Åsnes Otto Sverdrup BC- early impressions

[lilcliffy]

(I will write up a full review later season when I get more time on this new ski)

2021 205cm Åsnes Otto Sverdrup BC:
- 78-55-69mm
- traditional raised tip
- full-wrap steel edge
- significantly rockered shovel
- flexible but stable shovel
- significant camber underfoot
- stiff and resistant camber underfoot
- flexible but stable tail
- tapered and slightly raised/open tail

So- as expected→ these skis are absolutely terrible in crust- of any kind:
- in breakable crust- the waspy waist breaks through, with not only the rockered shovel riding on top- but the damn tail does too! (FYI- just like my 1st/2nd gen FT62)
- I took them out last week in breakable crust and they were so bad I had to turn around and get another ski...

HOWEVER-

yesterday, it snowed all afternoon and into the night-

this morning we had ~20cm of soft, stable moisture-rich snow on top of of a solid frozen consolidated base (and it snowed off and on all day)-

I took the Sverdrup out this afternoon with the intention of charging and driving them all over the place-
- strode across fields, down trails
- charged up hills
- and charged and played on steep open fields and steep narrow trails for almost two hours

WOW
When the snow is ideal these skis are a TON of FUN.

They are very stable (when the snow is not very deep- I expect them to bow in very deep snow).
They are very easy to turn- wonderful to make a variety of turns, and the tails release easily- allowing one to smear and slarve.
The rockered shovel loves to rise up and plane at downhill speeds.
They are noticeably cambered underfoot (more so than any current Åsnes Fjellski I have ever tried (i.e. more cambered than my Amundsen/Gamme 54)- however not so stiff that I cannot pressure them underfoot (the underfoot camber and pop/kick rebound remind me greatly of the E99-XL and E109-XL).

They are certainly nowhere near as efficient a XC ski as the Gamme 54.
I in no way expect them to be as stable in truly deep snow as the Ingstad.

But WOW- are they so much fun in the conditipns I describe above.

I will let you know what they are like on consolidated snow and hardpack.
I greatly expect them to feel and ski short on consolidated snow and hardpack.
Today I could feel the entire ski supporting me, yet allowing me to make all kinds of smeary, surfy, slarvey turns.

With my local terrain and ever increasingly extreme weather and precipitation changes- I would probably not be happy with Sverdrup if it was my only touring ski...

If I didn't get lots of deep snow through my season- I would probably never use my Ingstad again.

FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN.

I hate to- but have to- say that they are more stable and more fun than my FT62s in my local context.

This XC ski wants to go for a tur (or is that go PLAY) in steep tight terrain and not too deep snow.

[lilcliffy]

BTW- this ski is everything I found wanting in the E99 and E109 Xtralite and more.

[lilcliffy]

Out this morning again on the Sverdrup.
Bit more of a mellower more XC-oriented tour.

The snow remains ideal for the Sverdrup→ ~20cm of soft moisture-rich over a frozen stable base.

In the above conditions the Sverdrup is an excellent, supportive and efficient XC ski- not as efficient as the Gamme or Amundsen- but with enough soft snow the rockered shovel supports and glides very effectively- they were a TOTAL pleasure XC skiing this morning. Still took in some nice hills and they are pure JOY when you point them down a hill.

[lilcliffy]

I skied some truly steep terrain this afternoon- about a 2km XC approach- ~150m vertical of VERY steep, windy/twisty narrow wooded trail (did laps on this steep trail).

Amazing ski-
Both downhill
And climbing
And XC

I am kinda blown away...
Was actually expecting to be disapointed...
Was worried that I reached too far (i.e. too long)...

[jyw5]

I skied some truly steep terrain this afternoon- about a 2km XC approach- ~150m vertical of VERY steep, windy/twisty narrow wooded trail (did laps on this steep trail).

Amazing ski-
Both downhill
And climbing
And XC

I am kinda blown away...
Was actually expecting to be disapointed...
Was worried that I reached too far (i.e. too long)...

thanks for the evaluation and update. looking forward to taking these skis out. will most likely be on monday. I think we have windblown crust from 75mph winds...hopefully will soften up some but not breakable as there was as much as 20" of new snow while I was away on holiday. Will see how it does on that.

[lilcliffy]

I skied some truly steep terrain this afternoon- about a 2km XC approach- ~150m vertical of VERY steep, windy/twisty narrow wooded trail (did laps on this steep trail).

Amazing ski-
Both downhill
And climbing
And XC

I am kinda blown away...
Was actually expecting to be disapointed...
Was worried that I reached too far (i.e. too long)...

Note-
The above was on ideal snow conditions.

[Stephen]

I tried, really.
The Sverdrup sounded like the holy grail of skis (one can dream).
But I have “enough” skis, so have been sitting on my hands, wallet in pocket.

Then Varuste came up with 20% off on Asnes skis. Ah, temptation.
I looked, even put them in my basket, but did not buy.
The sale ended, and temptation was removed.

Later, I was back on Varuste, and noticed that the Sverdrup was still in my cart WITH the 20% discount still applied.
Must be a mistake I thought, I’ll just hit “refresh” and it will update to full price.
But NO!, the 20% discount was still there. A sign from heaven that I “should” buy them.
And so I did. Sort of like @Musk Ox, it just happened.

So, back to the topic at hand:

.
.
Was actually expecting to be disapointed...
Was worried that I reached too far (i.e. too long)...

@lilcliffy is 180-185 and went 205. I’m 173 (before anything) and went 200.
I’m hoping I will be ok with 200 vs 205 (what with having a 210 Gamme and 205 Ingstad).
I figured this time I would actually go with the Asnes length recommendations.
Plus, there was some conjecture a while ago, relative to camber, that it might be important with this ski to get the length right, and not “go long.”

Have not had a chance to try them out yet. Skiing is more limited for me this year, what with being an hour and a half drive from snow.

For any who care, this is a length recommendation table Asnes sent me:
(Based on the table, I’m near top end of the range for the 200.)
.

[jyw5]

Welcome to the club, Stephen! lol Our ever growing collection of skis. I don't think you need to be married to one ski setup (especially if you can afford them) though there are clear advantages of just using 1 setup.

For the limited time I have spent on the Sverdrup, I really enjoyed them.

I'm looking forward to a great but final season in AK (its been 21 yrs). My wife got a job transfer to western ND. She is moving next month. I will be moving this summer.

There will be new experiences to be had in the badlands. My quiver of skis will undoubtedly collect dust and I will most likely get bored and finally get a pair of Gamme to ski the flats of ND and drop down short spring chutes of the buttes.

I've noticed no posts in this forum from anyone about North Dakota. So I will be excited to be the first...and hope no one beats me to it. lol

[lilcliffy]

Another update-
At 180+lbs-

I have no problems- yet- with the 205 Sverdrup- I can easily pressure this ski underfoot (much easier than the Gamme/Amundsen- depsite them being less cambered underfoot (more on that later))-

I have had no issues with climbing grip or pressuring them into agile turns-
YMMV.

Lighter skiers may well have pressuring issues with a 205- hard for me to say.

I- personally- would reach for a shorter Sverdrup if I wanted to downhill ski even tighter lines with it- which I don't.

So far- VERY impressed with this touring ski!

[jyw5]

I am waiting for better snow conditions to ski. We had a huge snowstorm, then rain, then freezing temps, then a huge windstorm with gusts up to nearly 100mph and negative temperatures. Its been chaotic. Came home from the holidays and my driveway is covered with breakable crust and sticks/branches everywhere. luckily no trees have fallen.

The snow unfortunately has been ruined. solid crust/ice and/or breakable crust and dangerous wind slabs. May end up nordic skiing groomed trails for the next 6 wks as any offtrail or downhill skiing isn't happening.

I may take the Sverdrup out anyway and see how it does on a flattish groomed trail.