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.
I never said ice. And everyone seems to have a different idea of what icey snow is. I'm talking about the kind of snow you find in the spring time before the sun has warmed everything up. Similar to what you find at a resort when it hasn't snowed recently. Most people pull out skinnies for spring tours when you don't need much float.
I can edge my k2 shes piste (107/70) in leather boots on groomed or hard packed resort runs and I'm not a great skier. Width is not the only factor. My k2 skis has great torsional rigidity and dampening. In contrast, my s-bound 98s with a similar waist width and skinner tip are wet noodles on firmer snow. The dogma that leather boots must be skied on super skinny skis on packed snow only applies to nordic skis or really old low tech skis.
If the Rabbs have ok torsional rigidity and ok performance on firmer snow then maybe they could eliminate the need to have a skinny (50-60mm) waist with XCD ski in my already too big quiver.
I am in complete agreement about the S-bounds being a torsional noodle on firm. In contrast my Falketind X are solid on firm. The Rabb should be similar. The Rabb being a bit more longitudinally stiffer, should be better.
These Asnes poplar/carbon skis are in a completely different league from the air core ski. I don’t know if Fischer ever improved the edges on their skis, but the edges on Asnes skis are the same quality edges you would find on quality on piste ski. The Fischer’s I had were not.
I know this isn't the early morning spring conditions you're talking about, but I feel the s-bound 98s are so great at turning that it's worth it to struggle through the slightly less ideal conditions when its a little colder to get to this. This is BC-NNN setup with Alpina Alaskas. Apologies for my pasty white legs.
@Arobint Loved the Youtube clip. The S-Bound 98 is a great ski. Is it the perfect ski for all conditions, absolutely not, but for me it works on almost everything but ice. I've always skied mine with softer leather boots and that tends to be one of the limiting factors when trying to edge a ski. I don't ski at high speeds so maybe I've never experienced the instability that others mention. I haven't skied the Asnes skis, so I don't have a direct comparison, but I have no desire to go back to a waxible ski for off trail use. The snow conditions shown on your clip is the perfect example where the traction pattern ski shines over other choices.
I never said ice. And everyone seems to have a different idea of what icey snow is. I'm talking about the kind of snow you find in the spring time before the sun has warmed everything up. Similar to what you find at a resort when it hasn't snowed recently. Most people pull out skinnies for spring tours when you don't need much float.
I can edge my k2 shes piste (107/70) in leather boots on groomed or hard packed resort runs and I'm not a great skier. Width is not the only factor. My k2 skis has great torsional rigidity and dampening. In contrast, my s-bound 98s with a similar waist width and skinner tip are wet noodles on firmer snow. The dogma that leather boots must be skied on super skinny skis on packed snow only applies to nordic skis or really old low tech skis.
If the Rabbs have ok torsional rigidity and ok performance on firmer snow then maybe they could eliminate the need to have a skinny (50-60mm) waist with XCD ski in my already too big quiver.
I am in complete agreement about the S-bounds being a torsional noodle on firm. In contrast my Falketind X are solid on firm. The Rabb should be similar. The Rabb being a bit more longitudinally stiffer, should be better.
These Asnes poplar/carbon skis are in a completely different league from the air core ski. I don’t know if Fischer ever improved the edges on their skis, but the edges on Asnes skis are the same quality edges you would find on quality on piste ski. The Fischer’s I had were not.
Appreciate the info. I decided to order a Rabb. Sounds like a good all around ski that would be great on powder that's not too deep and also decent for spring skiing. It should replace my skinny spring XCD Nanses and possibly my S-bound 98s but I might hold on to the 98s if they are better at XC. It will also replace my K2 Shes Piste, which I bought as a resort or earn your turns ski, but since I've decided I don't enjoy resort skiing I would rather have an ultralight, earn your turns but nordic inspired ski.
I know this isn't the early morning spring conditions you're talking about, but I feel the s-bound 98s are so great at turning that it's worth it to struggle through the slightly less ideal conditions when its a little colder to get to this. This is BC-NNN setup with Alpina Alaskas. Apologies for my pasty white legs.
They are a pretty versatile ski. On firm snow, I can make them work, but they are chattery and noodley. It's hard to hold a stable tele turn. In the context of backcountry crosscountry skiing where you aren't concerned with making great turns it's not so bad. You are a much better tele skier than I am.
@Arobint Loved the Youtube clip. The S-Bound 98 is a great ski. Is it the perfect ski for all conditions, absolutely not, but for me it works on almost everything but ice. I've always skied mine with softer leather boots and that tends to be one of the limiting factors when trying to edge a ski. I don't ski at high speeds so maybe I've never experienced the instability that others mention. I haven't skied the Asnes skis, so I don't have a direct comparison, but I have no desire to go back to a waxible ski for off trail use. The snow conditions shown on your clip is the perfect example where the traction pattern ski shines over other choices.
My experience was trying to ski at a resort (or firm (not icey) backcountry snow) in leather boots and my s-bound 98s and struggling to do more than basic stopping turns. I picked up an old school k2 tele ski with a similar waist width and it was much better on groomers to the point where I was now able to link turns. That ski has significantly more torsional rigidity and dampening that my s-bound 98s. So if the Rabb has better torsional rigidity, should be better on firmer snow. But I don't expect amazing results skiing a leather boot on an ultralight ski on firm snow.
I generally don't enjoy skiing on firm snow. But the spring is a great time for longer distance tours and sometimes you encounter it mid-winter above the treeline. Having something with similar dimensions to my s-bound 98 but a bit more stable on firm snow would be nice.
@JB TELE if you decide to sell the Nansen get in touch. Is it a recent model?
Yes, however it's a 180. I bought it intentionally short.
Because I didn't like the top sheet design, I had this stupid idea to paint the thing black. Turns out that made it look even worse. I'm in the process of stripping off all of the paint and I'm not sure how that's going to end up.
It's been drilled for the voile 3 pin cable traverse for a size 40 boot. Also some bonus filled in holes where the ski tech forgot it was a riser binding and started drilling it for a 3 hole pattern.
@Arobint Loved the Youtube clip. The S-Bound 98 is a great ski. Is it the perfect ski for all conditions, absolutely not, but for me it works on almost everything but ice. I've always skied mine with softer leather boots and that tends to be one of the limiting factors when trying to edge a ski. I don't ski at high speeds so maybe I've never experienced the instability that others mention. I haven't skied the Asnes skis, so I don't have a direct comparison, but I have no desire to go back to a waxible ski for off trail use. The snow conditions shown on your clip is the perfect example where the traction pattern ski shines over other choices.
Hey thanks, I was fortunate to learn telemark in big mountains with skinny skis in the 90's, so any of these skis are a real treat, though I feel strongly the fischers are designed with turns in mind. I have the outback 68s as well and they turn just as well, and maybe better in firmer conditions. But the s-bounds really fly in the soft stuff!
I know this isn't the early morning spring conditions you're talking about, but I feel the s-bound 98s are so great at turning that it's worth it to struggle through the slightly less ideal conditions when its a little colder to get to this. This is BC-NNN setup with Alpina Alaskas. Apologies for my pasty white legs.
They are a pretty versatile ski. On firm snow, I can make them work, but they are chattery and noodley. It's hard to hold a stable tele turn. In the context of backcountry crosscountry skiing where you aren't concerned with making great turns it's not so bad. You are a much better tele skier than I am.
I have a pair of outbound 68's as well and I think they turn even better on the hard stuff, as you can muscle the edge up better on the narrower ski. Something to think about if you're faced with only hardback. Maybe just go skinnier!
