fischer europa 99 vs e99

[freedom glider]

any opinions on how europa 99s would compare against e99s at this point in time? did fischer improve manufacturing?

is the crown pattern on europa99 crowns equivalent to e99 crowns? does the camber wear out over the decades?

thanks for any help.

PS i do realize that transnordic 66 is current model, but its sold out in my size (210) so am looking for used versions.

[riel]

any opinions on how europa 99s would compare against e99s at this point in time? did fischer improve manufacturing?

is the crown pattern on europa99 crowns equivalent to e99 crowns? does the camber wear out over the decades?

thanks for any help.

PS i do realize that transnordic 66 is current model, but its sold out in my size (210) so am looking for used versions.

Over the years, Fischer has made many different skis called the Europa 99 and the E99. The oldest ones come with Fischer's original "Crown" pattern, then you get "Mountain Crown" ones from some time in the late 1990s until 2010 or so, and after 2011 Fischer moved to "Offtrack Crown".

The Offtrack Crown pattern is noticeably better in dealing with odd snow conditions, but when the now is good the Mountain Crown pattern seems to work just about as well.

Europa 99 and E99 skis have been made with softer and stiffer camber, different sidecuts, different crown patterns, and different top sheets over the years. I assume the branding was changed over at a different time as some of the underlying technologies, and it's pretty much impossible to predict, based on name alone, how a ski behaves.

However, anything with either the Mountain Crown or Offtrack Crown pattern should be great fun!

I have no experience with Fischer's original crown pattern.

[Woodserson]

any opinions on how europa 99s would compare against e99s at this point in time? did fischer improve manufacturing?

is the crown pattern on europa99 crowns equivalent to e99 crowns? does the camber wear out over the decades?

thanks for any help.

PS i do realize that transnordic 66 is current model, but its sold out in my size (210) so am looking for used versions.

Over the years, Fischer has made many different skis called the Europa 99 and the E99. The oldest ones come with Fischer's original "Crown" pattern, then you get "Mountain Crown" ones from some time in the late 1990s until 2010 or so, and after 2011 Fischer moved to "Offtrack Crown".

The Offtrack Crown pattern is noticeably better in dealing with odd snow conditions, but when the now is good the Mountain Crown pattern seems to work just about as well.

Europa 99 and E99 skis have been made with softer and stiffer camber, different sidecuts, different crown patterns, and different top sheets over the years. I assume the branding was changed over at a different time as some of the underlying technologies, and it's pretty much impossible to predict, based on name alone, how a ski behaves.

However, anything with either the Mountain Crown or Offtrack Crown pattern should be great fun!

I have no experience with Fischer's original crown pattern.

Totally agree with all the above. I will add that the E99 XTRALITE (now called Transnordic66) is significantly lighter, stiffer directly underfoot with a wax pocket, and has rocker than the previous models. The Mountain Crown models of first decade 2000s have a rounder flex and are heavier but are very popular and ski well and are less demanding.

[corlay]

and has rocker than the previous models.

Have you handled a 2021-2022 TN66 model yet?

I have the 205 crown version 2021-2022 (or maybe last year's 2020-2021?).
I do not detect a prominent "rocker" of the tip, when the skiis are compressed together.

The wax pocket is indeed quite stiff underfoot.
I cannot compress the center of these skiis touching together in a "squeeze test" with both hands.

[Woodserson]

and has rocker than the previous models.

Have you handled a 2021-2022 TN66 model yet?

I have the 205 crown version 2021-2022 (or maybe last year's 2020-2021?).
I do not detect a prominent "rocker" of the tip, when the skiis are compressed together.

The wax pocket is indeed quite stiff underfoot.
I cannot compress the center of these skiis touching together in a "squeeze test" with both hands.

I have two pairs of 205 E99 Xtralite (14/15 and 20/21) and they have rocker. It's about 1cm spread between the two skis at the uncompressed contact point (point the ski last touches uncompressed) but I'm not home right now so I can't tell the to the mm.

If you handled a TN66 it's a 21/22 model, as this name did not exist prior to this season.

I have found lately wild variations in rocker on the same model and year in Fischer's skis. It can be frustrating.

I'm ok with less rocker and maybe some "splay" instead.

[Woodserson]

Would love on the ground pictures if you can. I can't physically get to these skis in the US

[fgd135]

Well, I have a couple pair of very old Europa 99's, I'd guess from the mid 1980s and mid 1990s. Don't see much difference in design of these two skis other than cosmetic changes. The oldest one has the original sintered, negative-ground Fischer Crown pattern and it skis quite well, albeit the crown pattern is quite noisy compared to more modern Fischer skis.The other ski is waxable and is purely a joy to kick and glide.
I've owned a couple of other, more recent E99's, including a early-mid 2000's ski that not only seemed narrower for some reason than the earlier skis, and had a very soft, almost non existent wax pocket and a much narrower, lower shovel profile, like it was designed for classic tracks instead of ungroomed trails. Good thing I bought it used for very little money and was able to recoup my purchase price when I sold it at the end of the season.
Too bad there's no archive of old Fischer XC sales catalogs available to compare specs from say, 1978 or so at model introduction up to today's version. I'd guess there must be at least 10 or more design configurations sharing the name, "Air Core", "BCX" and others, although for about the first couple of decades I'm guessing it was the same ski with only various cosmetic changes. The 1990's pink white and green topsheet skis with pink bases were essentially the same as the navy blue skis from 1981, for example.
Ha! I googled "Europa 99" on the interwebs and the most photos that came up were from this site! Collectively more E99 illustrations and certainly more discussion than anywhere.

[corlay]

Would love on the ground pictures if you can.

I can oblige,
if you guide me toward exactly what you'd like me to capture in the pic.
Let me know...

[John Dee]

Have you handled a 2021-2022 TN66 model yet?

I have the 205 crown version 2021-2022 (or maybe last year's 2020-2021?).
I do not detect a prominent "rocker" of the tip, when the skiis are compressed together.

I bought two pairs of Transnordic 66's. Both had oodles of rocker. I still have one pair. My new Traverse 78s have much less rocker.

[Woodserson]

Too bad there's no archive of old Fischer XC sales catalogs available to compare specs from say, 1978 or so at model introduction up to today's version. I'd guess there must be at least 10 or more design configurations sharing the name, "Air Core", "BCX" and others, although for about the first couple of decades I'm guessing it was the same ski with only various cosmetic changes. The 1990's pink white and green topsheet skis with pink bases were essentially the same as the navy blue skis from 1981, for example.
Ha! I googled "Europa 99" on the interwebs and the most photos that came up were from this site! Collectively more E99 illustrations and certainly more discussion than anywhere.

Agreed on the catalogue, or lack of.

BCX was used on both the early 2000s capped skis and also the early XTRALITEs. The XTRALITE moniker is always a good indicator of the major design changes around 2013(?): Offtrack Crown, lighter, rockered, double camber.