The narrowest class of XCD Skis

[athabascae]

Thanks for your thoughts; much appreciated.

I agree with you on the e99/e109 class distinction. Its just for me they are too close to justify have one from each.

Yes, that too was my understanding of the origin of the mountain race.

I will probably hold on to my track skis for a season before I decide to sell them. It'd be good to make sure they are 'redundant' before I part with them.

Tom

[Cannatonic]

interesting, I've never actually skied metal-edge skinnies like the E89. It would be better to have edges for a mostly BC ski. But why not take the E99/Gamme if that's where you are - they're so much better if the snow is uneven, powder, crud, etc. weight is only a tiny bit more than E89-width skis.

I do think there is a significant gap between E99 and E109 - in camber. The E99 and Gamme54 are really XC skis - the double camber is identical to traditional touring skis. they're designed partly as an expedition ski. E109 and Ingstad and Sbound 78 are not like this, they have less camber and softer flex. Better for turns in non-consolidated snow but slower and more work for pure touring. these are all good….you might have to buy one of each!

[athabascae]

you might have to buy one of each!

You guys are going to cost me alot of $$$

[paul kalac]

I have a pair of Atomic Mountain BC's which are full metal edge 59-50-55. I just love them in tracks and over a firm base. But you have to scour ebay to find them.

This is where I got turned onto them, and it took a year to find them, mostly by luck...
http://wintertrekking.com/back-country-skiing/skis/


Other vintage super skinnies might be...listed below. This list is of course from "Dave's Nordic Backcountry Ski" pages.

Manuf. Model side cut
TRADITIONAL TOURING (60-50-55 to 65-55-60)
Rossignol X3 Ultra Lite 48-44-46
Rossignol X Tour Escape 52-49-51
Asnes Tracker 53/49/51
Rossignol Back Country BC 53 53-49-51
Rossignol X Tour Venture 53-49-51
Rossignol Back Country BC 55 53-49-52
Madshus Vidda 54/48/52
Rossignol BC 55 55/49/52
Asnes Trysil Knut 56/49/53
Asnes Marka 58/48/52
Fischer E89 Mountain Tour 59/49/55
Salomon X-ADV 59 59-50-55
Atomic Mountain Walking 59/50/54
Karhu Criterium 59/50/55
Rossignol LTS Backcountry 59/54/57
Fischer Mountain Crown 59-49-55
Fischer Mountain Tour 59-49-55
Fischer Europa HC 59-50-55
Atomic Mountain BC 59-50-55
Atomic Mountain BC APG 59-50-55
Rossignol Mountain BC / 3-D Grip 59-51-55
Madshus North Cape Multigrip 60/50/55
Asnes Taiga 60/51/55
Karhu Kodiak 60/52/57
Rossignol X Tour Explorer 60-50-55
madshus voss 60-50-55
Fischer Country Wax 60-52-57
Fischer Country Crown 60-52-57
Rossignol chamois 60-54-56
Rossignol Back Country BC 61 61-51-57
Rossignol BC 61 XL 61-51-57
Alpina Escape 62/52/57
Madshus Pellestova 62/52/57
Kazama Mountain High 62/54/57
Karhu XCD-GT 62/54/59

[athabascae]

I read that those Atomics are very well liked.

Thanks for the super list, Paul - I will do some searching.

Perhaps for these light skis (~60-50-55) I should be looking to the older stuff as well. Afterall, the skis I want to replace were circa 1990 or so and I loved them for what I want this pair to do. Similar 'old' technology/design I'm sure would work for me just as well as shiny new skis.

I'm going to start by checking out those older Asnes on the list! That should be fun and frustrating!

(BTW, if anyone is interested, on Kijiji in Alberta there is an apparently new pair of Karhu 10th Mtn with NNN BC magnums for sale - $400 CAD, which is about $300 USD.)

Tom

[athabascae]

I would love to try these (but probably with an NNN-BC as opposed to the super teles). I assume they are metal edged (edit: apparently they are 3/4 metal edge, which works for me!).

Asnes Taiga 60/51/55

[bgregoire]

I would love to try these (but probably with an NNN-BC as opposed to the super teles). I assume they are metal edged.

Asnes Taiga 60/51/55

Asnes Taiga.jpg

With a little luck, you should be able to find a pair of Karhu XCD GT. Speaking of which, the infamous LoveJohnny happens to have a 200cm pair for sale for something like 60$. Now will he ship it to you???

[bgregoire]

Asnes Trysil Knut 56/49/53

Hey, I got a pair of those woodies. Brand spanking new. They are so pretty I have not yet dared take 'em out for a spin. As elegant as the Madshus Birkebeiner. Woodies are amazing for light backcountry touring. The wood and full ski waxing combo provides an amazing combination of grip and glide. When done right, I can climb straight up what I can't with wider scaled skis. Downhill is another story though.

[athabascae]

With a little luck, you should be able to find a pair of Karhu XCD GT. Speaking of which, the infamous LoveJohnny happens to have a 200cm pair for sale for something like 60$. Now will he ship it to you???

Thanks! But, I'd need a 210 in this type of ski, maybe, maybe a 205.

The Asnes Taiga looks perfect, if I can find them in 210 or 205.

Tom

[lilcliffy]

My understanding is that the Mountain Race is new version of the Holmenkollen:
http://www.utemagasinet.no/Utstyr/Smale-fjellski

This is good to know- as the Holmenkollen has gotten excellent reviews/tests and seems to be more of a traditional full double-cambered XC ski than the Vikafjell.

Huge difference between the e99 and something like the ingstad, as far as i am concerned.

I agree with this very much- I don't see the E-99/Gamme 54/BC68/Glittertind class as being close to the Eon/S-78/S-88 at all. A ski like the E-99 is still a very fast, efficient, stiff, double-cambered BC-XC touring ski. I think the bit of extra width makes them more versatile than an E-89- the extra will offer greater stability and a bit more flotation.

BUT- if Tom is going to be on hardpack and gentle terrain- he's right- he won't need the extra width.

Whether the Ingstad and E-109 are truly in the same "class" as skis like the Eon/S-78/S-88 is a whole other question- one best left to the other ever-growing thread!!