Åsnes Predator

[Musk Ox]

A somewhat interesting listing on the local sales board for a pair of Åsnes Predators from the 1990s.

My translation:

"PREDATOR: Produced especially for pure telemark. Marked left and right, cannot be used on the prepared trail. Only 150 pairs made especially for the Telemark World Cup. Sold as new without bindings, steel edges.

Asbjørn Åsnes says he's taken three pairs for their collection. Unique collectors items. Fantastic telemark experience."

I've found a picture of the top sheet. https://www.isabeldesign.se/asnes-ski?l ... m-itoc9apy

Holy fuck, these are ugly.

They're going for the equivalent of about 110 USD.

Please advise.

(I mean, I know what logically needs to be done here. But I can find literally nothing about them anywhere. Anyone know anything about these?)

[Rodbelan]

I know you are somewhere in Norway (I assume you know the language); did you search on the norwegian side of the net? I tried «asnes rovdyr ski» (I allow you to laugh at me!); of course, I saw skiers and wolfs...

Some skis from the pre-internet era do not have much to tell.. But it is tempting!

[Musk Ox]

[Oops just replied by editing my post, thus deleting it!]

Yes, Rod, I can read Norwegian well enough the trawl the Scandi-net. I found a lot of stuff about Aliens vs Predators, but very little about snow.

[lilcliffy]

So- correct me if I am wrong-

Rago=Amundsen?

Telemark=Nansen?

The "Taiga" model looks very similar to the "Rago"- same profile with a different flex?

"Predator" is "marked left and right"? So they have a different tail profile- ~similar idea to a Scottybob?

[Musk Ox]

Yep, they're asymmetric.

So- correct me if I am wrong-

Telemark=Nansen?

Good question... there are a few old Åsnes skis with 'Telemark' on them, it's super confusing... I read on a Norwegian forum that the Telemark MT54 is the old Gamme (unsurprisingly). I was just reading about the differences between the Rago and the Nansen today, I'll go and have another look.

[Musk Ox]

Yep, they're asymmetric.

So- correct me if I am wrong-

Telemark=Nansen?

Good question... there are a few old Åsnes skis with 'Telemark' on them, it's super confusing... I read on a Norwegian forum that the Telemark MT54 is the old Gamme (unsurprisingly). I was just reading about the differences between the Rago and the Nansen today, I'll go and have another look.

Edit: Yes, it looks like the Rago is the Amundsen: good on the vidda (plateau), hairy at going downhill

[athabascae]

Those bases and edges on the Asnes Predator are beautiful!

I tend to think of the Rago as the early version of the Amundsen. What I consider an E99 class ski. Dimensions are 67-57-62. I have a pair of Rago, very nice skis, very directional, beautiful bases and edges. Mine look much nicer (see below) than those garish ones in Muskox's link.

I really wanted the Taiga. I tried to buy a used pair 5 or so years ago from the Ukraine, but shipping to Canada was not possible to sort out. I believe they are an early version of the Vikafjell, which is now very similar in dimension (60-51-55, I think) and intended use as the Mountain Tour 51. An E89 class ski. I still want the Taiga.

Interesting to hear that the Telemark MT54 is likely an older verison of the Gamme!

[lilcliffy]

Opps- I got confused by those flashy graphics-

So the ski with "TELEMARK" stamped on the tail is the "Predator" ski.

Looks like it has less sidecut than the Nansen.

[lowangle al]

Those old "straight" skis have a real smooth feel compared to an easier turning shaped ski. One of my favorite skis was from that era.

[tkarhu]

Someone is selling a 205 cm pair in Sweden

"Åsnes Predator 205cm. Asymmetrical racing ski from the 90s.[…](NOTE these are not touring skis but seriously challenging piste skis)"

Is this a great opportunity for a collector? Seems that those are not for BC skiing really.

https://www.blocket.se/annons/dalarna/t ... r/98968362