Advice on new skis

[MikeK]

No need to stop at two

[mugglesport]

Thanks for the quick reply, words of welcome, and advice! If I got the 98s and skied them 3 out of 4 times on flats, would I regret not getting a narrower ski? Or would I not know what I was missing? I think I would enjoy skiing some flatter trails, just not the round and round and round in circles of the groomed xc center.

What do you think about s-98s, Bcx 675 boots, and voile bindings with cables? All three can be found pretty cheap right now. Then i could later add s-78 or eon to the mix and use the same boots. And could eventually get plastic boots. Any knowledge of the Bcx 675s and wide feet?

[MikeK]

The S 98s actually feel like they glide pretty well. Only when you break out the clock do your realize you aren't actually moving that fast compared to real skinny ski. And that's only in ideal conditions. I've had times last year in early season LE where I was on my Eons and I wish I would have been on something wider. I was barely going 1mph breaking trail. Doubt I would have went much faster with my 98s, but it surely feels easier with a wider ski.

The only issue with a curvy ski like the 98s is if you don't have great K+G technique, they can/will feel squirrelly. That's really only on hardpack stuff IMO and it's not that bad if you have adequate boot support.

As for the boots, I do know from what I've read that the Fischer boots do have a wide toe box. Not sure it is as wide as a Crispi (or Alfa). Crispi is almost too wide for my fat foot.

Those bindings will be fine. I'd leave the cable off for 90% of your BC excursions and toss it on if you have a difficult hill to descend or if you go to the resort.

I'll warn you, skiing down hills with those skis and leathers isn't a slam dunk. It takes some practice. It won't feel like what you are used to in DH skiing and more likely than not you'll feel a lot more confident tele'ing (I know I do with floppy boots). If you aren't 100% sold on tele, then those low cuff, two buckle plastic boots will let you get away with a lot more.

At any rate, you might want to start with the leathers and if you really have trouble with them, get a pair of plastics to compliment. Then choose your boot based on what you are going to ski and the conditions.

[mugglesport]

Thanks a ton. In the spirit of making the most with what you have, I think getting a setup that allows me to enjoy messing around on the lake and exploring some rolling trails (with a dip into the woods now and then) would be wise. Ideally, it would allow me to run some yo-yo laps on hills. Sounds like leathers with plastic cuffs (e.g., the BCX 675) would fit this bill. I'm not prioritizing on-piste lift-serviced use (I still have my alpine kit for that) but I could see using an XCD setup on the nearby hills that have only like 400' of vertical and very mild slopes....just for the challenge.

We don't get LE snow where I am (fortunately or unfortunately, depending on your perspective). More common is not having enough snow...because it will dump once every week or two then harden up.

I'm not sure about my kick and glide technique. As I alluded to earlier, my experience in classic tracks has always been in poor conditions (e.g., below 20 degrees, icy surface, 6 days since the tracks were groomed, etc.). Can a ski like the 98s be skated effectively? Under what conditions? I can skate my alpine set up fairly well, considering the weight and rigidness.

This was filmed in Wisconsin and looks like some of the conditions I'd like to ski in (go down, clamber back up, rinse, repeat):

He was using Epochs, BCX 675s, and Voile cable bindings.

[MikeK]

No - you won't want to skate the 98s. Too wide and too much sidecut.

Best to work on your traditional stride - maybe that doesn't sound as glamorous but it's the most effective way of getting around in the woods.

When the skis get squirrelly, that a good time to work on controlling your front ski.

I wouldn't worry about it too much.

[mugglesport]

OK, I pulled the trigger on the 98s for $219 at Next Adventure (sorry GLB, hope you didn't have your heart set on those!). I'll probably wait a bit to buy boots and bindings...though prices might be better now than in a couple of months.

[MikeK]

Early bird gets the worm... or the skis.

Hey mugglesports, I have a spare set of Voile 3 pin cable bindings that I have no use for. I was looking for a ski to throw them on but really it's trying too hard. They are brand new, never mounted. These ones:

http://www.backwoods.com/voile-3-pin-ca ... AjmZ8P8HAQ

Take your time on the boots. Those are important. If you can find a local shop that stocks them, or something similar to what you want, go try them on. Either that or buy them from a place that has a good return policy.

[mugglesport]

Mike, I'm interested in your spare bindings...want to PM me?

I've learned from my mistakes trying to find a good deal on alpine boots. I would guess leather nordic boots are more forgiving, but still...better safe than sorry. REI seems to stock a few options and I have a couple of local xc shops in my area.

[MikeK]

I sent a PM about the bindings.

Leather are different than alpine boots. I actually want/need the fit to be better because I use my foot a lot more. Alpine is like a cast. If you can tolerate the pain, the tighter the better.

You want your leathers to fit pretty tight too. But also be able to move the way your foot will move. Most will and break into to your motion.

Things to be aware of are heel lift, arches being too tight or too loose, and toe box being too loose or too snug. These going one way or the other can lead to pain (blisters too loose or too stiff, cramps too tight - sometimes too loose) or just shitty skiing (too tight/stiff - no freedom, too loose - no control).

Best advice I can give you is you want these kind of boots to fit like a good hiking boot. It's essentially what you will be doing with some sliding involved - you want the sliding to be on the ski bases, not between your boot insole and the foot.

Just as example, I have custom inserts I use in my boots. I forgot to put them in once last year. I skied off, didn't really notice it on the flat terrain. First hill I was falling all over. Kept falling. Couldn't figure out why I couldn't ski. Got back to my car, took off my boots... no insert. It felt really obvious when I knew it was missing.

[GLB]

OK, I pulled the trigger on the 98s for $219 at Next Adventure (sorry GLB, hope you didn't have your heart set on those!). I'll probably wait a bit to buy boots and bindings...though prices might be better now than in a couple of months.

Happy that you got those skis. That looks like a good deal. I am looking for something a little narrower for my self and I keep coming back to the eons.