NNN-BC on narrow alpine skis

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tkarhu
Posts: 321
Joined: Thu Jan 13, 2022 11:58 am
Location: Finland
Ski style: XCD | Nordic ice skating | XC | BC-XC
Favorite Skis: Gamme | Falketind Xplore | Atomic RC-10
Favorite boots: Alfa Guard | boots that fit

Re: NNN-BC on narrow alpine skis

Post by tkarhu » Mon Feb 27, 2023 2:16 pm

For your information, I ended up with a telemark ski finally. It is a Åsnes V12, a telemark / topptur ski from around 2000.

The skis are 93-62-85 and 172 cm. I took off Riva3's and had BC Magnums installed. A V12 weights ~1550 g with a binding, 1275 g ski only.

In the photo below, I put "virtual" Falketind Xplore and Rabb next to my 200 cm Gammes and the 172 cm V12's. Obviously the V12 has no rocker, but a nice and even flex. The V12 feels quite soft, but somewhat springy, too, when you flex it.

Falketind_Xplore_Gamme_V12_Rabb.jpg

Maybe the V12 and V20 were the first iterations of the current FTX and Rabb models? The early models had durability issues with lamination. Seems that Åsnes had a few years break before they came back with this kind of models, Vetletind and Storetind. Some forum post says Åsnes tried to compete with the V12 and V20 against new models from Tua, Elan and K2.

Looks like the V12 has a rounded tail, unlike the K2 alpine touring ski in an earlier photo. Compared to the K2 AT skis, the V12 also has longer straight sections near tip and tail.

EDIT: Main difference between the Åsnes telemark and K2 AT skis seems to be that the AT skis have a longer curved part. In central Europe, people seem to ski AT skis short. It seemed difficult to find anything over 170 cm second hand. It seems also that tip and tail straight parts might bring tracking. In the Alps, the tracking might not be that important because there are less flats. Is this why the AT skis have the ”full curve” shape?

I have skied the V12's once now. They felt squirrelly on hard flats, but alright where I had set a track in powder. A Finnish fjellski expedition club uses the V12 for tours with a pulk, yet in a longer length I guess. I will use my Gammes for any touring, the V12's are for XCD rock skiing.

First impressions downhill, I could take slightly steeper lines with these than with my Gammes. I was also able to try some sideslipping and monomark turns with the V12's.

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