This is the World Famous TelemarkTalk / TelemarkTips / Telemark Francais Forum, by far the most dynamic telemark and backcountry skiing discussion board on the world wide web since 1998. East, West, North, South, Canada, US or Europe, Backcountry or not.
This is the World Famous TelemarkTalk / TelemarkTips / Telemark Francais Forum, by far the most dynamic telemark and backcountry skiing discussion board on the world wide web since 1998. East, West, North, South, Canada, US or Europe, Backcountry or not.
This is the World Famous TelemarkTalk / TelemarkTips Forum, by far the most dynamic telemark and backcountry skiing discussion board on the world wide web. We have fun here, come on in and be a part of it.
Fischer Rangers are great. You can often get good prices too. Not too much ski, but snappy stiff and energetic.
K2, Volkl, Elan, Salomon and Rossignol I’d steer clear of. Black Crows might be good?
Handled the Ranger's not what I'm looking for in flex pattern and the tails were a bit too turned up for me.
Steer clear for what reasons? Explain, and back up the bombs you be throwing willy nilly around here
I own several pairs of Volkls and Elans so I'll be interested.
Obviously don’t take it too seriously, it’s just my perspective, but I’ve not had great luck with those brands with some limited demos and ownership over the years. Never say never, your mileage may vary etc. but that’s why I said “I’d steer clear of.”
Obviously don’t take it too seriously, it’s just my perspective, but I’ve not had great luck with those brands with some limited demos and ownership over the years. Never say never, your mileage may vary etc. but that’s why I said “I’d steer clear of.”
K2 made some easy skiing tele skis back in the day. But I’ve had the sense their skis tend heavy and/or soft or just soft, maybe cheap. Didn’t help moving production to China as far as perspective.
I tried some volkl years ago, really nice, energetic. But recently demoed some Kendo 88s for hardpack and moguls and they seemed too light and stiff, grabby and squirrely, made me ski slow. I think K2 bought them out and moved some production to China, maybe quality suffers, or I just didn’t get along with that one.
Salomon and Rossignol seem kind of cheaper too, mass production. I had some nice ones at one time, but also tried some that weren’t so good. Like Atomic, the ones without wood cores are suspicious.
My daughter had some Elan Ripstick with the asymmetrical thing, bought off the shelf no demo. She ended up not liking and my wife didn’t like them either. For some reason.
My wife and I tried some skis recently looking for hardpack old snow skis. Both of us coincidentally preferred the Blizzards (Brahma, Black Pearl) over the Volkl or Rossignol offer. The Rossi experience is a nice soft but locked in carver but hard to maneuver in moguls etc., rather too locked in.
Fischer skis, I’d buy without trying if they’re the right length width etc. The above brands I’d be hesitant to do that. Also Nordica or Blizzard I’d have confidence in. Although I did not like Blizzard Cochise skis when they were so popular, just seemed heavy and lifeless with the no camber thing.
K2 made some easy skiing tele skis back in the day. But I’ve had the sense their skis tend heavy and/or soft or just soft, maybe cheap. Didn’t help moving production to China as far as perspective.
I tried some volkl years ago, really nice, energetic. But recently demoed some Kendo 88s for hardpack and moguls and they seemed too light and stiff, grabby and squirrely, made me ski slow. I think K2 bought them out and moved some production to China, maybe quality suffers, or I just didn’t get along with that one.
Salomon and Rossignol seem kind of cheaper too, mass production. I had some nice ones at one time, but also tried some that weren’t so good. Like Atomic, the ones without wood cores are suspicious.
My daughter had some Elan Ripstick with the asymmetrical thing, bought off the shelf no demo. She ended up not liking and my wife didn’t like them either. For some reason.
My wife and I tried some skis recently looking for hardpack old snow skis. Both of us coincidentally preferred the Blizzards (Brahma, Black Pearl) over the Volkl or Rossignol offer. The Rossi experience is a nice soft but locked in carver but hard to maneuver in moguls etc., rather too locked in.
Fischer skis, I’d buy without trying if they’re the right length width etc. The above brands I’d be hesitant to do that. Also Nordica or Blizzard I’d have confidence in. Although I did not like Blizzard Cochise skis when they were so popular, just seemed heavy and lifeless with the no camber thing.
This is good perspective.
The Kendo 88 changed quite a bit in 22/23, that's the version I have and I'm really happy with them. A damp ride and very locked in when up on the rails carving around, yet still schmeary. They sell this 3D Radius bullshit and it's such a marketing scam. All they did was add very very shallow deep rocker so if you only slightly put it on edge you engage underfoot but if you punch them all the way over the entire edge engages and shortens the radii. This is how they lock in nice in a carve and yet schmear nice when needed. It was definitely what I was looking for, quiet at high speed. I detuned the tips and tails quite aggressively.
I'm with you with Rossi and Salomon. Avoid unless getting a good deal. There's a guy skiing in the ADKs for 100 days this season and he has blown up 3 pairs of Stances. after 20 days.
Agree Fischer, Nordica, Blizzard
Elans-- I have Ripstick 96 and 88 and I like that ski a lot. I think it's very ideal for telemark with the wider shovel to narrow tail, good tail release, tail sinks in powder, shovel up in powder, etc. I skied them two seasons and they were perfect. I'm now all hot for metal and quiet rides though, so these energetic guys take a backseat.
In other news, I received the Mindbender 99's today and they are, I hope, exactly what I'm looking for. Metal, flex, aft -10cm mount, 15mm diff between shovel and tail. I think these are a contender!!! If it's not this then maybe the Mantra 102 which I hear is basically a big wide Kendo88 but I wanted a slighty softer ski, which I get with the Mindbender99. Will report back!
Hi Folks -
Been a while since I've been here - looking for some specific info and advice on the K2 Mindbenders -
Me: I'm 58 years old, 5'9" and 245 lbs currently (working on that). Been tele skiing for about 20 years now seriously, longer if you count my backcountry turns in the old days on XC telemark skis. Started out skiing Karhu Kondors @ 194 with Merrell Comps for several years. About 8 years ago moved to Scarpa T2s with K2 Piste Pipes that are 183's, I think. Bindings are Rottefellas - the basic one. Rig works well for me for most of my skiing but there are two issues I have - first is weight - the skis are relatively heavy and so it would be nice to be on a lighter set of skis at some point as I get older. Second and bigger consideration is the waist - I think these are like 68s or something like that - whatever they are it is narrow and for the conditions I ski, way narrow for the occasional powder days or days when there has been a good dump. I'm not looking for a super wide ski that will be powder dedicated - I don't get enough of those days to make that worthwhile for me - I'm looking for something in the 90 - 96 range, I think, (89 would be ok too). I ski everything through double blacks - don't rip them but enjoy picking my way down, linking as many turns as I can into short runs and longer ones as the terrain permits for me. I like the twin tips of the Piste Pipes - detuning the tips and tails a good way down makes them slither in the bumps decently without hanging up and I think the twin tips help that.
So the two questions I have - C or Ti and length - should I stick with around 183 or move down to like 176 or so. Quite of few of last year's skis on sale for decent prices right now so looking to pick up a new pair and just trying to dial this in - given my current weight, etc. I'm thinking maybe the Tis but would like to hear from others. All the skiing will be in bounds resort skiing - I have other gear for other backcountry skiing I do.
Any modern ski will be an upgrade. A wide ski with T2 may not be as much fun on hard/icy snow, but nice on/in looser snow. A ski with rocker and setback will have better float and a shorter effective edge and thus shorter turn radius, but at the cost of stability. I find that waist width is the main driver on float, so rocker and taper sounds very nice for an all round ski. Length will also increase float, but also increase weight and often turn radius, while rocker can help with reducing the turn radius of long skis in softer snow too. Higher ski weight will also usually mean a more stable ski, which some prefer. Anything is a trade off, and you have to decide what your preferences are.
I am the same height as you and find medium light skis, -2 to +5 cm longer than me the best, but I am much lighter so unsure on length advice. Good luck and I hope someone else can give you more specific ski advice.
Hi Folks -
'm 58 years old, 5'9" and 245 lbs ....Been tele skiing for about 20 years now seriously, longer if you count my backcountry turns in the old days on XC telemark skis. I like the twin tips of the Piste Pipes - detuning the tips and tails a good way down makes them slither in the bumps decently without hanging up and I think the twin tips help that.
So the two questions I have - C or Ti and length - should I stick with around 183 or move down to like 176 or so. Quite of few of last year's skis on sale for decent prices right now so looking to pick up a new pair and just trying to dial this in - given my current weight, etc. I'm thinking maybe the Tis but would like to hear from others. All the skiing will be in bounds resort skiing - I have other gear for other backcountry skiing I do.
Thanks for any thoughts on this -
You have the strength, weight, and skills to ski just about anything. I too am inclined to go with a twin tip - rocker, camber, rocker design. My recollection of the Piste Pipes is that they are twin tip, but lack the kind of rocker, front and back, that some newer skis have. In my case, with rocker leading up to tip splay, I never detune tips and tails. I want them to hook, "when I want them to hook", if you catch my meaning, and I do tend towards bumps and carving.
As to your two questions:
Length. It depends. If you want to focus on bumps, go shorter. I'm 72, 5'8" and 150 pounds, in Utah and all inbounds, now, and have skied the 185 Armada JJ at 116 underfoot on T-2's no sweat! Actually used that combo back country Wasatch as well, but those days are over for me. Anyway, that's not optimum, but for 2 years (with kids in grad schools) they were my go-to single ski quiver. I now have a quiver that goes as low as the M-Cross 88 in a 164 (Tx Pro, Outlaw X). The only downside being a crazy wide tip, but a 9g turn capable carver!
As to C Vs Ti (I assume you mean titanal), my inclination would be to go stiff, particularly if you go short. There's nothing you can't drive, and for quickness, stiff equals stored energy that you can harness for pop (which will be quicker, for sure).
Your biggest problem is that you could ski almost anything, so it's hard to narrow it down.
What is your dream run?
That info, including where you ski (Hunter Mountain Vs. Alta!) would be helpful if you are trying to decide regarding ski designs, widths, and such.
Also, I would give ZERO consideration to ski weight, for your application.
