Noob in Yellowstone considering Alpina Discovery 68, Alpina XP, Xplore, etc?

[GrimSurfer]

All bindings are mounted at or very near a ski’s balance point. This is normally pretty close the the middle, where the waist of the ski is located.

[Tom M]

Hello! I am working in Yellowstone this winter. I am going to be working here many winters and get into XC here. I have not skiied before but I absolutely know I will a lot in my future so I want to get the best.

I am a tall slender female which makes choosing sizing a bit confusing. 5'9, 125lbs.

Its a combo of semi-groomed trails where all there employees make tracks by consistently skiing daily to work etc, & where our ski tours go, with some backcountry (& I hope to do more and more backcountry).

The rec from the ski shop here is is something like 68 Outback Fisher Crown. I am also looking at the Alpina Discoveries. Any other recs? Should I get metal edges? Really torn on the length too. I see charts widely varying on rec length for my weight.

Open to aaaalll suggestions.

Edit: Leaning toward the Alpina Discovery 68 in 170?

I really really want to get the new Alpina Alaska XPs and Xplore bindings. Looks like they will fit a 68 width ski?

Torn on the boot size between 41 & 42; I see some used 41s on sale I want to nab but all the size charts say I am a 42 (10 × womens) tho an old 75mm used Alaska I tried on was 42 and maybe felt just a touch big so maybe the 41s will work? My Oboz bridger snowboots are a 10 and touch too big, but they say their EU size is 41.5; I have some Merrels that are 10 and 41 and too small, and some Altras that are 10/42 and fit great.

Thanks in advance!

The Outback 68 Crown is 68-59-64 so it can easily accept the Xplore binding. The 68 is just narrow enough that it will fit in a groomed track. The skiing opportunities will vary depending on where you will be staying. There are lots of great routes that are well known and commonly skied. The roads are a great place to learn to ski before you venture into the backcountry. I don't think you can go wrong with the 68 Crown / Alaska XP combo as a starting point, and it would be perfect to learn on.