I'm looking into skis for backcountry skiing here in Iceland. I'm currently skiing on 200cm Fishcer TN66 skis, which I like a lot but I'm often frustrated about the lack of float and glide in the deep snow we get here.
I'm 90% decided on buying some 210cm combat nato skis (I'm 80kg and 185.5cm). From what I've read they should be an improvement in terms of float, and also wide downhill turning, which sounds great. Being able to kick along at a faster pace would be great too.
Snow conditions
The winters here are quite unpredictable, being at the mercy of the north Atlantic. When we get snow it usually comes quickly from a strong northern storm. Lots of wind and lots of snow drifting. If the temperature stays low after these storms the snow conditions are usually deep powder, and usually lots of breakable crust after a few days.
If the temp increases quickly after a big snow dump then snow conditions are cruddy and slushy of course and then I just don't ski all that much.
Terrain
I'll post some pictures of the typical terrain that I'll be skiing around in. A typical route will include 200-300m of elevation gain, through some forest and open valleys. As I improve I plan to tackle more hills and take on more challenging descents.
So, do you think the NATO's would serve me well and be an improvement on the TN66's or would you consider something else before pulling the trigger?
Cheers!
