Alternatives before buying Alaskas

[Sloth Monster]

I just bought the Alpina Alaskas, but I also was wondering how the Fischer BCX transnordics are. I can't seem to find any reviews, or their popularity ratings?

[Woodserson]

Brand New and the jury is still out. You'll be good with your Alaska's. Where in NY are you?

[Sloth Monster]

Brand New and the jury is still out. You'll be good with your Alaska's. Where in NY are you?

I will be skiing in Harriman State Park and in NJ, Ringwood State Park. Harriman has forest roads, and Ringwood is very hilly, with a lot of snowmobiles. I usually bike in Ringwood, but when there is close to a foot of snow it is impossible to bike! I tried to buy skis last season, but by February there was not a ski to be found!

I will need to figure out the best way to go downhill on forest roads, they are not too wide, and I am used to S turns of alpine skiing. Any good videos on this?

[Woodserson]

I will need to figure out the best way to go downhill on forest roads, they are not too wide, and I am used to S turns of alpine skiing. Any good videos on this?

This is the beginning of a long journey. Embrace it. There are no easy answers. It is called telemark and you will have to rewire your brain. Chances are the roads will be slow enough.

[fisheater]

@Sloth Monster , The S-98 is a pretty easy turner. However Alaska’s on NNN-BC is a different animal than plastic boots. In addition to Telemark turns, there are step turns, wedge turns, and parallel turns. All should be in the tool box. You’re in the back country, ski as if nobody’s looking, well who cares! Just enjoy yourself.

[stilltryin]

Just because your heel is free doesn't mean every turn has to be a telemark turn.
Any turn (or stop) that keeps you from slamming into a tree is a good one.
People have been skiing down mountain roads on XC gear for years w/o making telemark turns.
If you don't XC, many skills you have from alpine skiing will apply: snow plow, wedge turns, p-turns.

Edit: Fisheater beat me to it.

[phoenix]

I was about to add pretty much what fisheater and stilltryin just did. I was gonna say... just use your alpine skills, for now. There's a brief initial adjustment to not face plant, then alpine turns come pretty easily. When you feel like it, you can spend some time concentrating on whatever tele technique suits you (it's personalized).

[Inspiredcapers]

Mr Fisheater said; “I really like my Alaska BC, so much that I picked up an Alaska 75 mm. The Alaska fit me like they are custom made, it doesn’t get better than that. I agree about the high ankle, I don’t need it, but it doesn’t have any negative effect on my striding. The only guy I ski with is 10 years younger than me, he runs all year, and skis on NNN and a performance XC ski. I ski on Gamme and Alaska on NNN-BC. We don’t race, we enjoy skiing together a couple times a year, but you still know. We are pretty equal, but I’m much faster downhill. So I think kick and glide performance is pretty good.”

I like my Alaska 75mm so much that I’m planning on getting Alaska BC’s when I go with an NNN-BC binding for my next purchase. They’re amazing comfortable- I usually leave the top area lacing looser for k n’ g and tighten up when I want more control…

[Stephen]

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I know that the Alfa Guard was designed specifically for pretty flat touring in Norway, and people say it has similar control, so it seems like best comfort and function. But Alaska is probably the best fit.

ALFA does say something different.

From ALFA Website:
https://www.alfaoutdoor.com/collections ... tx-m-black

Description

A warm and sturdy backcountry ski boot in full grain leather with good support and comfort for demanding ski touring in the mountains. This boot is a reinforced model of the classic Skarvet / BC Advance GTX BC ski boots to be the perfect companion in hilly terrain with steeper slopes while retaining the good skiing properties. The boot is winter lined with GORE-TEX, has a stable and insulating midsole, as well as an anatomic insole. Memoryfoam provides comfort and together with the good fit in the heel this helps prevent blisters, so you can enjoy even the tougher trips and descents.

[John Dee]

I was reiterating someone's speculation about what terrain and type of skiing the Guard was probably designed for. Or, in other words, what market niche Alfa intended it to be for. Norway has mountains, but it also has a lot of plateaus. They said there were typical "hut to hut" tours done over what was mostly flat or gently rolling terrain, with occasional steep sections. This is why the Guard has such a good focus on kick and glide performance, while secondly being able to handle steeps.