Telemark Talk / Telemark Tips Forum

Having covered the xcD and XCD niches I decided I wanted a touring focused ski. I'd pretty much decided on the Amundsen last season, partially because there's so little user data on them and I figure they deserved some love. Roald Amundsen was somewhat of a boyhood hero to me as well, so chalk me up as another victim of effective Åsnes marketing.
First off, specifications.
I went with Åsnes recommendations for my weight (195lbs/88kg) and got the 201cm skis. They are not as stiff as their reputation around here would indicate. I probably would have been fine to go with the 208s.
Widths: 67 57 62
1010grams per ski according to the website. I don't plan to weigh them.
I mounted them at balance point with Rotefella NNN BC bindings.

*Updated
Pros:
o SPEED on consolidated snow.
o Light weight, concentrated away from the tip and tail means accurate and easy step turns as well as less fatigue when lifting out of unconsolidated snow.
o Relatively firm, even flex combined with width ratios between tip, tail, and waist mean that the skis stay flatter in deep soft snow. For comparison my Fischer Excursion 88s with their very wide rockered shovel tend to always be pointing uphill with the tails sinking in and wanting to slide backward.
o they do turn, maybe not in all conditions. . .

Cons:
o less grip for climbing compared to wider, softer skis.
o can feel a bit squirmy on the downhill in soft snow, compared to that pleasant, surfy sensation of wider, rockered skis.

Hopefully I can test them out on breakable crust tomorrow since we just had a a thaw with rain.

Hello and welcome Ullrsson!

BTW- is that your actual surrname? Because it is AWESOME- son of the Norse god of archery!!!!
(who is often depicted shooting while skiing!!!)

I too brought Roald home this fall.

Though I have yet to put old Roald through his paces- I am currently mesmerized by the flex and geometry of this ski.

Please keep in touch and let us know how you make out with this ski!
Gareth

lilcliffy wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 19, 2021 4:18 pm

Hello and welcome Ullrsson!

BTW- is that your actual surrname? Because it is AWESOME- son of the Norse god of archery!!!!
(who is often depicted shooting while skiing!!!)

I too brought Roald home this fall.

Though I have yet to put old Roald through his paces- I am currently mesmerized by the flex and geometry of this ski.

Please keep in touch and let us know how you make out with this ski!
Gareth

Thanks. I wish. Just another anglo here. Did you get this year's model as well or did you get the reds?

I have the red Roald- bought them on clearance- was promised that the 2021 model is identical other than the topsheet.
Haven't skied them yet-
Should be able to get them on snow later this week!

How much do you weigh, Ullrsson?

Woodserson wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 22, 2021 12:03 pm

How much do you weigh, Ullrsson?

195lbs/88kg

lilcliffy wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 22, 2021 11:51 am

I have the red Roald- bought them on clearance- was promised that the 2021 model is identical other than the topsheet.
Haven't skied them yet-
Should be able to get them on snow later this week!

Nice. I think I like the old topsheet better, but the new ones look better in person than they do in the stock photos IMO.

@Ullrsson Skiing the Gamme opened a new world to me, going fast enough on flats to be fun. The thing that Gamme does that I really get a kick out of, is when going done a slight incline that I really wouldn’t be able to slide down on without kicking along, yet on Gamme I can go downhill on those inclines fast enough to make my jacket flap.
I know, my Mom would say,”Little things for little minds”. She wasn’t talking about the gas I get from those little inclines, but for some reason after I get done laughing as I go down, when I start laughing at myself, I think about that little saying.

First tur with Roald this morning-

Magnificent ski-

Rock-solid stable, light, and SUPER FAST.

Death crust out there this morning-

The Amundsen is the best breakable crust touring ski I have- even better than the Gamme and the Combat.

Wow- what a ski. The snow conditions were a mess-
We had a major ice storm yesterday, mixed with snow, and some rain- followed by a temperature plunge and some fresh snow on top-

this morning:
-10C
bit of cold soft snow on top of breakable crust-
under the crust, a mix of granular ice and refrozen abrasive snow-
all on top of frozen consolidated base

ski prep:
Swix Polar base
single layer of Swix Green from the heel to the snakebite

Sublime grip and glide- on the flats, up the hills, and flew down the hills

Excellent wax retention despite very icy abrasive snow-
~10kms no need for mid-tur waxing

lilcliffy wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 23, 2021 11:35 am

Death crust out there this morning-

The Amundsen is the best breakable crust touring ski I have- even better than the Gamme and the Combat.

I'm very glad to hear this. I had awful crust conditions last season that got me thinking of this ski. I kind of figured the more balanced dimensions, stiffness and lack of rocker might cause it to perform better here than others.