My poor Alaskas...

[MikeK]

Sorry to say my wife may be cashing in hers as well. They seem to be causing her foot pain and she rolled her ankle with them recently. She needs more support - I'm going to try to get her some Svartisens so she can sometimes comply with the xcd rules.

So... anyone looking for a pair of EU 39 75mm Alaskas, hers are in great shape (she skis less than I do). I can probably part with them cheap... but I need to make sure I can get a replacement first.

I might sell mine as well and get the NNN version. I have the Crispi for 3 pins...

[bgregoire]

Oh! Yeah I think it's exactly what he was talking about...! So it's not only me...

It would be hard not to notice the difference on snow... I don't use cables so they've been skiing exactly like NNN shoes for a few weeks now...!

Well, I think I realized that while I still beleive they are THE greatest XCD ski boots ever made, maybe they were not made to ski them like I do. They are light XCD-oriented boots. I use them everyday on technical terrain, I'm twisting them really hard all the time due to some of the tight trees we have here... And I don't think they appreciate when I use them on the groomers or in the spring bumps...

Please Alpina, keep this boot in production for decades!!! But just extend that metal plate a bit...!

LoveJohnny, just wanted to confirm that the 3pin Alaskas my girlfriend was using on our Scandinavian tour did fail at the same place yours did. And we could see the end of the metal plate inside of the tear. By the way, the sole also started ripping off of the boot itself from above. She was using the 3pc from Voile and the bail did bite into the tip of her boot. I'd like to specify that she was using them touring, kick n glide only. It's a wonderful boot but I agree that they should look into this issue. My NNNBCs though are still going strong, intact!

[Johnny]

Really, only K&G? Gee, that's so sad...

Did you write to Alpina? They need to be aware of the problem so they update the next version of the Alaska with a longer plate...

Now that Scarpa and BD won't make tele boots anymore, I still want to be able to buy a pair of new Alaskas in 20 years...!

[bgregoire]

Really, only K&G? Gee, that's so sad...

Did you write to Alpina? They need to be aware of the problem so they update the next version of the Alaska with a longer plate...

Now that Scarpa and BD won't make tele boots anymore, I still want to be able to buy a pair of new Alaskas in 20 years...!

I did not write to Alpina but guess I should. Returned them to Backcountry.com for a full refund. Don't you think they will pass that on to Alpina?

[bgregoire]

Really, only K&G? Gee, that's so sad...

Did you write to Alpina? They need to be aware of the problem so they update the next version of the Alaska with a longer plate...

Now that Scarpa and BD won't make tele boots anymore, I still want to be able to buy a pair of new Alaskas in 20 years...!

No more SCARPA or BD telemark boots??????? You mean leather boots or all types including the plastics shells, T4, T2, T1 etc.? Sounds outrageous.

[MikeK]

I think he meant Scarpa leathers.

Did BD ever make a leather? Anyway, they are done, done.

[Johnny]

I was able to get a new pair of Alaska too... The guys at Alpina were very kind and helpful. I did mention to them how much I loved them, and to update the next models with a longer metal plate... I also asked them if they got a lot of returns for this problem but I didn't get any reply.

Well, yeah, BD won't make any tele boots anymore, and Scarpa will stop production of some tele boots next year too... It's a sad time for telemark... I wouldn't want Alpina to stop making the Alaskas...!

[bgregoire]

So you got another 35 days of action with your new pair of Alaskas! Well, better than none i guess. I got lucky and found myself some older merrel/karhu double leather boots with intuition liners. Heatmolded, they are very confortable and should work out nicely XCD. I bet they will last forever. As for that endless NNNBC/3PIN debate you guys have going, could this be food for the debate: NNN/BC setups have the advantage that the binding tends to break before the sole of the boot. In extending winter expeditions, its much easier to carry an extra NNN/BC binding than to carry an extra pair of 3pin boots as back up? Granted of course that I agree you don't get as much control on the down with NNNBC over 3pins. LJ, by the way, I end up in Sutton every now and then, how bout i give you a heads up next time around et tu pourras me faire découvrir tes descentes secrètes!

[MikeK]

bgregoire - that pin/NNN debate was a bunch of BS mostly manufactured by a certain someone.

Pins are great for a lot of stuff - NNN has it's strengths too. I tried to encourage a more scientific analysis of each instead of simple banter, but it didn't really work out.

It's fairly obvious from a leverage standpoint the advantages of a 75mm plate (regardless of the pins) and the advantages of the NNN pivot bar from a touring aspect (I mean when is the last time you saw an xc racer with a duckbill?). So I don't know why that went on for like 20 pages... but it did.

I, for one, love my Alaskas and refuse to accept their failure - so in order to carry the torch I'll simply switch the binding. I'm almost sure I'll keep my 75mm until they die, but unless Alpina fixes their flaw, I won't buy another pair.

It's not really much of shot to my shorts - I have a nice pair of 75mm boots and the skis that I'd put NNN on I have a damn hard time skiing down hills no matter what, unless it's nice slow powder, in which case the NNN will be nicer.

Anyway, for XCd and xcD sake, I hope they listen.

[Johnny]

I tried to encourage a more scientific analysis of each instead of simple banter

CIMA pointed out something very interesting about NNN having a much better flotation in powder due to the lack of pressure on the tips. My English is too bad to say it again here, but there was some very, very nice stuff in that thread. Can't wait for next season...!

for XCd and xcD sake

Holy RonCole! Are people using this elsewhere or you just invented this amazing way of describing one's XCD style? (Humm... I think I asked you before... ; )

BGreg, they just sent me the brand new Alaskas straight from the warehouse. Who knows, maybe that 2014 model has a full reinforced metal plate...? I'll tell you in 35 days...

By the way, I don't know if it's due to the boots being a different size, but the new Alaskas I got are quite different from the ones I had... I'll try to take pictures... Which size do you have Mike and BG?

Sure, stop here anytime you want! Where are you from?