Ski Review- Åsnes Amundsen BC
Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2022 2:44 pm
Åsnes Amundsen BC- Old Roald the Faithful!
What can I say- I truly love this ski (the red one with old Roald on it)- the Åsnes Amundsen BC.
Totally stable.
Totally efficient.
Over many decades and many, many skis- the Amundsen BC is the most universally efficient backcountry-cross country ski I have ever used.
Yes- there are specific conditions where other designs are more efficient-
But, the Amundsen always works- and always performs well.
And despite its railway efficiency- point em at the South Pole- tracking- the Amundsen BC is so light that it is no problem on hills as long as you are prepared to make step/striding/jump turns.
Perhaps continue with what the Amundsen BC is not-
The Amundsen BC is-
Not a highly cambered ski- it is not as cambered as the Sverdrup/E99-XL/E109-XL.
Not rail-stiff over its entire length- the shovel and the tail have some flexibility to them.
The Amundsen BC is longitudinally-stiff and stable- offering superb stability and support- in all snow conditions. But the extremity of the shovel- and to a lesser extent the tail- have some noticeable, subtle flexibility.
Note that Åsnes has made a number of different designs with “Amundsen” attached to it-
For example, the Amundsen Fram is not the same design- the Fram is even stiffer and has a higher camber.
Apparently at one time Åsnes was producing three different “Amundsen” skis- the Amundsen, the Amundsen Expedition, and the Amundsen Fram!
My understanding (please correct me if I am wrong) is that the Liv BC is the same design as the Amundsen BC.
Specs:
Lengths→ 170 to 208cm
Sidecut→ 67-57-62mm
Edge→ full-wrap steel edge
Tip→ traditional- triangular, raised
Shovel→ no rocker; subtle flexibility
Camber→ long- low profile- stiff
Flex→ longitudinally stiff
Tail→ straight. Flat. stiff- with some subtle flexibility
Base→ sintered, smooth; track groove
Skin-lock/X-skin kicker skin insert
I am using the 208 Amundsen BC with NNN-BC Manual bindings- mounted at balance point- and Alaska BC/Guard BC/Guide BC boots. I use hard grip wax and kicker skin when required.
I mostly use the Amundsen on gentle to moderate terrain on backcountry ungroomed forest trails and woods roads- though there are many steep tight climbs and descents in the mix.
I get a lot of beautiful soft fresh snow to ski on- and when the snow is truly deep I do not take my Amundsen-
But when the snow is not ideal (i.e. hard and refrozen, breakable crust) I tend to stick to trails/woods roads and the Amundsen has become my trail ski of choice- in this application I even prefer it to my beloved 210 Gamme 54…
I agonized over selecting length in this ski- primarily because I was expecting this ski to be much more cambered than it is. In the end I bought both a 201 and a 208- on clearance- and much prefer the 208.
For reference, I am 178cm (5’10”) tall and physically fit 84kg (185lbs).
Performance- Cross-Country
This ski is a superb straight-forward backcountry-cross country touring ski.
This ski has railroad- point it at the Pole- tracking efficiency.
It has enough camber for kick wax and/or kicker skin to effectively release when striding forwards.
Yet, it is not so cambered that it is difficult to pressure and get adequate grip.
This the best snowmobile track (i.e. consolidated hardpack snow) track trail ski I have ever used.
This ski is remarkably stable and decently efficient in very deep snow (though not as good as the wider Combat Nato/Ingstad).
This ski breaks trail very well.
The Amundsen BC is the very best XC ski I have ever tested in breakable crust.
I can easily climb steep trails- usually with just grip wax- but need kicker skins on difficult snow (e.g. icy refrozen; warm wet).
Performance- Downhill
This ain’t a downhill ski- not even remotely.
This ski has almost no sidecut and an incredibly long effective edge- I can only imagine how wide the turn radius is of a 208 Amundsen BC!!!
HOWEVER- this ski is very light- I can easily ski down steep-tight trails using step/striding/jump turns.
Amundsen BC versus Gamme 54 BC
You don’t know until you know…
Until I bought the 208 Amundsen BC- my absolute favorite trail ski was my 210 Gamme 54 BC.
What I can tell you is that the Amundsen BC is a better straightforward XC ski than the Gamme 54 BC.
The Gamme 54 BC does have more sidecut and a slightly rockered shovel- it is certainly easier to initiate a proper downhill turn and has a “shorter” turn radius.
HOWEVER- how long is the turn radius of a 210 Gamme 54? Certainly not short enough to make any difference when coming down a steep tight trail in a northern forest!
If I was touring above treeline in hilly-steep terrain- the turning advantages of the Gamme 54 would kick the Amundsen’s butt-
BUT- in my local BC trail skiing context- the Gamme 54 is not a better ski downhill.
The truth about Nordic rocker-
I remain unconvinced that Nordic rocker provides any general performance advantage for straightforward XC skiing.
(Nordic rocker definitely improves downhill performance- and it clearly facilitates climbing up and over frozen polar ice rubble…)
Last winter I skied an incredible number of kms on forest trails and roads-
We had extreme mid-winter temperature fluctuations- keeping me out of the glades more than usual.
My regular touring partner and I switched back and forth between the 210 Gamme 54 BC and the 208 Amundsen BC over the season-
One of the things we both noticed is how much more resistance there was with the rockered Gamme 54 when breaking trail through very cold, soft snow. Again- I would never have noticed this without the Amundsen to compare to it side-by-side.
The rockered shovel of the Gamme presents a wider, flatter surface to the snow- increasing resistance when breaking trail- especially in very cold soft snow.
The non-rockered tip of the Amundsen carves a channel for the rest of the ski to follow- almost like it is cutting its way through the snow- like a knife- peeling the snow apart for the rest of the ski to follow.
Don’t get me wrong here- the Gamme 54 BC is a superb BC-XC ski.
You don't know until you know!
Conclusion
While the Combat NATO ski remains my most versatile Nordic BC touring ski for my local environmental conditions-
The Amundsen BC is superb. I love this ski. I love it more than I thought I would.
And if I did not get all of the fresh snowfall that I do- the Amundsen would be the best touring ski in my shed.
Gareth Davies
Dec. 23rd, 2022
Snow Glade Farm
Stanley, New Brunswick
Canada
What can I say- I truly love this ski (the red one with old Roald on it)- the Åsnes Amundsen BC.
Totally stable.
Totally efficient.
Over many decades and many, many skis- the Amundsen BC is the most universally efficient backcountry-cross country ski I have ever used.
Yes- there are specific conditions where other designs are more efficient-
But, the Amundsen always works- and always performs well.
And despite its railway efficiency- point em at the South Pole- tracking- the Amundsen BC is so light that it is no problem on hills as long as you are prepared to make step/striding/jump turns.
Perhaps continue with what the Amundsen BC is not-
The Amundsen BC is-
Not a highly cambered ski- it is not as cambered as the Sverdrup/E99-XL/E109-XL.
Not rail-stiff over its entire length- the shovel and the tail have some flexibility to them.
The Amundsen BC is longitudinally-stiff and stable- offering superb stability and support- in all snow conditions. But the extremity of the shovel- and to a lesser extent the tail- have some noticeable, subtle flexibility.
Note that Åsnes has made a number of different designs with “Amundsen” attached to it-
For example, the Amundsen Fram is not the same design- the Fram is even stiffer and has a higher camber.
Apparently at one time Åsnes was producing three different “Amundsen” skis- the Amundsen, the Amundsen Expedition, and the Amundsen Fram!
My understanding (please correct me if I am wrong) is that the Liv BC is the same design as the Amundsen BC.
Specs:
Lengths→ 170 to 208cm
Sidecut→ 67-57-62mm
Edge→ full-wrap steel edge
Tip→ traditional- triangular, raised
Shovel→ no rocker; subtle flexibility
Camber→ long- low profile- stiff
Flex→ longitudinally stiff
Tail→ straight. Flat. stiff- with some subtle flexibility
Base→ sintered, smooth; track groove
Skin-lock/X-skin kicker skin insert
I am using the 208 Amundsen BC with NNN-BC Manual bindings- mounted at balance point- and Alaska BC/Guard BC/Guide BC boots. I use hard grip wax and kicker skin when required.
I mostly use the Amundsen on gentle to moderate terrain on backcountry ungroomed forest trails and woods roads- though there are many steep tight climbs and descents in the mix.
I get a lot of beautiful soft fresh snow to ski on- and when the snow is truly deep I do not take my Amundsen-
But when the snow is not ideal (i.e. hard and refrozen, breakable crust) I tend to stick to trails/woods roads and the Amundsen has become my trail ski of choice- in this application I even prefer it to my beloved 210 Gamme 54…
I agonized over selecting length in this ski- primarily because I was expecting this ski to be much more cambered than it is. In the end I bought both a 201 and a 208- on clearance- and much prefer the 208.
For reference, I am 178cm (5’10”) tall and physically fit 84kg (185lbs).
Performance- Cross-Country
This ski is a superb straight-forward backcountry-cross country touring ski.
This ski has railroad- point it at the Pole- tracking efficiency.
It has enough camber for kick wax and/or kicker skin to effectively release when striding forwards.
Yet, it is not so cambered that it is difficult to pressure and get adequate grip.
This the best snowmobile track (i.e. consolidated hardpack snow) track trail ski I have ever used.
This ski is remarkably stable and decently efficient in very deep snow (though not as good as the wider Combat Nato/Ingstad).
This ski breaks trail very well.
The Amundsen BC is the very best XC ski I have ever tested in breakable crust.
I can easily climb steep trails- usually with just grip wax- but need kicker skins on difficult snow (e.g. icy refrozen; warm wet).
Performance- Downhill
This ain’t a downhill ski- not even remotely.
This ski has almost no sidecut and an incredibly long effective edge- I can only imagine how wide the turn radius is of a 208 Amundsen BC!!!
HOWEVER- this ski is very light- I can easily ski down steep-tight trails using step/striding/jump turns.
Amundsen BC versus Gamme 54 BC
You don’t know until you know…
Until I bought the 208 Amundsen BC- my absolute favorite trail ski was my 210 Gamme 54 BC.
What I can tell you is that the Amundsen BC is a better straightforward XC ski than the Gamme 54 BC.
The Gamme 54 BC does have more sidecut and a slightly rockered shovel- it is certainly easier to initiate a proper downhill turn and has a “shorter” turn radius.
HOWEVER- how long is the turn radius of a 210 Gamme 54? Certainly not short enough to make any difference when coming down a steep tight trail in a northern forest!
If I was touring above treeline in hilly-steep terrain- the turning advantages of the Gamme 54 would kick the Amundsen’s butt-
BUT- in my local BC trail skiing context- the Gamme 54 is not a better ski downhill.
The truth about Nordic rocker-
I remain unconvinced that Nordic rocker provides any general performance advantage for straightforward XC skiing.
(Nordic rocker definitely improves downhill performance- and it clearly facilitates climbing up and over frozen polar ice rubble…)
Last winter I skied an incredible number of kms on forest trails and roads-
We had extreme mid-winter temperature fluctuations- keeping me out of the glades more than usual.
My regular touring partner and I switched back and forth between the 210 Gamme 54 BC and the 208 Amundsen BC over the season-
One of the things we both noticed is how much more resistance there was with the rockered Gamme 54 when breaking trail through very cold, soft snow. Again- I would never have noticed this without the Amundsen to compare to it side-by-side.
The rockered shovel of the Gamme presents a wider, flatter surface to the snow- increasing resistance when breaking trail- especially in very cold soft snow.
The non-rockered tip of the Amundsen carves a channel for the rest of the ski to follow- almost like it is cutting its way through the snow- like a knife- peeling the snow apart for the rest of the ski to follow.
Don’t get me wrong here- the Gamme 54 BC is a superb BC-XC ski.
You don't know until you know!
Conclusion
While the Combat NATO ski remains my most versatile Nordic BC touring ski for my local environmental conditions-
The Amundsen BC is superb. I love this ski. I love it more than I thought I would.
And if I did not get all of the fresh snowfall that I do- the Amundsen would be the best touring ski in my shed.
Gareth Davies
Dec. 23rd, 2022
Snow Glade Farm
Stanley, New Brunswick
Canada