Xplore experiment
Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2022 3:22 pm
My first post here (except for sales). My current tele-periment is around the new Xplore system though not much field tests so far. I put the bindings on a pair of G3 Stinger and got a pair of Alfa Skaget M43. Actually I bought a pair of Skaget M44 according to their recommended size, but they were too big, I use USM10~11 boots, Scarpa M28. My intended use would be downhill oriented backcountry in the WA Cascades, not much K&G unless I have to. I would have gotten Alfa Free but seemed bit too expensive for a initial experiment.
Did ski the set up on a local lift slope, which was an easy intermediate run and freshly groomed. My first a few turns were comical. I've been telemarking for over 40 years, but haven't skied in leather boots for decades and been exclusively on NTN gear for the past decade. Since the snow was good, I was able to adjust to this set up fairy quickly and skied well enough for the rest of ~800'. The hardest part was dealing the soft toe bumper with stiff soles which required quick weighing of the rear foot to avoid tip-toeing. Very different technique than skiing NTN gear on easy snow, though sometimes helpful. Anyway one run was all I could handle, no need to waste good snow.
Since their hard bumper was not available yet (I guess they are now, though still hard in US), I made my own "solid" bumper from plastic block I had around.
With this bumper the boot toes stays on skis and very easy to weigh the rear foot, allowing more continuous weight shifting and early edging.
With my solid toe bumper:
With the original toe bumper:
With the solid bumper, turning was so much smoother again on nice groomed slope. Skied for an hour this time. Then switched to my regular NTN gear, it was totally relaxing and effortless
I think any hard toe bumpers would make turning easier on Xplore especially when going gets tough. As for the boots, Alfa Skaget is seemed well made and very comfortable, and ski pretty well in good snow. However, I definitely want more ankle support for edging on hard snow. Now Alfa Free is more available and thinking about them. Anybody wants like-new Skaget?
Did ski the set up on a local lift slope, which was an easy intermediate run and freshly groomed. My first a few turns were comical. I've been telemarking for over 40 years, but haven't skied in leather boots for decades and been exclusively on NTN gear for the past decade. Since the snow was good, I was able to adjust to this set up fairy quickly and skied well enough for the rest of ~800'. The hardest part was dealing the soft toe bumper with stiff soles which required quick weighing of the rear foot to avoid tip-toeing. Very different technique than skiing NTN gear on easy snow, though sometimes helpful. Anyway one run was all I could handle, no need to waste good snow.
Since their hard bumper was not available yet (I guess they are now, though still hard in US), I made my own "solid" bumper from plastic block I had around.
With this bumper the boot toes stays on skis and very easy to weigh the rear foot, allowing more continuous weight shifting and early edging.
With my solid toe bumper:
With the original toe bumper:
With the solid bumper, turning was so much smoother again on nice groomed slope. Skied for an hour this time. Then switched to my regular NTN gear, it was totally relaxing and effortless
I think any hard toe bumpers would make turning easier on Xplore especially when going gets tough. As for the boots, Alfa Skaget is seemed well made and very comfortable, and ski pretty well in good snow. However, I definitely want more ankle support for edging on hard snow. Now Alfa Free is more available and thinking about them. Anybody wants like-new Skaget?
I'd need more practice, also might try adapting T3 cuffs on these boots. The xplore bindings performed well, shuffling the last half flat mile with the solid bumpers was easy enough and still faster than my friends on AT and NTN gears. 