Hi Gareth,lilcliffy wrote: ↑Sat Jul 06, 2019 3:14 pmHello Crister-
Could you give us some more information on your FT62 setup?
Why did you choose the 3-pin Traverse binding and how does it perform on that ski? Do you always use the heel cable? What do you think of the riser plate on a backcountry ski that narrow?
What boot(s) are you using with the FT62 and Traverse binding and why?
What type of snow and terrain are you skiing on with this setup?
Is your skiing mostly downhill focused with this ski, or are you also Nordic touring with it (i.e. XC skiing)?
Thanks,
Gareth
I'm sorry my reply is to delayed, but I have been on vacation and mostly off the grid.
Sure, I can elaborate.
BINDINGS:
@lowangle al could very well be speaking for me, as I choose the Voilè 3-Pin Traverse and the 3-Pin Cable in lack of another good option. It is basically the only option on the market.
It is light, does the job, skis well and can take a beating. All of this which I appreciate. The Traverse is perfect for the Rabb 68 and the FT62 in my opinion. It is also a really good option to the regular 3-Pin Cable on the Ingstad skis.
The nice thing about this binding is that it really takes a beating, and it can always be fixed with a bit of steel wire and dutch tape.
Unfortunately, our good friends at Rottefella do not produce the Riva and Chili bindings anymore and stopped making cables for the Super Telemark binding as well... Rumor has it that they are working on some new and hot stuff though! Stay tuned the next season!
If I were to choose, I would choose the Riva bindings every time! But at this point, I only have two pairs left which have not turned into scrap-metal yet. I love the Riva II and the Riva III bindings!
CABLE:
As for the cable, I always use it when going downhill. For shorter trips in varied terrain, for flats and long traverses - it stays in my backpack.
RISER PLATES:
The riser plates, I guess, has stayed with me since racing telemark during the 90's. There are advantages and disadvantages with riser plates, but I like that I get better edge control and that they help lift you up in deeper snow and in old tracks. I also like the heel risers, and use the lowest one a lot. The highest bar almost never comes to use, so I often remove it. It is handy when pulling a heavy sled or pulk though!
I had an ankle injury and struggled with it for a year some seasons back, and after that, I have used the heel risers more frequently than before. I had to adapt to not put too much stress on my Achilles. I actually found it so helpful that I replaced the heel plates on Rottefella BC bindings with the heel plates and a riser bar from the Voilè 3-Pin bindings. I have kept my BC-bindings like that ever since that.
Also, as a bonus, all the front-3-Pin bindings from Voilè has the same drilling pattern as Rottefella, and I have a lot of old 10mm Rottefella risers laying around. So I use them and saves both the earth and my self money and plastic.
I would choose 10mm risers or the Traverse binding on every ski as wide as Ingstad or wider. It might just be the old brainwashed 75mm telemark racer in my, but I like it...
BOOTS:
I used the Scarpa T4's for years, especially when I was younger, worked as a guide full-time, on glaciers (they fit really well with crampons) and for charging. I still use them quite a bit.
For longer treks, expeditions and when pulling a sled I use the Alpina Alaska boots or a gaiter-type boot.
For most days, I swear to my old Asolo boots. I have a pair of Asolo Extreme Plus that I love and have repaired so many times that I could probably buy multiple new pairs - but they are soo good. I also have a pair of softer and lighter Asolo Morgedal boot that I inherited from my dad. I use the Asolo's about 50/50 and they are my reference for all 75mm boots I try.
TERRAIN AND USE:
I use the FT62 a lot for daylong ski escapades. It handles well in most snow, and here at Voss and at the westcoast, we have a lot of rolling terrain and steep mountains that offer a lot of downhill skiing. It is perfect for that. We also have some mountain plateaus where steeper skiing is necessary during the approach, and the FT62 handles all of this really well. It is, in my opinion, a really good allrounder for this terrain. My option would be to bring the Ingstads, which I do a lot too.
The reason I love the FT62 so much is that is perfect for the terrain surrounding my cabin. It is located just 30minutes drive from my home at Voss, and we need to ski at least 15minutes uphill to it from where we park the car. There is awsome ski-terrain surrounding the cabin, so the FT62 and a pair of hard-charging AT-skis and boots will always be dragged up there. It is a combination of steep alpine skiing and steep forest and playful telemark terrain.
The FT62 is light and handles most terrain and snow, which makes it a really good allrounder, and the AT-skis does the job for the deep and really steep days.