Alpina Alaska nnnbc too stiff?
- Slartibartfast
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Mon Dec 23, 2019 2:16 am
Alpina Alaska nnnbc too stiff?
Newbie on the site. Nice to see xcd tele still lives! More fun now too that tele’s back to the fringe
Just got a pair of Alaska nnnbc’s because I’m done with zippers that fail and flimsy plastic ankle cuffs(re:Rossi x3). Alaska’s fit great and emanate quality but I find them pretty stiff and hard to tele on. Can’t quite get the ball of my foot down and rear ski contol is kinda lacking.
Anyone else have this issue? I’m hoping they break in as I love them otherwise.
I was considering using stiffer bumpers on the Magnums to engage the boot flex more but wonder if this would hurt the kick and glide and floatation too much.
Just got a pair of Alaska nnnbc’s because I’m done with zippers that fail and flimsy plastic ankle cuffs(re:Rossi x3). Alaska’s fit great and emanate quality but I find them pretty stiff and hard to tele on. Can’t quite get the ball of my foot down and rear ski contol is kinda lacking.
Anyone else have this issue? I’m hoping they break in as I love them otherwise.
I was considering using stiffer bumpers on the Magnums to engage the boot flex more but wonder if this would hurt the kick and glide and floatation too much.
- Woodserson
- Posts: 2995
- Joined: Wed Feb 11, 2015 10:25 am
- Location: New Hampshire
- Ski style: Bumps, trees, steeps and long woodsy XC tours
- Occupation: Confused Turn Farmer
Re: Alpina Alaska nnnbc too stiff?
What size is your foot? Smaller? Maybe you can't get the leverage yet? Keep that BOF down, roar like Lion!
This is one of the most popular boots on this site. I love mine, over the moon with them, and I did find that they softened up a bit. Every other boot is wimpy IMO but I haven't tried some of the fancy Norwegian ones, but for East Coast firm snow the Alaska is ideal.
I use the red flexors on my Asnes Ingstad. It makes the K&G a little snappier but I can't really speak to floatation issues. The flexor is really for my poor technique when I lose concentration or get hit with fun stuff under the snow. They are nice, but if you can keep the BOF down all the time, unnecessary. I think Nordic Skater carries them, will ship. I like mine and I'm glad I put them on but don't have them on my long distance rigs.
Dude! So great you are here! Where are you located? Post pics and share the stoke!
This is one of the most popular boots on this site. I love mine, over the moon with them, and I did find that they softened up a bit. Every other boot is wimpy IMO but I haven't tried some of the fancy Norwegian ones, but for East Coast firm snow the Alaska is ideal.
I use the red flexors on my Asnes Ingstad. It makes the K&G a little snappier but I can't really speak to floatation issues. The flexor is really for my poor technique when I lose concentration or get hit with fun stuff under the snow. They are nice, but if you can keep the BOF down all the time, unnecessary. I think Nordic Skater carries them, will ship. I like mine and I'm glad I put them on but don't have them on my long distance rigs.
Dude! So great you are here! Where are you located? Post pics and share the stoke!
- bgregoire
- Posts: 1511
- Joined: Fri Aug 22, 2014 9:31 am
- Ski style: Nordic backcountry touring with lots of turns
- Favorite Skis: Fisher E99 & Boundless (98), Åsnes Ingstad, K2 Wayback 88
- Favorite boots: Crispi Sydpolen, Alico Teletour & Alfa Polar
Re: Alpina Alaska nnnbc too stiff?
Welcome!
Sounds like you are already used to a NNN-BC rig for telemark so I am not going to bother talking about pins.
Too stiff a sole is definitely an issue on NNN-BC (especially with small feet), its just that much harder to "hinge" the boot at the BOF rather than at the pin. Then again, too soft and you loose lateral stability.
Woods' suggestions are top notch but you might also consider Rod's boot mod for stiff soles?
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2759
Whatever you do don't go for the white bumpers.
Sounds like you are already used to a NNN-BC rig for telemark so I am not going to bother talking about pins.
Too stiff a sole is definitely an issue on NNN-BC (especially with small feet), its just that much harder to "hinge" the boot at the BOF rather than at the pin. Then again, too soft and you loose lateral stability.
Woods' suggestions are top notch but you might also consider Rod's boot mod for stiff soles?
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2759
Whatever you do don't go for the white bumpers.
I live for the Telemark arc....The feeeeeeel.....I ski miles to get to a place where there is guaranteed snow to do the deal....TM
- Slartibartfast
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Mon Dec 23, 2019 2:16 am
Re: Alpina Alaska nnnbc too stiff?
Haha, looks like that mod would give excellent ski feel.
Up here around Whitehorse we have pretty faceted, bottomless snow so I’m usually searching out pow over packed skidoo and ski trails. I have a Epoch/3pin and heavy metal setup as well but love the light skinnies.
I found the rossi boots a lot better in soft snow but they fell apart way before their time.
Yeah, maybe I’ll try the red flexor. Thanks for the tip on where to get them. Maybe I’ll get some skates too, as we’ve had some primo lake ice this fall.
Up here around Whitehorse we have pretty faceted, bottomless snow so I’m usually searching out pow over packed skidoo and ski trails. I have a Epoch/3pin and heavy metal setup as well but love the light skinnies.
I found the rossi boots a lot better in soft snow but they fell apart way before their time.
Yeah, maybe I’ll try the red flexor. Thanks for the tip on where to get them. Maybe I’ll get some skates too, as we’ve had some primo lake ice this fall.
- Johnny
- Site Admin
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- Location: Quebec / Vermont
- Ski style: Dancing with God with leathers / Racing against the machine with plastics
- Favorite Skis: Redsters, Radicals, XCD Comps, Objectives and S98s
- Favorite boots: Alpina Alaska XP, Alfa Guards, Scarpa TX Comp
- Occupation: Full-time ski bum
Re: Alpina Alaska nnnbc too stiff?
They are too stiff for XC even in larger sizes. They are the perfect downhill boot, but way too stiff for XCd... That's why I love then Alfa Guards so much, they can do both, without any compromise. Yep, forget colored bumpers unless this is a dedicated DH ski...
/...\ Peace, Love, Telemark and Tofu /...\
"And if you like to risk your neck, we'll boom down Sutton in old Quebec..."
"And if you like to risk your neck, we'll boom down Sutton in old Quebec..."
- Woodserson
- Posts: 2995
- Joined: Wed Feb 11, 2015 10:25 am
- Location: New Hampshire
- Ski style: Bumps, trees, steeps and long woodsy XC tours
- Occupation: Confused Turn Farmer
Re: Alpina Alaska nnnbc too stiff?
I like mine for xcD, XCd, and XC. I just lace them different depending on the utilization. Sure, they are overkill for straight and level XC but they do the job well enough to not warrant a different pair. I waited for years to buy this boot and I am kicking myself for not getting it sooner.
- Slartibartfast
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Mon Dec 23, 2019 2:16 am
Re: Alpina Alaska nnnbc too stiff?
Well yeah, nnnbc should do it all! Just feel like I shouldn’t have to work so hard to get the bof down. I want to ski, not think! I’ll just have to break em in I guess.
- bgregoire
- Posts: 1511
- Joined: Fri Aug 22, 2014 9:31 am
- Ski style: Nordic backcountry touring with lots of turns
- Favorite Skis: Fisher E99 & Boundless (98), Åsnes Ingstad, K2 Wayback 88
- Favorite boots: Crispi Sydpolen, Alico Teletour & Alfa Polar
Re: Alpina Alaska nnnbc too stiff?
I live for the Telemark arc....The feeeeeeel.....I ski miles to get to a place where there is guaranteed snow to do the deal....TM
- Tele2$room2$broom
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- Joined: Tue Apr 16, 2019 12:39 pm
Re: Alpina Alaska nnnbc too stiff?
NNN BC is the HOLY RAIL...
- Television
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- Joined: Sun Apr 14, 2019 7:41 pm
Re: Alpina Alaska nnnbc too stiff?
You've swept me off of my feet! And to say these guys were involved inthe wrong sports!
Meerry Xmas!