New BC XC skier lookin for tips!

[Jigz]

I must admit this is a foreign thing for me to be posting in a forum asking for help! But after my searching I keep finding my way here.....

I live in the Okanagan/Kootenay boundary of British Columbia, Canada, in a small ‘village’ called Cherryville. Where FSR, cut blocks, rolling hills and unreal landscapes are readily available to be skied.

I am a noob. I got out skiing yesterday with a couple 70yr olds and my lady. We did BC XC skiing and it was GREAT. I was able to borrow some gear which was old, functional, and worked well for its purpose.

My intention with skiing is to cruise XC without “trudging”, while still having the confidence to look at hills and descend them. I know the skills will come with experience, but I am a capable athlete and learn quickly.

The Okanagan Valley is notorious for its “champagne powder” with temps rarely reaching below -15. I would say we have favourable snow conditions. My vitals: 5’10, 165lbs, 29yrold.

I have 2 questions:

1) can anyone recommend me skis,bindings,boots and briefly (or with as much detail as you want) describe them, and why?
2) can someone explain a few of the common terms and acronyms I may find here? After doing a bit of reading I’ve found myself lost with some of the terms... what is camber and what does it do... etc.

So far I have found myself looking at the Fischer S-Bound 98 and the Excursion 88s. I would either get a BC Magnum binding with appropriate boots, but have heard the 3 pin set up with t4s are more capable on the descent.

I am open to receiving as much wisdom as anyone is willing to impart on a keen noob!

Thank you for any and all input! Any other questions you may have - feel free to message me!

[Tom M]

What ski / boot binding combination did you ski with your friends. What did you like / dislike about that setup? Do you have any other skiing experience? Will you ski mostly by yourself or with a group? Packed snowmobile trails, groomed trails, or virgin snow? Are you looking for a compromise one ski/boot does it all combination?

[Jigz]

I am looking for one ski/boot combo that can “do it all”. I’m not getting into ski touring, nor XC in tracks.... ungroomed, fresh snow. Our trails will be mostly FSR, Bush, rolling hills, ungroomed, in the trees. I will be solo, with my partner, or in our small group of four. I would like to do longer days - maybe 10-25km(I am guessing). What we did yesterday was basically my understanding of “light BCXC”. It was SO FUN, however, I want more descent in my diet, and would trade slight glide advantage for powder float and descent control (if that makes sense...) I will be breaking trail often, especially when out with the old timers. I want to explore any terrain that calls to me. Generally an “all arounder” in all my sports.

The skis I used were good for gliding, 54mm underfoot, steel edges, but no ability down hills for turning. The skis felt a little long for me (I don’t know length but can find out). Like I said, they were OLD. Maybe there were 195s.

The boots I used were Rossignol BC X5 while my partners were wearing Alpina Alaskas. I didn’t like the Rossignol boots, and could easily tell the quality difference in the Alpinas. The hard plastic where the strap is dug into my ankle when in motion (only slightly but enough to dislike them).

Hope this helps

[Danylewich]

I've got a pair of Asnes Nansens that might fit the bill nicely at 190cm that are for sale:

https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink/topic? ... source=app

I think they'd be a good pick and then buy some Alpina Alaska NNNBC's and you'd be set.

See what others say about ski options, and if you are interested let me know.

David



Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

[Jigz]

I've got a pair of Asnes Nansens that might fit the bill nicely at 190cm that are for sale:

https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink/topic? ... source=app

David, where are you located??

[Danylewich]

Toronto. I can ship to you no problem, I've got a box I kept from some other recently received skis. If you're interested I can get you a quote for shipping from Canada Post on Monday.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

[bgregoire]

I have your same vitals and for the skiing you are interested, i would suggest something like the Fisher S98 (perhaps 189cm if i recall the sizing correctly) if you dig scales. If you like having the best, then Asnes FT62 (a little more dh agility, size i do not know, 188cm?) is taxable or the Ingstad in 195 cm (good touring and some dh), either wax or scales.

The S98 will feel significantly different on the flats compared to a 54mm waist. Be prepared for a trade off.

I think there are a few other nordic BC ski brands still kicking around but most of us here seem to have forgotten about them. Maybe they are not so good?!

While you are at it, consider moving to 3pin for improved DH control. A few heretics here might not agree, so its really up to you do try it out if you can.

[BCwannaB]

Hey man, I know the feeling. You want to kick and glide and feel powerful in your teleturn when they show up. I myself started with...believe it or not... Rossignol high camber bc 65 with voile binding with heel spring and a pair of rossignol bc12 boots. In order to make teleturn with them, i needed perfect conditions. An hard pack base with a few inches of fresh snow and a wide slope in order to make a decent radius turn.

Now ive got 2 other pairs. One for resort and another for BC powder. If i can make a suggestion here it is:
Dont get a full plastic boot unless you just want to go downhill. I use my T4 at the resort...thats as much beefed up they are. You just need a ski that is flat( no camber or barely) meaning when the ski is on the ground the entire underside touches the ground with camber it doesn't until you pressure them. Thats the trade of from kick and glide to downhill. Also a nice radius ski...meaning narrow under the binding and wide at the toe and tail of the ski.

For binding, a voile with removable heel piece is great. You can glide to get where you want and throw them on when you hit the slopes.

Alpina 3 pin boots is what im looking for my next setup with same binding voile with spring heel and bc80 rossignol waxless patern skis. Im in northern alberta and i kick and glide to get any slopes i can get my heels up on.

Anyways, hope this help. By the way, im no expert but trial and errors is my name.

cheers

[lowangle al]

After almost 45 years of xc skiing, the last 35 on telemark gear, I know exactly what my ideal "quiver of one" ski would be. Voile ultravector bc, T4 boot and a 3 pin cable binding. I enjoy the kick and glide and find it is not much slower than a more tour oriented set up. My typical tour is about 8 to 10 miles with about 1500 vertical feet and takes about 3 hours. I would go further and stay out longer if my was up to it, and I'm more than twice your age. As far as DH performance there is no place I have ever skied that I wouldn't feel confident on this set up.


My priority when skiing is to have fun making turns. I do like the feeling of xc kick and glide on a double camber ski but my love of the downhill is greater.

[lilcliffy]

Welcome Jigz!

I appreciate you taking time to share your stoke about backcountry Nordic ski touring!!

The snow conditions you describe- "champagne powder"- do not sound ideal for double-cambered skis. The only truly distance-oriented skis that are readily available in NA and will perform well in that kind of snow are the Asnes Ingstad BC and the Combat Nato. The Ingstad BC is narrowly tuned for deep soft and hilly terrain. The Combat Nato is also excellent in deep snow- is a better XC ski on consolidated snow- but it has a MUCH wider turn radius than the Ingstad BC.

My 199cm Excursion 88 comes pretty close to the above two skis in terms of deep snow stability- but it is much slower than both of them- and not as good downhill as the Ingstad BC.

I don't know how much you weigh- but at 185lbs (without a pack)- I do not find even 189cm S-98 to offer effective flotation in deep powder snow. If "champagne" powder is your typical snow- I would be looking as something longer and/or much wider if you really want flotation. The S-112 for example- would be much better- or a Madshus Annum as a similar but softer-rounder flexing alternative.

It would help us- help you- if you described the terrain-topography with more detail. You say you want more downhill performance than a classic BC-XC ski- but it sounds like your ski group is touring on XC skis...

I know that if I was touring in the Western Interior dry mountains again I would be using a downhill-oriented touring ski- with the Vector/Ultravector being at the top of my list of candidates for tours with significant distance and variable snow. If the snow really is powder all of the time- I would also seriously consider the V6- not as good on variable snow, but a dream in powder!

Al's perspective is sound- especially if you really want to ski downhill in that powder.

If instead, you want a BC-XC ski that is better in powder and more manageable/fun downhill than those narrow, stiff and cambered skis you were on:
- S-Bound 112
- Madshus Annum
- Asnes Ingstad BC

Personally- my favorite of these three is the Ingstad BC- every bit as fun downhill- but a much more efficient XC ski.
BTW- the Fischer E109 is equally fun downhill as the Ingstad BC, but the E109 is miserably unstable in deep powder snow.

If downhill skiing is my focus- I would not be reaching for any of these three skis- I would want a downhill touring ski.

As far as downhill touring skis- there are loads of choices out there.