Return to XCD

[Manney]

Thanks for all the comments. Even the crusty ones.

I’m coming at this a bit differently. Skied at the varsity level for two years. Then turned my leg into a pretzel and had reconstructive surgery. Turned to XC for therapy during my final year… it helped a lot with mobility and stability particularly when the scar tissue started breaking down. Then came a ten year pause.

Interest in plastic boots is lower than when one was last cut off my foot. Same with chair lifts. Seat time never did anyone any good as a skier.

Might start a poll in a few days to capture the broader view.

[tkarhu]

Would a big quiver help me develop rapidly as a skier? Maybe four or five new/used skis?

Well, I agree with others that with that little time available it might be difficult to get to a high skill level fast. But thanks for the backgound info! It helps to answer.

With your background, I would not hesitate goimg with leather boots. If you start to build a quiver from scratch, I would go with Xplore bindings, if you can find a Xplore boot model that fits. I would try an Alpina Alaska XP boot first maybe, and go with that if it fits. Yes Scarpa T4 should be great. But for future, that class boots are increasingly difficult to find.

I have two pairs of BC skis. One pair is for fast touring, 200 cm fjellskis, Åsnes Gammes (~68-54-62). Another pair is rock skis for XCD, 172 cm old Åsnes telemark skis (~93-62-85). Having now the telemark skis, something in between the two might make sense as only pair. For example, Åsnes Nansen in ~190 cm (I am 180 cm). Or Åsnes Falketind Xplore, if you are focusing on XCD, and you have less than 30-50 cm sinking powder typically. With the Falketinds, maybe Alfa Free would make sense too, if you are very downhill oriented.

It has helped me with learning to have two different pairs of skis. Yet I would maybe go with what @lilcliffy suggested if I remember correctly. Start with one pair of allrounders, and buy another pair, if you later feel you are lacking something specific.

[lilcliffy]

@Manney
So-
not consdering plastic Telemark boots.
not interested in downhill skiing at a lift-served hill.

So- touring?

Are you looking to do more traditional Nordic touring?
Or looking to seek downhill-focused tours?
Or both?

Is there anything that you are considering?

[turnfarmer]

Would a big quiver help me develop rapidly as a skier? Maybe four or five new/used skis?

Well, I agree with others that with that little time available it might be difficult to get to a high skill level fast. But thanks for the backgound info! It helps to answer.

With your background, I would not hesitate goimg with leather boots. If you start to build a quiver from scratch, I would go with Xplore bindings, if you can find a Xplore boot model that fits. I would try an Alpina Alaska XP boot first maybe, and go with that if it fits. Yes Scarpa T4 should be great. But for future, that class boots are increasingly difficult to find.

I have two pairs of BC skis. One pair is for fast touring, 200 cm fjellskis, Åsnes Gammes (~68-54-62). Another pair is rock skis for XCD, 172 cm old Åsnes telemark skis (~93-62-85). Having now the telemark skis, something in between the two might make sense as only pair. For example, Åsnes Nansen in ~190 cm (I am 180 cm). Or Åsnes Falketind Xplore, if you are focusing on XCD, and you have less than 30-50 cm sinking powder typically. With the Falketinds, maybe Alfa Free would make sense too, if you are very downhill oriented.

It has helped me with learning to have two different pairs of skis. Yet I would maybe go with what @lilcliffy suggested if I remember correctly. Start with one pair of allrounders, and buy another pair, if you later feel you are lacking something specific.

If you end up in 75mm old Riva 2 bindings will release most of the time in a bad crash. Available on eBay for cheap.

[tkarhu]

If you end up in 75mm old Riva 2 bindings will release most of the time in a bad crash. Available on eBay for cheap.

Great info! Do you think Riva 3’s would release, too? I got a pair of those with my V12’s.

EDIT: Riva3 should be Riva2 with tension adjustment on both sides. Works similarly I guess.

[mca80]

@Manney, I reiterate my earlier post and agree with @lilcliffy. That is to say, narrow down what you want to do on skis and you will get some good feedback. Personally I think unless you can find super deals on used skis, one all-around type new ski would more than suffice, and you can fill in from there. I am about 3 hrs west-southwest of you and am vaguely familiar with your terrain but not terribly so--and I dont know what you are looking to do... just tours in backcountry, xc on trails, tours for turns in the bc, etc etc.

[turnfarmer]

If you end up in 75mm old Riva 2 bindings will release most of the time in a bad crash. Available on eBay for cheap.

Great info! Do you think Riva 3’s would release, too? I got a pair of those with my V12’s.

EDIT: Riva3 should be Riva2 with tension adjustment on both sides. Works similarly I guess.

As long as it has the 2 tabs and not a bar across the top, yes.

[Manney]

Are you looking to do more traditional Nordic touring?
Or looking to seek downhill-focused tours?
Or both?

Both.

Personally I think unless you can find super deals on used skis, one all-around type new ski would more than suffice, and you can fill in from there.

I can get pretty wild deals on a certain Austrian ski because a few of the reps are college buddies. I’m not made of money, but $100 for any new set I want make it a no brainer. Helps that it’s the brand I competed DH on too.

So I’m thinking of Fischer scales in the 60-70 mm range for semi-groomed rolling terrain (I can follow the tracks of a snow machines for fitness and avoid shiny pants/big butt the dreamers get from riding the lifts).

Open to suggestions for something in the 80-100 mm range for the days when I climb and carve the same hills I mountain bike off season. Moderate side cut with a steel edge. No dog bones because I want to work for my turns and have fun. My job, not the ski’s. Plan to shop the close out sales.

Three poles… adjustable with pow baskets, fixed with pow baskets, and fixed with touring baskets. Poles are cheap, so why not?

XPlore for sure. Superior tech in every way. Open to suggestion on boots.

[Manney]

New Evo OT 65 + NNN BC manual bindings… all in for $150. Sweet deal. Should be good for light OT touring.

Just need to find wide ones better suited to the D part of future XCD experiences.

[Manney]

Crazy day, a buddy showed up this afternoon with a new pair of 189 S-bound 98s with an Xplore binding. When he saw my OTs, he laughed and went to his truck. Returned with another set of Xplores and his mounting tools. He’d only take $200 and a beer for everything. He gets sweetheart deals as a rep. The second set of Xplores were out of his spares bin. Cant do anything for me on boots right now. Maybe he’s holding out for a rib dinner. Ha ha.