Telemark Talk / Telemark Tips Forum

Looking for skis that would work for my local loop.
It is a defunct ski slope, it's in the lee/shadey side of a mountain so it holds snow REALLYYY well.
I tried going down with S-bound 98+NNN BC fischer boots, and it did NOT work!!!
The guy I passed was using Voile Objectives with touring bindings and he looked like he was having a blast.
https://nyskiblog.com/silvermine-ski-ar ... n-in-time/
So I now have T2s donated from a fellow telemarktalker, and I am looking for advice on a good ski to pair it with. Not looking to break the bank. Sbounds were a blast going up.
The conditions I was skiing may have been too deep snow.
Sbounds work great in Wawayanda state park snow mobile trails!
It probably doesn't help that the Fischer boots were a little oversized, I found some Alpina Alaskas in my attic with a better fit!
Thanks!!!
If possible, would there be a ski that would also work as a fun ski on blue trails in resorts?
This current trail is basicall 400 ft' elevation slope, strenous climb. Probably a green/blue back in the day.

Hi,
Turning any ski with NNNBC requires some finesse and technique and this isn't a full success on first try typically. The level of downhill control offered by AT gear is due to stiff boots and binding interface which results in good force transmission from skier to ski and this cannot be matched by XC gear, 3 pin cable included. Wth heavier Telemark gear ala NTN you might at some point approach comparable downhill performance to AT technique follows suit.
I'm one of those crazies who abandoned AT and heavy Tele for XC gear, for all purposes including downhill. But it took several years to get useable results and in choppy snow it often gets gnarly still. I avoid downhill runs where my life and safety depends on absokute control in a downhill run. Choices.

Anyways I don't know anything about matching skis for T2s, it's above my ambition level, but I hear they are pretty good. If money is an issue why not get something used? Do you want a waxless base?
Looking at the hill behind the link, I could manage that with good NNNBC boots on Nansen or Fischer E109 skis if the snow is good, as it looks in the picture. May not be the prettiest turns. With the Falketind Xplore and Alfa Free much better.

Yeah, this screams objective to me. I ski my objectives with T2s and pins, no cables on everything including a not entirely successful run on an icy black diamond resort run (but is was merely not good style… it mostly worked). I just wish they made them longer.

How does ski length work?
When I was teaching my son how to ski, I felt short 155 were nice to be able to have quick maneuravability at very slow speed. 165s felt best on downhill at my speed. when I used 175 it felt too hard to turn. Maybe cause they were cheap, heavy ski rentals???

You have the key ideas right. Shorter skis will feel more comfortable and easier to push around, especially if they are of mediocre design. Longer skis will have better floatation, stability at speed, and a longer edge engagement. Typically heavier and more skilled skiers will seek longer skis. The skill part because once you're really riding the boards with body position and pressure you are no longer muscling the skis around. I'm 6' 185lbs, and my downhill ski sweet spot is 185-195... making the 178 objective short (but not the *shortest* ski I own... my mountaineering skis are 170 for weight savings, fitting in couloirs, and carrying on the pack better... there's lots of considerations to the choice!)