Telemark Talk / Telemark Tips Forum

Hi there,
Long time lurker, first time poster. I picked up 3 pairs of XCD skis to start exploring the local backcountry (Quebec City area). Two pairs of Karhus (XCD Gt and XCd Gtx) mounted with Nnn BC, so I have a pair of boots for those. They work fine so far for kick and glide and easy cruising downhills. There is also a pair of Rossignol Nepals with 3 pins. The skis are heavy, some camber (Less than the Karhus) and width is 88-70-75 ish. I tried them with some old cheapo Alpina Blazer duckbills but they are way too
Flimsy to handle such a heavy ski.

So my question is, assuming intended use of the Rossis would be more downhill oriented, can Alpina Alaskas handle them? Better to go for a plastic boot like T4s? Possibly adding cables for better control?

Excuse the weird cropping in order to fit them to forum reqs.

Thanks in advance!

Hello and welcome!

I would want a Telemark boot for that ski-
either a heavy, leather Telemark boot ("extreme" class)-
or a plastic Telemark touring boot.

These days you might have better luck finding a decent used 75mm plastic Telemark boot, than a leather one...

What size are your feet?

Best,
Gareth

Thanks for the reply!

My NNNBC Rossignol XC6 are 46, my Scarpa mountaineering (Mont Blanc) boots are 46.5, and Mammuts are 47... I have a fairly wide right foot. So probably 30.5?

Would this set up be ok for some light groomed skiing?

I sometimes ski leather boots at the ski hill. I did it quite a bit when my son was younger and skiing mostly green runs, with some times on the blue runs.
I own three pair of 75 mm ski boots, Alaska 75, a UK military surplus Alico boot aka the Ski March, it’s a heavy soled Norwegian welted leather boot, and a Scarpa T-4.
I wouldn’t use the Alaska 75 for the ski hill. I use it for those tours that have downhill turns, but the tour has more touring than turning. All boots benefit from a cable, however tha Alaska really benefits from a cable. If you were to purchase a cable binding I find the Rottefella Super Telemark with cable, to offer more longitudinal support than the Voile 3-pin cable, and also the Rotte clamps the thinner Alaska sole better.
If you keep the current binding a two buckle plastic boot will offer a stiffer ski/boot connection than even a stiff soled boot like the Alico I ski. However, a good skier in the day that ski was new, probably skied that ski at the ski hill in a stiff soled, Norwegian welted, leather boot.
If you were purchasing a new leather boot, I can only think of thermomolded soles being available. The Fischer Transnordic 75 is reported to be stiff, however the are more than a couple reports that the sewn in plastic reinforcement is uncomfortable, just be aware. Alico also has a stiff option available from either Telemark Pyrenees or Altai Ski US or Canadian stores. Crispi has a boot with an exoskeleton, I have read mixed reviews. For plastic, new, the only 2 buckle is the Scarpa T-4. I have had mine for many years. Its place in my boot quiver is solid. There are 3 buckle 75 mm boots available from both Scarpa and Crispi.

Thanks for the detailed response. I found a 3 buckle Garmont and an Excursion in my size on marketplace. These seem to both fit the bill no pun intended based on what you’ve told me.

the 3 pin with cables was a game changer for me, I love the T-4 set up on the 75mm binding, super cheap and fun

Johnny, who started this particular forum, recommended skiing narrower old alpine/telemark skis at the resort with NNN-BC bindings. I am on my second such pair, already with a couple of great days on icy morning blue runs. You can set higher edge angles on narrow skis with NNN-BC than 75mm bindings before starting to drag bindings/boots, the NNN-BC binding rails hold your boots to the ski better for pivoting, and the stiffer flexors, red (good) or white (even better; ask a local ski shop if they have any in the parts room) have a very nice feel for keeping the ball of your foot on the ski.

If you swap bindings between the Rossignol and one of the Karhus, it will be an upgrade for both skis.