Telemark Talk / Telemark Tips Forum

A friend (really!) is 70+ and not especially stable/balanced (physically for currrent purposes). He is relatively new to skiing and pokes around in the backcountry (flats and hills). He has late model Karhu XCD/GTs (like the Madshus Eon) that he skis with T4s because he feels more stable and in control with those boots. (This set up works reasonably well for him in set track).
He is looking for even more stability, so I am suggesting skis that would be in the next width category that would also have less camber (like the old 10th Mountains).
I'm thinking Rossi BC 100, Fischer S-bound 98, Madshus Panorama m68.
Oh, he also has a pair of Hoks that he really likes (stable platform and slows him down on the down), but sometimes you actually want to ski and cover some ground.

First, am I offering reasonable advice?
Second, any reason to think one of those three choices would be more suitable?
(e.g. Rossi has less sidecut which might make them less twitchy going straight, but harder to turn on the gentle down, hm?).
I'm also thinking to maybe recommend going a size down in length.

BTW, I also suggested lessons.

Interesting. I was going to suggest the Altai Hoks. Do they not work for him? Is he using them with the universal bindings or with 3 pins?
Regardless, your advice on going up a bit on width seems fine to me.
Do you think the Fischer 112 would just be too wide? With the extra width, you could decrease length a bit, I'd guess.

I was not a fan of the Rossi's BC line up for the very reason that it seemed like they slipped too much. I think the S-bound 98 would be a great ski especially with the easy skin. The waxless pattern is better and grippy'er and the easy skin could be added for the uphill and down to add more stability when desired. I know they aren't favored for the K&G but I feel like I have been able to scoot along just fine with them. SB98 have my my vote.

Montana St Alum wrote: ↑

Fri Oct 08, 2021 6:19 pm

Interesting. I was going to suggest the Altai Hoks. Do they not work for him? Is he using them with the universal bindings or with 3 pins?
Regardless, your advice on going up a bit on width seems fine to me.
Do you think the Fischer 112 would just be too wide? With the extra width, you could decrease length a bit, I'd guess.

Thanks.
Hoks w/T4 works, but not so great if ski partners are on actual skis.
Regarding Fischer 112, I did send him links to 4 skis: the three mentioned and the Fischer 112. I suppose I was now thinking wider=heavier (when would he not be able to control them w/T4 via 3-pin or just get tired faster?) -- but I did not actually check the weights and consider downsizing with the wider ski (they don't always tell you weight by length) -- good suggestion to consider more carefully.

Edit: per REI, Fischer 112 is 14oz/pair heavier than 98 -- 7oz per ski -- not too bad.

RabbitEars wrote: ↑

Fri Oct 08, 2021 6:30 pm

I was not a fan of the Rossi's BC line up for the very reason that it seemed like they slipped too much. I think the S-bound 98 would be a great ski especially with the easy skin. The waxless pattern is better and grippy'er and the easy skin could be added for the uphill and down to add more stability when desired. I know they aren't favored for the K&G but I feel like I have been able to scoot along just fine with them. SB98 have my my vote.

Thanks.
Yeah, slipping too much would not be good!
Not being the best for K&G is not a priority; we're in "shuffle plus" territory.
I did say he could borrow my Boundless Crowns to get something of a sense for that category and also my Koms -- but he might just be in a buying mood! -- if you can't ski yet, shop!

For the person in question, the most controllable skis on the market and the safest, most controllable boots and bindings are called for.

Any of Voile's fishscale skis, with tech bindings and boots in the F1 class would fill those blanks best.

I know, it isn't Tele, and it isn't XC either. It is what would serve the needs best though.

I was thinking if he likes his Hoks get some Koms. If I recall the h
Hoks are shorter with a built in skin and very slow. The Koms should go fast enough for an old guy. The Voiles would also be something to consider.

Friends don't let friends buy Rossi BC's. I'd go Voile Objective BC's or Altai Kom's, with an easy flexing cable binding. 3 pin cable would be a good option.

I'm not quite 70+ (at age 69) but if I were to get some equipment in this category, for the Wasatch Back/Uintas, I'd go wider/shorter for sure.
Whereabouts is this person located?

Thanks all for the suggestions.

Montana St Alum wrote: ↑

Sat Oct 09, 2021 12:14 pm

I'm not quite 70+ (at age 69) but if I were to get some equipment in this category, for the Wasatch Back/Uintas, I'd go wider/shorter for sure.
Whereabouts is this person located?

Tetons, but just in the hills. Even in the untracked flats, going wider than his XCD/GTs should be helpful for float and stable platform I think.