Telemark Talk / Telemark Tips Forum

HI. I want to upgrade my gear but don't know whether to go hardwire with new ski or cross over to NTN completely. I have Scarpa t2 3 buckle with custom liner and footbeds. I'm happyt with my boot still but I want better control of my ski and I want to update my skis. I have Fischer Mustang T Stix with Targa G3s. I only ski about 10 days a year. I wish it was more but this is my reality at the moment. I'm an advanced telemark skier who targets powder at ski areas in California and out of bounds from ski areas that allow it. I hike in the backcountry too but not with any regularity at the moment. Typically, I target powder days for my 10 days a year at areas but inevitably I find sometimes I have to settle for groomers or variable off piste. I do like carving turns on groomers and feeling the turn initiate from tip to tail on my T Stix, but I think I can improve my experience with an upgrade. I find I now tend to ski more alpine style on groomers than dropping telemark turns. This allows me to feel the tip to tail drive of my ski better. I have had these skis for longer than I care to admit (15 years! Time got away from me!). I don't know whether simply upgrading the binding will make it easier for me to drop tele turns all the time or whether I should go with upgrading binding and ski or switching altogether to NTN setup. I demoed DPS 112 Wailer with NTN setup on a powder day recently. It was awesome in the powder but not so exciting to carve on the groomers at the bottom of the powder run. In that part, it just felt like I was on boards going across hard snow. I think I need a more versatile ski than this. It only makes sense for me to have a quiver of 1 given the number of days I ski currently.

So... my question are:

1. Should I go whole hog with NTN setup on new skis for the skiing I currently do? OR...
2. Should I slap a hardwire on new skis and use my current boots for the skiing I currently do? AND...
3. What ski would you recommend for quiver of 1 with these as my priorities: powder first but must be able to carve turns on groomers, misc. off piste 2nd?

Thanks for reading and for your input!
Karen

Based on your preferences, you might be best served skiing, both economically and skiing wise with the viole hardwire three pin and a volkl t rock type ski. You ski what lots of us ski it sounds like, and I have narrowed it down to this combo for my quiver of one...not sure what the modern and women's equivalent to the t rock is, but you might be able to pick something up used even. The three pin HW is good cause you can lock down the HW bindings behind the heel plate when skinning or doing low angle hills. Then theres no need for new boots. Good luck!

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Hello Karen,
Could I offer the suggestion that if you buy another set of skis you now have a quiver of two. I know for the most part people that switch to NTN seem to like it, however I have heard some people tried NTN and came back to NNN (3-pin) gear. Although I have no desire to go to NTN, from what I read it may be very helpful to you. That being said, the money you save on NTN boots could put a more active binding on your Mustang T-Stix. Then you can buy DPS Wailer for the powder days. That is why people have a couple different skis. As for ski recommendations, I am sure you will get a few here, however there are two other sites that seem to have more people interested in NTN and sidecountry skiing. Don't misunderstand me, there are people here that are knowledgeable about exactly the gear you speak of, there are just more people whom focus on that gear on the other sites.
If I was picking the skis, I would put a Vice on the T-Stix and I would put a Switchback X2 on a Supercharger for the sidecountry. There are a lot of good choices out there. You said you like skiing powder, buy a powder ski, and get a bit more active of a binding to help you on the groomed.
Good luck, let us know how you do.

Thank you for your input. I really appreciate your thoughtful response. I will check out your suggestions!

here's a couple ideas:
http://www.telemarkdown.com/store/women ... vy-w-sale/
OR
http://www.telemarkdown.com/store/view- ... y-helix-2/
OR
http://www.telemarkdown.com/store/view- ... kl-mantra/

In the meantime, I would look into a ski like the Liberty Envy or Helix mounted with 22Design Vice bindings for a really versatile, deeper snow, lift served set up - I've got the Helix, which is great in powder, chowder, cut up mank, squishy bumps, but a litte squirrelly on hard pack groomers. The Mantra is another ski to consider for all-around versatility.

I'd keep the Fischer skis mounted with the G3 bindings as a low-snow, back up set. Or days when ripping groomers. Especially if you like your boots. I don't think I'd invest in another binding for this ski, though I can definitely tell a difference in how the Vice skis, relative to the Targa.

Have fun!

Backcountry is selling Hardwires at the moment, as for skis something in the mid 90's, if your charging hard in the crud something a bit stiffer or/ & with metal. More powder oriented and BC well something a bit softer, good luck on your search, now is definitely the best time to score deals. I like going through the reviews from the season or two before, knowing how I ski and what my need is. Love my old style Volkl Mantras as an everyday ski.

Hi Karen, if you like your boots, why change them. I wouldn't switch to ntn without at least another demo on the type of ski you are looking for, to see if it makes a difference in your skiing.

As far as skis, if I had to pick a quiver of one ski I would take the advice of Teledance above.

I have to agree with the advice here. I would not switch boots, I would use a ski similar to the ones mentioned (mid-90s waist, not too heavy), and I would mount them with AXLs or Voile 3-pin hardwires.

Thank you so much for your comments and suggestions. I'm researching each one to see what I think. I'm glad to hear stick with my boot. And thanks for the tip re: telemarkdown! I will let you know what I do and how it goes!

kareng wrote:Thank you so much for your comments and suggestions. I'm researching each one to see what I think. I'm glad to hear stick with my boot. And thanks for the tip re: telemarkdown! I will let you know what I do and how it goes!

You are welcome. If you are looking for a binding upgrade from your G3 Targas, I would recommend one of the 22Designs bindings, either VICE for primarily lift served or AXL if you plan to tour. I made this switch and am really pleased. In fact, I skied my boards mounted with Targas this past weekend, cause it was a *really* hard pack morning into soft+sticky afternoon snow, and definitely noted the difference in control and turn precision compared to my skis mounted with the VICE bindings. At any rate, enjoy the ski shopping!

cheers!