Telemark Talk / Telemark Tips Forum

Hi All,

I'm making the switch from 75mm to NTN and looking for skis. For Colorado resort use, all mountain, probably 95 to 105mm waist. Lots of quite expensive ($600 to $800) backcountry and tele-specific models (Bishop, SummitCone, Voile, G3, DPS, etc..) and lot's of last year's model alpine-centric skis on clearance ($350 to $450). I don't have unlimited budget, so trying to sort out the more affordable mainstream skis that will work well for tele. I'll have Outlaw X bindings and probably Scarpa boots

How about the Rossignol Sender 104 or Liberty Origin 96? What else should I look at?

Gracias in advance!

what are you currently skiing?

lowangle al wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 15, 2022 2:45 pm

what are you currently skiing?

Old pair of Rossignol S3's with Hammerhead bindings. They do the job; but, frankly I've not tried enought gear to know any better. The 10-12 year old setup is in decent shape but I desparately need new boots, so I thought WTH I'll give NTN a try. I'm definitely not charging down the hill these days and probably would take playful and light over a heavy, stiff, carving machine. That said, lots of days out there are not powder days and lots of time spent cruising the groomers with my family. So, I was thinking I don't want anything that is too wide or too powder oriented that will suck on-piste.

Others skis that interest me based on reviews and Youtube, if I could only find on sale..Voile V6 or Manti, G3 Findr 102, Bishop Chedi...But, I talked to another resort skiing NTN'er the other day who only skis on mass market All mountain skis skis like Enforcer, Ranger, Rustler, QST, Obviously, it's all about your style and no one ski for everybody. That said, there are so many freaking choices and manufacturers these days, mind-knumbing

Icelantic has been good to me. You can find skis for a reasonable amount of money and they are fun to ski. I'd recommend the Pioneer series, for instance. I have the 96 it's great, though it's been changed lately. I liked it much better than the Origin 96.
And icelantic is actually made in CO unlike Liberty who just pretends.

I have to second that Icelantic ski. I've used a pair of Pioneers and am quite taken with them. Made right up the street from me. Which is nice.

Woodserson wrote: ↑

Sun Sep 18, 2022 4:42 am

Icelantic has been good to me. You can find skis for a reasonable amount of money and they are fun to ski. I'd recommend the Pioneer series, for instance. I have the 96 it's great, though it's been changed lately. I liked it much better than the Origin 96.
And icelantic is actually made in CO unlike Liberty who just pretends.

@Woodserson, how would you compare the Pioneer 96 to the Ripstick 96?
Does the tip and tail rocker make it “ski short?”
What length you skiing?

The Elan's are going to be more precise, more focused, with a higher end feel, especially on hardpack and groomers. Tough to describe in words.
Both would be fantastic. The RS 88, which I have, is incredible. The RS 96 would be much the same, I'm sure.
Can't go wrong with either ski, Icelantic or Elan. Great skis, different feels.
They will be both ski about the same length wise the rocker is comparable in both and not anything out of the ordinary for the industry/width. Stiffness too is about the same, firm but bendable.

I was a huge fan of the S3. Great ski, but as with most skis for inbound use, after 100 days or so, they lose their luster. I found the Atomic Vantage (discontinued) to be a good replacement, but now I'm on the Blizzard Rustler 9. I'm on the Wasatch back and I'm really pleased with it (NTN, mounted on recommended line with Tx Pros). I think, given that you're used to the shape and design of the S3, you'd love the Rustler 9, as I think it's better in every category.
I'm on it in a 164, but it's primarily my bump ski.

In a wider ski (102 underfoot), I'd consider the Rustler 10. I ski it in a 172. It would make a fine do-it-all ski out west.

My go to powder ski is the Dynastar M-Free 108 in a 182cm which I really love. It's surprising quick on groomers and doesn't get deflected as the powder gets skied out.

All 3 skis have that Rocker-camber-rocker profile with more rocker as widths increase.

Rossi Senders are badass boards! Senders/Outlaws/TX Pros = ski anywhere, any condition, and pick your turns, alpine or drop-knee!

Bobbyd wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 08, 2022 10:39 am

Rossi Senders are badass boards! Senders/Outlaws/TX Pros = ski anywhere, any condition, and pick your turns, alpine or drop-knee!

Where'd you put the bindings, boot center/chord center or......?