Unknown (to me) Black Diamond Ski

[pacificnomad]

Hello all. Is there anyone familiar with this ski? Being relatively new to XCD I'm not familiar with many vintage skis. If I had to guess it looks to be a late 80's or early 90's tele ski, maybe a Paul Parker design? There is a pair of these for sale near me and the person selling them is asking $25 for the skis, some old Delta IV skins and a new container of BD Gold skin glue! They look to be in great shape with no base scratches, dings or water damage. But I'm wondering what these skis are actually like to use? I can't find dimensions for this ski online, but the current owner gave me the following measurements: 197cm by 6.25cm. So I'm thinking that they are more like 195 or 200cm long and are 65mm at the shovel. What about the flex of the ski? Best case use? And modern comparable skis? This ski kind of seems like a more flexible but a torsionally stiff version of a TN66 or a more narrow Nansen. If I got them I'd remove the Riva bindings, seal the holes and put on a BC NNN binding. Thanks for your thoughts!

[phoenix]

I can't quite read the lettering on the ski, is it the Toute Neige? If so, it's an excellent ski in it's category, That was from the era of Paul Parker influencing design, and made by Tua. Some fine skis for their time, and a sweet xcd ski. Think they were a moderate single camber, they toured well and turned well, much better than the E99's of the time. Honestly, I'm not up on the current crop of Asnes and Fischer's, so I can't compare then to those; they're more like whatever Madshus is comparable in dimensions, but better build quality, smoother flex, but not noodley. Very well mannered ski.
Boot/bindings for them is up to you; personally I'd keep the Riva's if you have a good leather 75.

[fisheater]

X2 for the leathers and 75 mm.

[fgd135]

Toute Neige, vintage late 1980s. Vintage cable bindings, too, so I'd certainly suggest you carry a spare cable and a good repair kit with that 30 year old setup.
Tuas had an unfortunate problem with delaminating, so be sure and check them out carefully.

[pacificnomad]

Thanks for the thoughtful replies everyone. Yeah I was able to pick these babies up last week! And ski them a couple times too! These are some sweet skis; super playful, turnable and just ez to control. Compared to my Ingstad's and USGI's these skis have a super minimal camber and are very torsionally stiff. The age and conditions of the Riva bindings are a bit concerning though. The bindings function fine but the cable does show its age. Where can I find a replacement cable?

[phoenix]

"Where can I find a replacement cable?"

I'll take a look in my parts box later, but meanwhile, I still use my original's on a regular basis; I have wondered about that cable but no failures so far.

[fgd135]

If you carry some nylon cordage in your pack, you can jury rig a cable replacement when those old cables break. Make sure the cord will fit thru the cable guides on the sides of the toe plate.
Even better, replace those bindings with new ones. Hole pattern is the same as a Voile 3 pin or Rottefella 3 pin/cable.

[pacificnomad]

"Where can I find a replacement cable?"what I find.

I'll take a look in my parts box later, but meanwhile, I still use my original's on a regular basis; I have wondered about that cable but no failures so far.

Yesterday morning I adjusted the cables a bit as the previous owner had a smaller boot size, and noted the cable to have some super minor corrosion but found the cables to be in good structural shape. I think it would take a ton of force to break these cables and I suspect that they'll last quite a while. Thanks!

[pacificnomad]

If you carry some nylon cordage in your pack, you can jury rig a cable replacement when those old cables break. Make sure the cord will fit thru the cable guides on the sides of the toe plate.
Even better, replace those bindings with new ones. Hole pattern is the same as a Voile 3 pin or Rottefella 3 pin/cable.

This morning before you posted this I actually found some old nylon paracord and cut a few appropriate looking lengths and stashed em in my trail bag! The new 3 pin cable bindings look pretty nice though. My 75mm boots and these bindings are the same vintage and condition (old and used but still serviceable), I think if one or the other failed I'd prob go the Xplore route.