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S-Bound 98 Length Recommendations

Posted: Tue May 28, 2024 1:15 pm
by JohnSKepler
Looking at picking up a pair of skis in the end of season sales or, better yet, second-hand. Filtering various write-ups from reviews to personal anecdotes the S-Bound 98 seems to perform similar to the Asnes Falketind 62 in Kick and Glide as well as vertical and it has scales.

I really like the FT62 but have found it somewhat lacking in local conditions. Here in Northern Utah's canyons and plateaus I find that I'm a lot happier with scales than either wax or skins since snow conditions can change so much over pretty short distance and time. Altitude, shadow, slope angle, sun angle, nighttime low, daytime high, etc., are all in play pretty much anywhere I go. On any one meadow-skipping or canyon run, which is what we have here, I can run into fresh powder, consolidated powder, warm snow, ice, slush, etc. Scales, while not optimal across all these conditions work pretty well in all of them while wax may be perfect for one but fail in others. Likewise, Xskins work really well across the entire range but really affect kick and glide and downhill. From experience on scaled Voile Objective BC skis I know that scales are the best compromise.

So, I'm looking at the S-Bound 98 and am wondering about length. I'm 5'8" around 170lbs. I usually ski with between a 10 to 20 pound pack but, every now an then, with no pack at all. I've not yet done any skiing with a heavy pack. I'd be using Xplore bindings with Alaska or Alfa Free boots but would likely install inserts so that I could also ski three-pin/Scarpa T-4. I've been insert crazy this year so could also ski it with a binding plate using Transit/F-1, though, I tried this with the FT62 and it was a bit much. Keeping that in mind, here are Fischer's length recommendations:
S-Bound length recommendation.png
At around 80-90 kg total weight they have me on a 179 or 189. A 189 seems quite long for me. Even a 179 seems long but, as I've learned to drop my knee more effectively, it doesn't sound as long as it used to. Perhaps if I was thinking more flat than vertical it might make sense to go with 189 cm but I'm thinking rolling hills, canyon ascent/descent, and touring for turns.

For those who have some experience on this ski, what would you recommend? I made the jump from beginner to intermediate this year though, when I start to get tired, I still struggle with turning right! :?

Re: S-Bound 98 Length Recommendations

Posted: Tue May 28, 2024 2:06 pm
by John_XCD
I'm similar weight (and more like 6') height. I ski in the SLC area and have both the 188 FT62 xplore model and 189 sbound 98 (from ~2019). I ski on nnnbc.

FT62 is unfortunately better in all ways except option for scales: turns more easily, "floats" better in powder, handles hardpack much better. ...

The scales are effective for grip (especially in wetter spring conditions) but I don't get much xc performance (ie glide) out of this ski in 189. Shorter than 189 I think you will have significant issues with sinking in powder snow and drag as an all purpose xcd.

That said my wife's sbound 98 in 179cm is my favorite ski for post-season corn skiing at alta. The shorter length really pays off if you are exclusively on supportive snow and not looking for much glide. My S98 is now relegated to shoulder seasons and/or really wonky conditions with a larger quiver.

There has also been some improvement in S98 design since I bought mine. I also don't have another suggestions for a ski that would work like a scaled FT62. I do think S98 is quite versatile and CAN perform OK in a wide range of XCd and xcD contexts.

Re: S-Bound 98 Length Recommendations

Posted: Tue May 28, 2024 4:07 pm
by JohnSKepler
John_XCD wrote:
Tue May 28, 2024 2:06 pm
... a scaled FT62...
AndyDwyer.jpg

Re: S-Bound 98 Length Recommendations

Posted: Tue May 28, 2024 4:15 pm
by JohnSKepler
Not to hijack my own thread but...

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2501

Added to the list of off season projects.

Re: S-Bound 98 Length Recommendations

Posted: Tue May 28, 2024 8:27 pm
by mca80
I haven't flexed an FT62 but I wouldn't think it has enough camber for scales to avoid serious, serious drag... unless one is cutting one's own scales _into_ the existing ptex rather than a positive (?) scale atop the existing plane. So, Kepler, to my mind your potential experiment sounds intriguing and promising, albeit very costly if it doesn't work out.

Re: S-Bound 98 Length Recommendations

Posted: Tue May 28, 2024 9:56 pm
by Nick BC
I’m 125 lbs and used a 179 SB98 and it seemed fine length wise. However, I ended up selling it due to the poor performance in heavy sloppy snow we get a lot of the time in SWBC. The lack of torsional rigidity is a killer in those oversized cc skis. Anyway, I’ve given up on fast k&g (partly due to age) and now ski a pair of Atomic Backland 80 SL with a short 15 inch skin under foot. Home made skin skis :-)

Re: S-Bound 98 Length Recommendations

Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2024 2:09 pm
by lilcliffy
Hi John,
I am 178cm and 84kg-

I skied the 179cm 98- mounted with XP- and absolutely loved it as a light downhill-oriented Nordic touring ski- in the exact spring snow conditions that JohnXCD describes-
I also find the wider waist of the 98 makes it more stable than the FT62 in rotting/melting snow on a warm afternoon.

The 98 is certainly not as dreamy as the FT62 or Rabb 68 on cold soft snow-
and the 98 is a very slow XC ski-
but, it slides along just fine on warm wet snow- if one is not trying to crush miles- and is looking for moderate slopes to play on!

We had an unsually long (came early and extended), but sublime late-winter/early-spring snow season here- with mucho snowfall and rain- I used my 199cm 88 and my 179 98 more than I ever have and they were the perfect two-ski backcountry ski quiver for those conditions.
Best,
Gareth