfoot, to lift the traction pattern off the snow when you glide) will also make a ski harder to handle on downhill trails. For easy turning on trails like the Sherbie, people often use skis where the camber instantly collapses, that is a ski that has a totally soft flex along its entire length. These could be skis like the Fischer S-Bound series, the Altai Kom, Voile V6, etc...

However, the soft flex of those downhill-oriented skis will make them miserable to use on flatter places like golf courses or forest roads.

I would get a ski that serves you well on 90% of the trails, and if you're thinking of skiing the Wlidcat Valley Trail, go to Jackson XC and ski up that trail a little bit at their Prospect Farm ski area.

The Sherbie, and many of the other trails across the street from Wildcat, are a whole other game.

Great, thanks for the info. I'm going to pick up the M62s. Think a pair of nnn-bc magnums is sufficient for gentle/green downhill terrain and the wildcat ski trail? Any thoughts on sizing - I need a 192 per the M62 chart, but does it pay to size down for maneuverability or not really?

[fisheater]

I’ve never skied a M-62, however from my experience going short short just diminishes XC performance. A ski is designed with a certain flex pattern, going short doesn’t change that pattern, and while you will be able to bend that ski slightly more into a turn. You will have a more significant loss of XC performance. I have found both Fischer and Asnes to be a bit conservative in their length recommendations. I’m willing to bet Madshus is conservative as well. I wouldn’t order short. Actually all my skis are a size above manufacturer recommendations. I’m not suggesting you order longer, but I wouldn’t order shorter.

[s_k_i_]

Same here! I’m here in Northern Michigan and just bought a pair of M68s, pairing with the newer Rotefella Super Tele with cable. I have a pair of leathers and Scarpa T4s. XC, breaking trail, hills, resort, hiking the resort after it closes. Trying to find a “jack of all trades” set up.

I just picked up for my kid an Alpine Discovery 102, Voile cable and he has the OG Terminators he’ll resort tele on too on a different setup.



“Jack of all trades master of none, often times better than a master of one.”

[AdamA]

Skiied them in Massachusetts for several years. Mostly with some plastic 2 buckles (it's what I had). I enjoyed them for breaking trail and kicking around on snowmobile trails. That said, turning on them was not my favorite.

[lowangle al]

However, the soft flex of those downhill-oriented skis will make them miserable to use on flatter places like golf courses or forest roads.



The Sherbie, and many of the other trails across the street from Wildcat, are a whole other game.

I wouldn't say those wide skis make it miserable at all on the flats. I can go about 4 mph on mine w/o raising my heartbeat much over a casual walking speed. The only times that K&G gets miserable for me is when things don't go right. Like, wrong kickwax, clumping snow on your bases, or skinny scaled skis that are too short. Wide scaled skis don't seem to have as much drag as skinny ones, that's probably why they are more quiet too.

I've skied the Sherbie and it's plastic boot terrain for sure.