Asnes Ingstad BC 2018 Ski Review

[w8n4snow]

I chose 205s... I do carry a pack often and was counting on mr. Ingstad having a soft round flex- which he does- and the length gives me more speed and better tracking on the harder trails I routinely travel to get further out. Oh- 6'1", 185 lbs I am. Also was counting on the skis being turny. They are indeed, and I cannot say elegant things about how they turn yet because I have only skied them 8 days thus. So far? Well, you can stand on em and go for a great ride... but I know that you can drive the ski like a much wider ski too, and make it do things like ...Turn!Now!Wowzersthatwasclose! Hills and Inclines along the trail get sliced up with curling parallel ditch cobra bite trenches that would quickly fill with spandex-bound and puffy-coated myTubers with busted ankles if we were down in America. Not so much here though, mostly just caribou, lynx, and wolves telling me to start being more objective and spend less time on the Conputter.

[lilcliffy]

I chose 205s... I do carry a pack often and was counting on mr. Ingstad having a soft round flex- which he does- and the length gives me more speed and better tracking on the harder trails I routinely travel to get further out. Oh- 6'1", 185 lbs I am. Also was counting on the skis being turny. They are indeed,

I must say that I want the 205cm as well.

Disappointed that LaCordee only got the 195cm.

[lilcliffy]

Cliffy, yes Nnnbc with Alpina Alaskas. I am sorry to report that my beloved boots have loose bars and cracking around the different rubbers in the bar area after 3 years. Otherwise solid. My merrels are still solid after 10 years of hard use and resoling. An NNNBC resole option is needed in this world.

Yes- would like to be able resole my leather NNNBC boots!

Sorry to hear about your Alaskas on the way out...

My Alaska right toe bar seems to have the teensiest bit of play now- but otherwise in excellent shape, after countless thousands of BC snow...(I am starting to think about a possible replacement though...)

What are you going to replace the Alaska with?

[w8n4snow]

More days with mr Ingstad- continue to be extremely impressed. We have had only a few inches on a deep crusty frozen base, still twitchy under there, but the skis slay it. Super fast. Breaking trail in the crust they are sublime- solid round confident flex, tips rising, tail strong. Tail much firmer than e109... I can twist the tips a bit with all my might... about the same as Nansens though (apples n oranges) but less than e109. Scrubbing speed on frozen rough snogo trails is not so chattery and flighty-

I would not be afraid to buy these long, unless you're doing lots of turning- which they do. They are made for shredding miles across mountain country like Asnes says, and the speed and stability from length can not be replicated. And so LIGHT!

Mr cliffy- I feel your pain. This too shall pass... when you find a pair of 205s!!

[lilcliffy]

They are made for shredding miles across mountain country like Asnes says, and the speed and stability from length can not be replicated. And so LIGHT!

mmmmmmmmmmmmm...

[Cannatonic]

you could try asking Rocky Mountain Resole if they do NNNBC - they are a bit expensive but maybe they'd do it.

[bgregoire]

a nnn bc or a non-norwergian stitch nn resole is easy peasy for any cobbler to do as long as you have the replacement sole! i have had 2 nn resoles done on old boots as the glue ends up drying up after so many years (15 or more?). ciao.

[fisheater]

W8N, do you have both the new Ingstad and a Nansen? If so I would really appreciate the contrast between the apples and the oranges. I am seriously looking. I really think there are many more people than myself that would love to read your thoughts on these two skis. For me although 90% plus, plus of my skiing is rolling trail skiing, which I really enjoy, my first love is the downhill turn. I am looking for a fast trail ski, that I will not want to leave at home when it snows. I also want it to turn easier than a traditional double camber. I can turn a double camber on firm snow, double camber does become more difficult in variable snow.
Other than this forum, I can't find much information on these skis. I ski a Anses USGI surplus ski, and really like it as a trail ski. I am looking for the ski that can perform at that level on the trail, but I am looking much greater downhill performance.
Thank you

I also wanted you to know I greatly enjoyed how Ingstad helped you find the proper mounting point, and your first skis with him, that was some great writing!

[lilcliffy]

Excellent question Bob- I too want to know the XCD differences between the new Ingstad and the Nansen.

I do know that Master Waitin-4-Snow mentioned his 205cm Nansen's were not enough in the truly deep snow...

Not everything is width either-

Base on dimensions the Eon and the E109 should offer just as much float as my Combat Nato- but they don't- the flex of the Combat Nato is more stable in deep snow- the Eon flexes like a bow, leaving you feeling like your standing on a pool cover- the E-109's tip floats, leaving the rest of the ski in the abyss, like your skiing uphill on the flats!

Perhaps the flex of the Nansen influences its performance in truly deep snow, compared to the Ingstad?

Can't say anything about the new model Ingstad, but my Combat Natos are amazing in deep snow.

But- you got your S-112 for deep snow...

[w8n4snow]

Must I apologize for the weather? Alas we have had almost no new snow for 6 weeks... after a beautiful early winter. But it could be worse- the snowpack is supportable, "trails" are in, and we haven't had colder than 30 below, and that for a short time. Usually an old tired snowpack around here is just a completely faceted weak unsupportable mess. Well above average warmth continues to be the theme of our recent winters. So I've been skiing nonetheless. Still with mr Ingstad exclusively, however I am holding off on any more proclamations about mr Ingstad until I can ski him in better conditions. But, my impressions will only get better...

Also hope to offer some comparison of Ingstad BC, Nansen, e109, and Combat NATO as we have all 4 in the family in similar lengths! Maybe photographs or moving pictures too, but frankly I have little patience for moving bits and bytes around through wires, but appreciate greatly the results of those who have the knack for such things. I get more excited by my good trail axe than the dang conputter.

Ingstad has worn everything from Polar to Special red and skied a variety of conditions and I say again that Ingstad kicks a$$. Not as turny as e109 on hard snow, due to sidecut (only 2mm less) and the Europas soft tail me thinks. But Ingstad much more stable in variable snow and skis like it's much wider than the e109...

Oh- Santa brought a new pair of Alaskas for me, a size up this time. I have wide feet and nerve tumor issues from too many years of narrow ski and climbing boots and not enough brains, so I'm trying to get more width from length. I cut the rubber rand (not the leather!!) vertically every 1/4" or so along the widest part of my feet to let the leather stretch there- it works. Then glue on 40 Below neoprene overboots after they're broken in a bit. Never a cold foot and very very durable and warm, and a gaiter to boot.