Problems turning Fischer S‑Bound skis, remount bindings?

[nemesis256]

Cool...What are they like? Leather at the base and metatarsal flex area? Do the laces extend to the top of the boot? What is the sole flex like?

Not having any experience with other types of boots like this, I won't be the best at explaining this...but there is leather around the metatarsal area, except for a small section at the top of the foot where the zipper goes. The laces don't quite go to the top. If you look at a picture of the latest boot, the laces go to the bottom of the power strap. Sole flex, and the entire bottom area of the boot, is very stiff. They flex well when kicking and gliding through.

[lilcliffy]

Not having any experience with other types of boots like this, I won't be the best at explaining this...but there is leather around the metatarsal area, except for a small section at the top of the foot where the zipper goes. The laces don't quite go to the top. If you look at a picture of the latest boot, the laces go to the bottom of the power strap. Sole flex, and the entire bottom area of the boot, is very stiff. They flex well when kicking and gliding through.

You did a great job of explaining it btw- thank you.

So the lacing height and support are improved over the last generation.

Sounds like they have stiffened up the sole flex of the 75mm version. I see this as a good thing. The previous versions were way too soft and floppy out of the box from my perspective. A stiffer sole flex will offer better power transfer, greater stability and a longer product life. I am sure once those babies are broken in they will still flex enough to offer excellent XC striding performance.

The sole flex reminds of Mike's description of the Svartisen 75mm, as opposed to very soft-soled boots like the Alaska 75mm and Rossignol BCX75.

I will be keeping my eyes open for a new Fischer BCX6 on clearance this spring-summer!

[Cannatonic]

I love the shopping suggestions - here's another idea, sometime within the next few weeks, these skis will go on sale for 30% off, the length might be just right for 130 lbs, would be a perfect complement to Sbound 98's:

http://www.neptunemountaineering.com/as ... ski-540261

[lilcliffy]

I love the shopping suggestions - here's another idea, sometime within the next few weeks, these skis will go on sale for 30% off, the length might be just right for 130 lbs, would be a perfect complement to Sbound 98's:

http://www.neptunemountaineering.com/as ... ski-540261

OOOH- yes Gamme 54...want one- yes please! But in a 205-210cm for me!

At 130lbs, the Sondre might be great as well:
http://www.en.asnes.com/produkt/sondre-bc/
https://www.sportalbert.de/asnes-sondre ... ag=1718453

Of course, there is the "wet dream of telemark" as well:
http://www.en.asnes.com/produkt/nansen/
https://www.sportalbert.de/asnes-nansen ... ag=1718453

Sport Albert skis eventually go on sale as well...

[MikeK]

While all those skis are good, we need to focus on the OP's desired outcomes and past experience.

Having learned to Alpine ski on modern equipment, I'd guess he will be much more comfortable with some decent sidecut. Already stated that he doesn't find the S Bound 98 to be an issue for K+G (I agree BTW, but some do not).

Not sure about how he/she might feel with a wax ski over waxless. Honestly, given the current climate and being new to XCD, waxless is much easier.

Nansen may not be the best option due to weight. A Skog might actually be better. But that depends on if graphics matter. Lack of width and sidecut will make this a little less adept to someone comfortable with modern Alpine.

I really can only put my finger on one, maybe two skis that would be a good match. The Epoch would be very similar to the S 98 just lacking a bit of bite on the climbs. A kicker skin or a little wax forward of the scales should bring performance to equal, or exceed the S 98. The flex is overall much softer without lacking too much torsional stiffness. It's a well balanced ski.

The Eon could also be a contender. What it lacks in sidecut it certainly makes up for in its beautiful flex. It's a very easy ski to handle IMO. Same issues as the Epoch which could be resolved in the same manner. Touring is very good, but perhaps ski it a bit short to maximize the goal of descending. Still, I think the Epoch would be the better balance although the Eon will feel very capable and light with the OP's current boots and bindings.

Another option, which I'm hesitant to suggest, is to look for an old pair of Tuas (or similar elder AT ski) like I did. They would be an excellent XCD ski with wax or a kicker. The camber and flex are very much that of an Alpine ski but the weight is similar to the S98/Epoch. The shape is very similar as well, but a tad straighter. They will lack a little on the flats due to lack of camber but should more than make up for it on the down.

[lilcliffy]

Honestly, given the current climate and being new to XCD, waxless is much easier.

True. Much easier.

Nansen may not be the best option due to weight. A Skog might actually be better. But that depends on if graphics matter. Lack of width and sidecut will make this a little less adept to someone comfortable with modern Alpine.

Probably right abut the stiffness of the Nansen at 130lbs...I threw the Nansen in there precisely because of the sidecut- 20mm- which is a lot for a ski this narrow. The Skog offers the same aggressive sidecut, plus a softer flex. The Sondre has a softer flex than the Nansen as well- but with less sidecut. Of course, all of this is moot if one is not considering a waxable ski...

I really can only put my finger on one, maybe two skis that would be a good match. The Epoch would be very similar to the S 98 just lacking a bit of bite on the climbs. A kicker skin or a little wax forward of the scales should bring performance to equal, or exceed the S 98. The flex is overall much softer without lacking too much torsional stiffness. It's a well balanced ski.

Yeah the reason I threw in the Epoch is because it is so soft- might feeeel better than the S-98 at 130lbs...

The Eon could also be a contender. What it lacks in sidecut it certainly makes up for in its beautiful flex. It's a very easy ski to handle IMO. Same issues as the Epoch which could be resolved in the same manner. Touring is very good, but perhaps ski it a bit short to maximize the goal of descending. Still, I think the Epoch would be the better balance although the Eon will feel very capable and light with the OP's current boots and bindings.

With that class of boot, I think the Eon is more of a manageable ski than the Epoch- especially on difficult snow and terrain.

[lilcliffy]

Madshus Eons on for $235US:
http://www.akers-ski.com/product/17K794.html

[MikeK]

175 would be ideal, but perhaps 165 would be better...

[nemesis256]

Time to revive this...I finally had the chance to rent some Scarpa T4 boots to use with my S‑Bound skis. There was a very noticeable difference between them and my leather boots. I was able to turn the skis almost like they were alpine skis. No more feeling of the tails washing out from underneath me. It seems that little bit of plastic in the boots allowed me to get a little more forward and turn the skis from their intended point.

I suppose now I have to decide if it's worth getting yet another pair of boots for these skis. And also if remounting slightly forward instead would give the same effect with my leather boots.

[Woodserson]

Possibly. As I've mentioned before and I'll do again, it does take practice, if it were easy... They are not alpine skis, they don't flex like alpine skis, they are not skied like alpine skis. Think of them more as nordic skis designed for stable kick & glide with a sidecut to help with turning when that occurs. It took me quite a bit to get to the point where I knew how to balance myself on the skis, work all those little muscles in my foot and my ankle to keep my ball-of-foot on the ski, and be able to drive it around in leather boots. The plastic boot makes it easier because it eliminates the guesswork and buttresses your feet and ankles, but the same mechanics are in play, you just haven't turned them on using the leather boots yet. The question really comes down to what you want to do and how you want to approach this.

Do you want to learn how to drive them with the leather boots which is entirely possible but takes time and practice, or do you want to cut that out and spend some money and go skiing and have fun now minus the slower learning curve? This is only something that you can decide upon and both are entirely acceptable.