Alpina Pioneer 80 XPlore Ski Review

[Woodserson]

Wait. Hold up. I just watched @Tom M 's video and he's on Discovery 80's... So there is a Pioneer 80 and a Discovery 80? What's the difference?

[Johnny]

That sounds pretty tempting...
Assuming that would be this fall?

This is probably not going to happen, I was just dreaming aloud...

Next year I'll probably use both again on a more equal basis, though the Ingstad seems to have better torsional rigidity than the T78 / 2018 Alpina Discovery 80. I'm naming them both in one breath here since Woodserson and I compared his T78s with my 2018 Alpina Discovery 80 skis side by side, and they appear to be identical.

Hey, thanks for all the VERY interesting info and reflections Riel!

The fishscale science is a lot more complex than we think... As you said, there is so many factors to consider, lengths, camber profiles, flex, nordic rocker etc. It would be a mistake to judge a waxless ski only by the pattern length and position... But hey, it's the only thing we can do before trying it...

FWIW, I didn't use grip wax on my 195cm Ingstad WLs, and I was 160lbs back then. But they were definitely not long enough for my taste. Now back at 130lbs, I do need wax in front of the scales of my 205's...

[Johnny]

Wait. Hold up. I just watched @Tom M 's video and he's on Discovery 80's... So there is a Pioneer 80 and a Discovery 80? What's the difference?

Yes!!! They both are alive!

"Just like the Discovery 80's top sheets, but without the red paint... So cool!"

"I would be curious to see the difference between the Pioneer and the Discovery 80, which seems identical... (Reinforced mounting area for XPlore bindings perhaps?) Unfortunately, there isn't much information about Alpina products on their website, as it always been the case..."

[Stephen]

Wait. Hold up. I just watched @Tom M 's video and he's on Discovery 80's... So there is a Pioneer 80 and a Discovery 80? What's the difference?

Yes!!! They both are alive!

"Just like the Discovery 80's top sheets, but without the red paint... So cool!"

"I would be curious to see the difference between the Pioneer and the Discovery 80, which seems identical... (Reinforced mounting area for XPlore bindings perhaps?) Unfortunately, there isn't much information about Alpina products on their website, as it always been the case..."

So the Pioneer and Discovery are different skis?
If so, can anyone offer a comparison of the two?

[Johnny]

The cosmetics are a nice change -- fake wood, but still a nice look.

Please forgive my lack of knowledge of resins, cosmetics and fake stuff... But I was totally wrong here.

After a closer look, it's actually REAL wood!!! WOAAAAH! With clear top sheets! BEAUTIFUL!!!!
Best looking skis in years... I'm in love...

[Stephen]

So I wonder if that is a cosmetic veneer we are seeing, or the actual core of the ski?
I would assume the former.
Either way, it would seem to be a bit of a maintenance concern to make sure no dents or gouges allow any water into the wood.
Are you sure it’s fiberglass — I thought top sheets were normally a plastic material?
A fiberglass top sheet would not be as durable, since any nicks would expose glass fibers. And, glass fibers in skin are not nice.

[Johnny]

Are you sure it’s fiberglass — I thought top sheets were normally a plastic material?
A fiberglass top sheet would not be as durable, since any nicks would expose glass fibers. And, glass fibers in skin are not nice.

Oh, what I mean is that we can see the pattern of the fiberglass cloth on top of the wood... There's got to be a layer of protective plastic material over that? I don't know much about ski construction... But it's only 1045g at 196cm...

[Stephen]

Oh, what I mean is that we can see the pattern of the fiberglass cloth on top of the wood... There's got to be a layer of protective plastic material over that?

Yeah, that seems more likely.
That would be interesting if what we see is actually the ski’s wood core.
From the finger joint in the middle foreground of the picture, it looks like it might be the actual core.

[Stephen]

Anyone heard anything on this ski?
Supposed to retail with the Xplore binding, which is not available yet?

[jyw5]

oh no!

another shiny new toy... you mean, i have to buy more ski boots??