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.
@Mattafix , it may be too late but I got a new pair of Objective BC in 174cm at Skinny Skis in Jackson, WY for under $400 a month ago. It was not their only pair. They do ship.
Sadly, my knees can’t get better. But, through a lot of time in the gym and religiously wearing my rigid, Donjoy braces on both legs I can ski and do most things. They don’t cause much pain. They have to be fragile but I’m not looking to find that limit. I am more careful and ski more conservatively but my favorite thing to do is low angle canyons so, not really a problem. Same places I ride mountain bikes and motorcycles in the summer!
I’m with you on the Nansen. I almost ordered a pair this summer but could not confirm anywhere that the WL version was scaled!
I should have mentioned in my previous post that I weigh about 185lbs and my M 68s are around 185s. They glide fine for me and wouldn't want them any longer. They are easy turning skis.
From your first post it sounds like we have the same goals, being primarily about the decent. The difference is that I started on light gear and skied it for many years before going to heavy gear. The gear that I've finally settled on is a T4 with a wide ski (95-110 UF). Scales are great, but I also use kick wax when conditions are good.They get me where I want to go with decent xc ability and enable me to get my turns in the style I like in a wider range of conditions. My average tours are around 6 to 8 miles with around 2000' of vertical and take about 3 hours. 10 mile tours are certainly doable.
It's good that you are trying the lighter end of telemark. You will eventually find what suits your goals and conditions best.
I should have mentioned in my previous post that I weigh about 185lbs and my M 68s are around 185s. They glide fine for me and wouldn't want them any longer. They are easy turning skis.
From your first post it sounds like we have the same goals, being primarily about the decent. The difference is that I started on light gear and skied it for many years before going to heavy gear. The gear that I've finally settled on is a T4 with a wide ski (95-110 UF). Scales are great, but I also use kick wax when conditions are good.They get me where I want to go with decent xc ability and enable me to get my turns in the style I like in a wider range of conditions. My average tours are around 6 to 8 miles with around 2000' of vertical and take about 3 hours. 10 mile tours are certainly doable.
It's good that you are trying the lighter end of telemark. You will eventually find what suits your goals and conditions best.
With a backpack on my shoulders we are in the same weight range. If I decided a M68, I for myself would go 192 for glide and float. If I run into a thrilling cheap offer I might hop on it. The only wider XCD ski I have are the old short Boundless. Evolving from heavier to softer gear makes me feel uneasy in four buckled boots by now. I like it when I can move all of my body and having a nice challenge
@Mattafix , it may be too late but I got a new pair of Objective BC in 174cm at Skinny Skis in Jackson, WY for under $400 a month ago. It was not their only pair. They do ship.
Sadly, my knees can’t get better. But, through a lot of time in the gym and religiously wearing my rigid, Donjoy braces on both legs I can ski and do most things. They don’t cause much pain. They have to be fragile but I’m not looking to find that limit. I am more careful and ski more conservatively but my favorite thing to do is low angle canyons so, not really a problem. Same places I ride mountain bikes and motorcycles in the summer!
I’m with you on the Nansen. I almost ordered a pair this summer but could not confirm anywhere that the WL version was scaled!
Despite the Nansens WL really are scaled, I ordered a 45mm X-Skin after reading a lot of reviews. Plus I might try and do a little practice in kick waxing if the scales don’t have enough grip. Let’s see how things will go from here.
I already contacted Skinny Skis. Thank you for the hint.
I also religiously wear my braces when I’m on burlier boots and wider skis. Have worn them for over ten years now and though my knees are kind of abused from almost 50 years of skiing, I still try to push things. When things force me to slow down, I hope I can find a good way to further on enjoy skiing as you do.
John the WL is scaled. I got mine from Varuste on sale, ski, BC binding, X-skin, to my door for just under $400
I was at my door in less the a week for order date, economy shipping!
My wife doesn't like it when Varuste boxes show up at the door.
Which Nansens did you order? To but increase the confusion I sometimes find on the Varuste website the current description for the Asnes Nansen Waxless BC is for the Breidablikk Hunter BC! Maybe it's the same ski with 3/4 metal edges but it still forces me to scratch my head.
Had my first short tour on the Nansens. Weather was good - sunny and veeeery warm. There were up to 20“ of fresh snow. It looked like perfect powder. But instead it was perfect for forming huge balls of snow to roll down into the valley.
It was almost impossible to turn the skis in the deep, wet, and heavy snow. Not the best day for the Nansens. I have to give it another test day. At least I found my boundaries as well as the Ski Marchs did.
It was an up and down tour with 2000 feet, low to mid angle terrain and 5 miles of one way distance.
It starts with a 25 degree slope where I could test the X skins. After some minutes the rear end of both of the skins came loose. I stopped and let the sun dry skis and skins and everything went well from there.
The Nansens were very nice breaking trail and in XC mode on already existing skin tracks.
Thank you, guys, once more for your advice and help to choose the Nansens.
Last edited by Mattafix on Sun Mar 30, 2025 3:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.
