This is the World Famous TelemarkTalk / TelemarkTips / Telemark Francais Forum, by far the most dynamic telemark and backcountry skiing discussion board on the world wide web since 1998. East, West, North, South, Canada, US or Europe, Backcountry or not.
This is the World Famous TelemarkTalk / TelemarkTips / Telemark Francais Forum, by far the most dynamic telemark and backcountry skiing discussion board on the world wide web since 1998. East, West, North, South, Canada, US or Europe, Backcountry or not.
Real reviews by real skiers. What a concept! Add your own today. Reviews only please, questions can be posted as replies but new threads looking for opinions should be posted to the main Telemark Talk Forum.
Fantatastic Fred!!
Spectacular terrain and snow!
The FT62 is an amazing xcD ski- you and I are very similar in height and build- I am 5'10" and 185lbs- I have the 188cm FT62- but it is the older version.
What binding and boot are you using with the FT62?
Woods- where are you headed with the FT62 on Monday? You mounted the 3-pin Traverse? Which boot are you going to use?
It looks like there are going to be spinning lifts at my local mountain, so I'm all in there, with a bit of a man-made base. C'mon snow! We're looking at anything from 8" to more.
Yes, I mounted the 3pin Traverse. I do like skiing on the NNN-BC, I find it to be a very powerful binding for skinny ski use and I'm glad it's been pushed hard here on this forum. But in variable snow conditions, like we get here in northern New England all the time, especially crust on top of wet mashed potatoes, I faceplant too much with the combo. This is a problem in the woods. I've skied the Ingstads with NNN-BC on everything from 12" of fresh snow to loose granular on open slopes and it is totally awesome for this, but on tight woods trails here in the White Mountains it's too nerve wracking. I don't have the telemark skills or cajones, and I'm much more comfortable on the 3pins when things get hairy or conditions are doubtful.
Woods-
You bought the outgoing FT62- red&white- yes? What length?
Which boot you pairing with it?
Yes, red&white off Sport Albert. 188cm, right now the Antarctic but I want to use the Alaska on it but I need to beef up my duckbills, I'm going to go to a cobbler next week and see if I can get them to add a few mm's to the bill with something boot-official.
(Also, I saw the newer FT62s and even though the picture above looks like they are different they looked the same to me in person, I think it's a photograph perspective thing... if anything, the new ones might a touch, ever so slightly, stiffer... but I didn't have mine in hand).
Great day today !
90% downhill and 10% uphill in the resort (Alpes d'Huez).
The goal was simple : understand how the FT62 works.
Well it works fine !
Very easy to ski when the snow is homogeneous, but when it's crud or changing snow... The ski are too light and it became hard to stabilized them !
On hard snow, with the tail edge tuned, you can carve or drift like you want. Highest speed 61km/h.
On soft snow (30cm powder), with the "one step forward" turn technic, it's so easy that it's a dream.
In other words, in changing snow, I need to progress and find the right technic (any advice ?), but with the FT62 (and NNNBC) we are very close to ultra light downhill telemark.
Wow Fred 61 km/h ? I think you are getting a lot out of a light backcountry ski. I don’t see how technique will change physics, the Ft 62 will get pushed around in crud and such. Good technique can keep you on your skis, but the FT 62 is a really light backcountry ski, that can be controlled by a relatively soft boot.
However you’re the guy skiing them at 61 km/h, so I’ll be looking for your tips from now on!
Cheers
I just took my FT62s 188 cm NNNBC Alpina Alaska for some yo-yoing today on my local small hill. What a dream ski! It's night and day from the Nansen's for telemarking, FT62 turns so easily. Kick and glide is also not bad. I love these skis! Very smooth pleasant ride. At 6'1" and 170 lbs, the 188 cm is the perfect length. Highly recommended.
