G3 FINDr XCD vs. well, the rest...

[Harris]

Did not know that about BC skis, the fish scales that is. I would think using skins would be preferable unless doing short uphills if not for the simple reason you can wax proper for the downhill. But I'm not much of a backcountry skier. I could see how fish scales would be convenient though. A long, long time ago I had a pair of Fischer Extremes that were waxless and had fish scales/aluminum edges. Skins still climbed a lot better. But the Extremes worked okay breaking trail and were even fine going down in cold fresh snow, but damn if they weren't god awful on hard pack.

[lowangle al]

With the scales your still Nordic skiing, enjoying the K&G and skiing in a xc rhythm. Like an old Vermont bc skier told me one time " when your skinning your not skiing.

You are right though for most typical bc skiing on long climbs with lots of vert skins will save time and energy.

[Freshpow]

G3 has last year's FINDr XCD at 40% off for a Boxing week special.

https://ca-store.genuineguidegear.com/c ... clearance?

I'm kind of interested in the 86 version (122/86/109mm) paired with NNN-BC and Alpina Alaskas, but I've never used NNN-BC on anything other than cross-country style skis. Any thoughts on how it would work with a wider ski?

[phoenix]

I wouldn't recommend NNN-BC on that ski personally; I am sure there are other opinions on that though.

[Johnny]

G3 has last year's FINDr XCD at 40% off for a Boxing week special.

https://ca-store.genuineguidegear.com/c ... clearance?

I'm kind of interested in the 86 version (122/86/109mm) paired with NNN-BC and Alpina Alaskas, but I've never used NNN-BC on anything other than cross-country style skis. Any thoughts on how it would work with a wider ski?

Wow, awesome deals! Thanks for sharing! Very... tempting...!

Not sure either about NNNBC on the 86s... It would make very, very cool snowshoes with NNNBC and Alaskas... But they might be a bit hard to control downhill... The Findr78 and the old Stingers would be perfect with Alaska BCs for full XCD fun... But the 86s would probably be just a tad too heavy and wide for adequate control with leathers...

[lilcliffy]

177cm G3 FINDr 78 XCD: 2.8kg

185cm Madshus Annum: 2.6kg

179cm Fischer S-Bound 112: 2.7kg

179cm Rossignol BC110: 2.7kg

178cm Voile Objective BC: 2.3kg

182cm G3 FINDr 86 XCD: 3.1kg
122-86-109mm

178cm Voile Objective BC: 2.3kg
117-84-102mm

The Objective is the widest ski I have ever known anybody to effectively downhill ski with a soft XC boot.

The FINDr 86 XCD and the Objective BC may be of similar dimensions- but look at the weight difference...

Johnny- I know you downhill ski with your Alaska BC on the Objective- with soft BC snow- do you think the Alaska is enough for this ski on difficult snow?

Freshpow- what is your intended use for the FINDr 86?

[Johnny]

It all depends on what you intend to do...

I'm a weak, skinny guy, with almost zero muscle power... With years of over abuse on my knees and back (and liver)... I guess a strong guy could easily handle fatter and heavier skis with leathers... The incredible control abilities of NNN-BC makes me believe I could handle pretty much any Findr skis for BC fun... But for high speed downhill inferno powder days on wide open trails at the resort, the Objective is pretty much my limit for leathers...

A ski that large with a huge surface area is collecting a lot of power at high speed, concentrating it all on the duckbill/bars. It takes a very strong guy to support and control that force on floppy leathers... Not a problem for slow XCD descents, but for full-throttle powder runs, I doubt I could handle something wider and heavier then the Objective...

Remember, the old limit for XCD was 109mm at the tips according to the World XCD Council... Voile was able to break that limit within only a few years.. I wasn't joking when I said the Objective is a game changer... The future looks bright for XCD...

There is a weight difference, but hey, there is also a huge price difference...! Findrs at 320$ CAD is a killer deal! I'm seriously considering jumping on a pair... Yep, yhe Objective are significantly lighter... But they are 875$ CAD...

[Stover]

I have the 177 G3 FINDR 94 XCD mounted with Switchbacks. I've only been out on them twice so far here in VT, and while we have a deep, cold snowpack, there is a crust lurking about 6" deep, which has prevented me from accurately assessing the ski's performance on the down. The fishscales have been very nice for "schwacking" around the woods, although I've used skins quite a bit as well. I can attest to their fine construction, typical of G3 products--they are quite light, and the topsheet seems very durable. They have a slight early rise in the tips and tails when decambered--but quite a bit less rocker than Voile V6 (my other skis). The mounting point seems a little forward of where I like to be, but again, I haven't really been able to do much in the way of turning, so I'll assess that once I get the chance.

[eric.steig]

I use Karhu Guides all the time, and also the Voile Vector (not BC version). They are both great skis, for different conditions/situations. I'm 100% sure if I had the Voile Vector BC I'd love it, but it is heavier than the Guide, so I would not always use it instead of the Guide. If I were to buy one new ski now, I'd buy the Voile Objective BC. I suspect I'd never use anything else unless it was an all-up day (no rolling terrain).

Can't comment knowledgeably on the G3 skis except to note they tend to be relatively stiff (vs.Voile). That may or may not be bad depending on style.

But I am sure they are great too. You probably can't go wrong.

One thing annoying about the Voile skis -- not cutout for skin clips at the tail.

[anemic]

thanks for the reviews stover & eric. I am so intrigued by the G3 skis. Of course the objective bcs are the object of everyone's desires, are they not?