Telemark Talk / Telemark Tips Forum

Hello! I hope this post will provide good info on what I'm searching. I have been looking for a set of back bountry skis for quite some time, not quite knowing what to end up purchasing. I would prefer not buying a big quiver of skis, one or two sets more at the most. This year I've quit my weekend job for more free time and settled on purchasing everything gear related and going out to do what I've wanted for quite long. Which is a mixed bag of pulling a pulk with expedition equipment on longer trips and having a fun ski to just go out with a backpack. I'm looking to ski both in the tundra of Finnish lapland and in the forested regions in southern Finland.
I'm 185cm tall and weigh 80kg.
I have experience downhill skiing and own a full ski set for that and I do cross country skiing on track with 44mm wide skis. In essence, I have been skiing since a child in one way or the other. I also do winter camping.
Until now I've been stuck in the Finnish camp eyeing the 70mm wide 280cm long forest skis. Then I found out that the Norwegians ski very different with for example Åsnes sidecut skis and those look really fun! I wonder between these what to pick, will I be miserable in deeper snow with Åsnes or will I hate skiing the big Finnish boards everywhere except a tundra range. Probably a dumb thing to wonder when I should buy both for each purpose.
I've been reading a lot of posts here and elsewhere and I've been looking at the Otto Sverdup, at 200cm it would seem ideal and a fun ski. I've also looked at Fischer but their skis seem to weigh twice as much? Using a waxless ski would be easier but they seem to be hit or miss. I'm now thinking of just corking in some grip wax on the whole ski and going with that. Also looked at buying a mohair skin for steep rises (and pulk pulling?) but I wonder if it will be necessary, I can always buy skins later.
About poles, the Åsnes Nansen 2-Section looks like a solid choice with its adjustability.
We currently have Otto Sverdup on sale at 350€ (-15%) but models like the Ingstad or Amundesen have base prices in that range. Wondering if I should just wait until Black Friday and buy then whether there is a sale or no, there is a big chance that skis and winter equipment in general won't get good deals.
About general equipment I have upgraded to the Rab ascent 1100 from a Carinthia defence 4. A new winter tent Helsport Spitsbergen 4. Rab Neutrino pro jacket. Still looking at the pulk, wondering should I get a Paris pulka or spend big with a Fjellpulken. When it comes to boots I keep only hearing good things Alpina Alaska. Looking at the Otto Sverdup I think they need Rottefella Manual binding, the Magnum is way too big for the slim waist.
TLDR: I'm clueless but not quite lost. Send help.

Punaparta wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 21, 2022 10:50 am

I've also looked at Fischer but their skis seem to weigh twice as much? Using a waxless ski would be easier but they seem to be hit or miss. I'm now thinking of just corking in some grip wax on the whole ski and going with that.

The weights listed on the Fischer site for their adventure skis are for a pair, even though it says per ski. I bought a set of the Sbound 98's last season @ 179 and the pair weighs 2522 grams mounted with the Rottefella Xplore binding. As of 8/21/2022, Fischer lists the weight as 2080 grams per ski, but I'm sure that it is 2080 grams per set.

When I lived in a Northern latitude (North of 60 degrees), waxless skis only made sense in the spring or summer. If you don't experience wide temperature swings from morning to afternoon and mostly ski cold soft snow then it is fairly easy to pick a wax that will work for the whole day.

You will find much good advice here, but attention this time of year is limited.

Maybe you saw the Otto on Varuste? They are on sale for the next few days.
The 15% off might be about as good a discount as there will be.
https://varuste.net/en/p110053/åsnes-otto-sverdrup-bc

When you consider ski length, make sure to use not your base weight, but your all-up weight to choose the length.
For example, if you are 80kg base weight, you may be closer to 90kg ready to ski, with pack.
The Otto has a pretty soft tip, which shortens its feel in the snow, so maybe a 205 would be better?
But if it’s just for fun skiing, maybe the 200 is ok.
I weight the same as you (if 80kg is your base), and am 190cm, and wish I had bought the Otto in 205.

One can make one or two skis work for almost all conditions, but sometimes there will be big compromises.
Then it becomes a matter of where one is willing to make the compromise in terms of functionality.

Like you and many others, I started out thinking just one or two, or maybe three skis.
Some have the resolve to stop there, but many do not (including myself).

Skis are like surfboards:
There’s the big wave gun, the fish, the groveler, the fun board, the long board, the …
With a certain personality, it can become addictive.

You are lucky to be starting out with so much experience with the snow. It will make it much easier to understand the differences between the various skis.

Maybe @lilcliffy @Woodserson @bgregoire @randoskier @jyw5 @Tom M @Musk Ox @fgd135 or others might offer advice.

I don't have the Sverdrup, but if I were going for one ski it'd be those. I have Gamme, which I use 80% of the time, for consolidated but ungroomed trails, and I love them: NNN BC Alaskas. I have Fischer S Bound 88s for the less consolidated snow, which I got for a song, used. It's really nice to have a go-anywhere ski (88s) and a lighter, faster ski (Gamme). IMO, buy the one you'll use most the first winter. You may be satisfied with one pair if you're a better man than I.

If you get two pairs of Åsnes (or Ficher) you can use skins for the thinner with the wider, well enough.

I'm happy with my skis; however, were I starting over...for my snow conditions in Ontario (never powder):
- Åsnes Mountain Race with NNN bindings, because even lighter and faster than the Gamme
- Ingstad for breaking my own trail. Maybe Nansen or Ottos.

Finland? Towing pulk? Finland is mostly flat, right?
Gamme.

Read the Svedrup review for packed snow performance. It’s rockered in tip and tail.

viewtopic.php?f=19&t=4753

Also, manual or magnum, just get what you can. Yes the magnum is slightly wider but it’s fine. The boot overhangs more than the binding and the mounting zone is identical. Only specifically look for the Manual if you like looking at svelte setups or are worried about the 18g diff or whatever. If you can source the manual then fine, but don’t kill yourself here.

Or, since you’re 80kg - NANSEN the do it all ski. viewtopic.php?f=19&t=4290

Wider, slower (less camber), but a faithful companion.

@Tom M
Ah, that sounds about right then. I even found some retailers listing set weight in at 4kg because the official is 2k per ski. Yeah, I think finding a decent wax will not be overly hard. The wax selection is great here. Fischer has some really great, aggressive looking waxless patterns.
@Stephen
Yes, I bet I would find some opinions here for pre-season gearing up.
I'm close to 90kg with a pack. 80kg is approximate base weight.
Yeah I saw these on Varuste, the skis are clearance items but there is a -15% from almost everything sale right now.. including pulks. Thank you, I thought initially to get the 205cm but counted the 200cm to be more accurately in my range. I will pick the 205 then. Thanks.
@エイダン.シダル @Woodserson
Thanks. So even though you have the Gamme you would pick the Otto for all-purpose use. I'm thinking that the Gammes don't float comparatively well being a bit skinnier. Finland is quite flat all things considered yeah, conditions are most likely packed snow with a bit of fresh on top. Sometimes we do get some powder. Breakable crust is quite rare in my experience and I'm not too worried about it. I believed as such Ottos would suit me best at a glance but I'm open to all suggestions. I could always wait and see what models they get for this season, selection right now is limited but there is a decent sale.

No. I would not choose the Otto for an all around ski. I would choose the Nansens.

E99's....TM

My Gammes are the skis I would choose following the collapse of civilisation and the advent of what my brother's ex-girlfriend calls 'Rat Pie'.

My Nansens are still my favourite skis, though.

Float-ability isn't wholly a property of width. Stiffness and whatever it is they do at the tip on the Gammes are also pretty important factors here.

If you don't have hills, I'd be inclined to say Gammes. Or the Åsnes Amundsen. Or the E99 Transnordic whateveritscalled.

Edit: If I were you, in your flat terrain and conditions, I'd get the Gammes with some cold gripwax and some narrow skins for cruising and some longer skins for pulking (see Theme's post on the next page!) I wouldn't automatically do the full-length gripwax thing if I was on flat frozen lakes and glacial pavement in Finland. Maybe with your pulk, but then I'd be using skins anyway. The narrow mohair skins verge on wax replacement in the right conditions, and you're not going to be doing any climbing, so your wheee will be all about speed and efficiency, nein?