Karhu 10th Mountain Tour; the "Catamount Class" design profile; and the quest for a mile-crushing deep snow ski

[riel]

I got my hands on some Karhu 10th Mountain Tour skis this week. They have a fairly narrow sidecut (68-55-60), combined with a camber and flex that are clearly designed for soft snow.

The initial camber compresses to flat very easily, but stiffens up at that point and does not bend beyond flat much at all in the middle 60% or so of the ski. The tip and tail are relatively soft and bend further than flat.

They feel like they should be fairly stable and easy to control in soft snow, but frustratingly slow on hard packed snow.

Did Karhu sell multiple different skis under the same name over the years?

[phoenix]

Yes, they definitely offered very different skis, with the same name, over the years. I don't know when the version you have in the pics was sold, but it doesn't resemble the earliest or latest versions of the 10th Mtn's.

[Woodserson]

Kind of makes me think of the more general touring E99's that have less camber underfoot and are generally a bit softer than the more distance-oriented E99's that we've seen in the past decade and half. Dimensions are almost right on. Probably Karhu's answer to that?
What length again?

[riel]

Kind of makes me think of the more general touring E99's that have less camber underfoot and are generally a bit softer than the more distance-oriented E99's that we've seen in the past decade and half. Dimensions are almost right on. Probably Karhu's answer to that?
What length again?

Oh, I wish these had a flex pattern like the touring E99s! These are very soft in the tip and tail, with a stiffer section under foot that bottoms out right after going through flat.

These are 193cm long.

[Lhartley]

Wondering if this is the same ski? They are in my area in 195cm length. I have a pair of tua wilderness that I like to kick around on once in a while and eventually figure out how to turn, but they're too short at 185, wondering if these would be a good replacement

[wabene]

Wondering if this is the same ski? They are in my area in 195cm length. I have a pair of tua wilderness that I like to kick around on once in a while and eventually figure out how to turn, but they're too short at 185, wondering if these would be a good replacement Screenshot_20231203_212411_Facebook.jpgScreenshot_20231203_212429_Facebook.jpg

If you want to know about this ski go to the excellent first post in this thread by LC and you will get a great description of his beautifully mint, but short, pair.

On another note this is a great part of this thread, again by LC, that I completely agree with;

"The Fischer 88 is also a profile that could be taken much further than it has been.
I would already own one if I could get one longer than 189cm and even better with a waxable base!
Fischer 88 in a 205cm length- with Nordic-rockered tip, stable supportive flex- in both waxable and Off-Track Crown bases- and both with the Easy-Skin attachment. PLEASE.

[Scratch]

Oh Man, those are mighty fine looking Tenth Mountain Tours. I bought mine, same length, back in 1999, used them on a summit ski of Mt. St. Helens in 2000, first time the Monument opened up the mountain to the summit. Skied them with old Merrell leathers/Velcro closures, Voile 3 pin cable bindings. They were a better ski than I was a skier back then although I did walk away from every landing safely. Since then, I switched them over to SNS XA bindings and they have been around Crater Lake, up to Assiniboine Lodge, Skoki Lodge and on many day tours. Just a fine ski, especially in spring conditions.

[Lhartley]

Oh Man, those are mighty fine looking Tenth Mountain Tours. I bought mine, same length, back in 1999, used them on a summit ski of Mt. St. Helens in 2000, first time the Monument opened up the mountain to the summit. Skied them with old Merrell leathers/Velcro closures, Voile 3 pin cable bindings. They were a better ski than I was a skier back then although I did walk away from every landing safely. Since then, I switched them over to SNS XA bindings and they have been around Crater Lake, up to Assiniboine Lodge, Skoki Lodge and on many day tours. Just a fine ski, especially in spring conditions.

I just picked them up. I'm in Calgary so maybe they will also someday make it into Assiniboine and Skoki someday. I really like the shape and they feel very different from other Karhus I've handled. I'll likely ski them occasionally on groomers

[Lhartley]

Kicked around on these in the parking lot at the nordic center after skiing mr48s are day long, they feel like AT skis in comparison. Very sturdy sandwich construction with wood core and low rise rounded tip, a unique fun ski. Drove home and took them out on the low angle slopes of our horse pasture and they turn ok. Not really anywhere near as good as Guides but they turn. The older Generation NNN BC worked great, would purchase another set without hesitation. They will be replaced with 75mm though. These skis are classy and need 3 pins and 75mm leather. I won't comment any further though as there's nothing on the market like this anymore so no point really

[lilcliffy]