Quiver Killer... Qu'est-ce que c'est?

[lowangle al]

If I could only pick one it would have to be the one that can handle all conditions (within reason) and all terrain and slope angles that I might encounter because I don't want to miss a day because of the wrong ski. Of all the skis I've tried I would pick the vector. Not sure if I'd go with the bc or get the smooth ones.

[MikeK]

So far I see a trend:

MikeK - Eon
LoveJohnny - Epoch/10th Mtn
connyro - Annum/Guide
rglide - Rossi BC125
lowangle al - Vector

Just by those picks I think you could tell what type of skiers we are and where we like to ski.

[Johnny]

I dunno... Not so sure about where we ski...

Personally, even if I was living in the Alps, I would still pick the 10th Mtns as my to go ski... (Unless they come out with a lighter ski with a bigger sidecut... or I if I had a real job and could afford lighter rando skis...)

[MikeK]

Yeah but it's still how you ski Johnny.

If you lived somewhere where it was deep, deep powder for 4 months out of the year, you might tend for the Guide - that's all I meant about locations.

We don't really have as much fresh powder in NY, even in the Adirondacks. This year was actually a low snow year for us, it was just extra cold. A lot of what I wound up skiing on was shit frozen over crusts - some of it was that with giant air pockets underneath. A wider ski wouldn't help. Early spring was bad too - got really icy - never really stayed consistently warm enough to be soft corn, it went to corn then froze again right away. Early season was awesome powder, but there wasn't much base and then Lake Ontario froze most of the way and stopped the lake effect. I think you guys had it way better north of the border.

[gfwp]

Hi volks, here my 2 cents:

-Fischer Powerlight (46mm below foot) since I really cannot stop skating.

-Otherwise for pure backcountry, E109.

Cheers

gfwp

[MikeK]

-Fischer Powerlight (46mm below foot) since I really cannot stop skating.

Dude - you're my hero.

Can't you skate on something a little wider too? Like an e89?

[gfwp]

-Fischer Powerlight (46mm below foot) since I really cannot stop skating.

Dude - you're my hero.


Can't you skate on something a little wider too? Like an e89?

Of course I can skate with almost everything, but for how long and how fast, and with which effort?

I've never tested the E89, but they arent that more heavy than the Powerlight (maybe just +100-150g/pair).
Some norvegian guys at fjellforum.no told me that they are pretty good for skating, so I may upgrade sooner or later
The other upgrade alternative to choose between would be Asnes Holmenkollen.
I'd pair them with skating bindings, that are pretty efficient
also on backcountry conditions. The powerlight have the advantage that they can be skied shorter than usual.

I have also some E99 / 3pc but these are definitely to heavy to skate long runs, mostly because of the
additional boot weight (Crispi Svartisen)

Best regards

gfwp

[MikeK]

I have a hard time skating anything I have pins on, I used to be able to do it when I was younger but I suck at it now.

The E89 and the Voss (Madshus) are pretty easy to skate with NNN/BC. Both radically different skis despite their similar dimensions. The Voss is definitely more forgiving for hills but doesn't have much camber stiffness for a snap... I'd assume that would be pretty crucial for skating fast... I've only tried it just to see how it felt and I didn't go any faster than I can go traditional.

The other skis I have no idea - hard to get in NA.

[Rodbelan]

Blague à part, I really, really like my AT K2 Sahale mounted with a Voile release kit:
—good for K&G, since they are pretty straight...
—good for wax retention;
—not too wide, not too skinny—69 at the waist;
—very good for turns too, if I put a stronger binding (I can switch from Superloops to Cobras or pins in a snap);
—BC or Groomed runs.

[lilcliffy]

Well, well- quite the question...

The answer to this one might have been different over the years- in different terrain/snow and life contexts (i.e. being at home with 4 children and a homestead to look after affects everything- including my skiing habits).

BUT- that being said my number one MUST have in a backcountry ski will always be a tour-oriented Nordic ski:

• long and fast;
  decent flotation;
  straight-tracking;
  enough camber for xcountry skiing- but not so much that turns are an open fight).

Bindings? In the past- 75mm-NN-3-pin-cable (with detachable cable). Now- and for the foreseeable future- NNNBC-magnum.

So if I were to pick one current ski, it would be the Madshus Eon, 205cm- or the Fischer E109, 205cm.

Although I much prefer the performance of a waxable base- I am afraid if I had to pick one ski it would have to be waxless.

I ski through the woods- every day that I can. Both early, and especially late-season, backcountry skiing means skiing over a lot of fine forest debris. Fine forest debris (e.g. twigs, bark, lichen) really sticks to soft wax and klister!

So- if I really had to have one ski it would be waxless. Skins, and kick wax ahead of the waxless traction, deal with climbing and slippery snow.