Can big guys with bad knees tele?
Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2021 6:41 pm
Hey all, I'm 6', 270lb, and my knees haven't been in good shape since I was 18 (I'm 43 now).
I've alpine skied the last two years after moving to Utah. My skis are Rossi Experience 80 with a 174 length. I can ski about every Blue run at Snowbasin, and some milder blacks. Bumps are my nemesis, and trees refuse to get out of my way so I tend to avoid them. My son skis at my level or even a bit above. My daughter is just moving from greens to the easiest of blues. My skis are ok on groomers, but they tend to submarine in powder. I took a face plant today in 24" of powder when one decided to dig in and stop.
I really don't dig the idea of alpine skis though. They are great when a lift takes you to the top and it is all downhill from there. My son and I went through a treed area today and I forgot to consider that the powder in the trees would be even deeper than in the open. It was too flat for the 24" of soft powder that landed in the trees. We had to walk out about 600ft and the last half was uphill a bit (sub optimal route). That was a struggle in alpine skis. We had to side step to stop going backwards. Also, the bindings are mounted pretty far back on alpine skis. Breaking trail, the tips floated too much and I was sliding back just on the level.
When going back uphill to rescue a fallen kid, alpine skis drive me nuts as well.
I want a ski setup that lets me easily go from skiing to XC skiing with next to no transition. Something with a waxless patch to let me go up moderate slopes. Something I can cross country ski to yurts on trails, and still not blow out a knee on a downhill. (not concerned about skiing outside the classic ski tracks - tracks bug me as well) Something that would hopefully work at a resort and on trail. Not looking for performance, just solid do anything functionality.
Any advice? I like the Altai Kom 174, but at 174cm – 124/98/120, that ski would struggle in powder with me.
I like the concept of the Voile Switchback binding, but I've never even tried Tele.
I've looked at the Voile BC skis (haven't demoed), but their tips run 15mm wider than the tails and I'd be worried about them not doing so well when breaking trail in the soft stuff. Though, that wide tip means less chance of a submarine in powder.
What are your thoughts, can I safely Tele? Do I need one tele set for downhill and another set for XCD? I don't like the idea of buying a tele set only to find out that my knees can't handle it, or worse, tearing up a knee.
Thanks,
Chris in Utah.
I've alpine skied the last two years after moving to Utah. My skis are Rossi Experience 80 with a 174 length. I can ski about every Blue run at Snowbasin, and some milder blacks. Bumps are my nemesis, and trees refuse to get out of my way so I tend to avoid them. My son skis at my level or even a bit above. My daughter is just moving from greens to the easiest of blues. My skis are ok on groomers, but they tend to submarine in powder. I took a face plant today in 24" of powder when one decided to dig in and stop.
I really don't dig the idea of alpine skis though. They are great when a lift takes you to the top and it is all downhill from there. My son and I went through a treed area today and I forgot to consider that the powder in the trees would be even deeper than in the open. It was too flat for the 24" of soft powder that landed in the trees. We had to walk out about 600ft and the last half was uphill a bit (sub optimal route). That was a struggle in alpine skis. We had to side step to stop going backwards. Also, the bindings are mounted pretty far back on alpine skis. Breaking trail, the tips floated too much and I was sliding back just on the level.
When going back uphill to rescue a fallen kid, alpine skis drive me nuts as well.
I want a ski setup that lets me easily go from skiing to XC skiing with next to no transition. Something with a waxless patch to let me go up moderate slopes. Something I can cross country ski to yurts on trails, and still not blow out a knee on a downhill. (not concerned about skiing outside the classic ski tracks - tracks bug me as well) Something that would hopefully work at a resort and on trail. Not looking for performance, just solid do anything functionality.
Any advice? I like the Altai Kom 174, but at 174cm – 124/98/120, that ski would struggle in powder with me.
I like the concept of the Voile Switchback binding, but I've never even tried Tele.
I've looked at the Voile BC skis (haven't demoed), but their tips run 15mm wider than the tails and I'd be worried about them not doing so well when breaking trail in the soft stuff. Though, that wide tip means less chance of a submarine in powder.
What are your thoughts, can I safely Tele? Do I need one tele set for downhill and another set for XCD? I don't like the idea of buying a tele set only to find out that my knees can't handle it, or worse, tearing up a knee.
Thanks,
Chris in Utah.