OMG, and you thought Tele gear was expensive...check out Skimo racing gear

[bauerb]

just take a look at what it costs to get outfitted for Skimo racing

boots $2500 https://skimo.co/dynafit-pintec-boots

skis: $1,000

Bindings: $600

[lowangle al]

You have got to be pretty competitive and also have the means to drop that kind of dough on a set of gear. I'm glad that people have a passion for it but it's too bad it's not Nordic. It sounds like something you should get into, snow shoe racing seems like a backwards move for you as far as traveling over snow.

[jyw5]

those skimo boots reportedly dont ski all that well as they are very light and not stiff/supportive like a traditional downhill boot. My wife and a friend of mine both have the Arcteryx Procline (paid $975) with custom intuition liners ($200) and have said that its not a downhill boot. Also, my wife has the Salomon Slab X-alp 164cm skimo racing skis with MTN bindings ($1100) + pomoca race pro 2.0 mohair straight skins ($170)...lightening fast going up...but about the same going uphill as my asnes ft62s with the same skins.

These skimo boots are great for uphill climbs at the expense of downhill performance...and many are not (directly) crampon compatible...(the Procline is, which makes it a decent mountaineering boot).

honestly, for the above average skiier (like me), an nnnbc setup vs skimo produce about even times up/down. last winter I frequently would alternate between AT and nnnbc in a day to get 4500+ vertical and found that I was no faster on the AT setup. The only times AT was better was when the conditions were icy and wind crusted.

Paid over $2200 for my AT setup (and it was on sale), vs nnnbc is under $1000 for alfa guard adv+Asnes ft62+bindings.

So unless you ski competitively or just have money to burn, top of the line skimo racing setups are a waste of money.

having said that, I still want lighter AT boots and the Salomon Slab Xalp or similar skis as one of my next setups.

[lowangle al]

Paid over $2200 for my AT setup (and it was on sale), vs nnnbc is under $1000 for alfa guard adv+Asnes ft62+bindings.

Full price telemark gear wil cost about $1500. 600 boots, 700 skis and 150 - 300 for bindings. You can spend more on the skis if you want to.

[bauerb]

I grew up as an XC racer and learned to telemark using my XC racing gear on the groomed alpine resort slopes...no edges, lots of sliding, no ankle support, etc. I agree that snowshoe racing is not exactly what I am looking for, but could be a fun way to train/race in the winter

I think that I will simply go uphill on my Tele gear that is designed primarily to go downhill. it will be slow and heavy, but will certainly provide a good workout.

[lowangle al]

I think that I will simply go uphill on my Tele gear that is designed primarily to go downhill. it will be slow and heavy, but will certainly provide a good workout.

Slow and heavy are relative terms. If you're not in a hurry and not a wimp you can have lots of fun xcd skiing on your tele gear. IMO big skis make you stronger. I've been doing it for years, maybe that's why I'm such a bad ass mo-fo.

[gulfofslides]

My skimo gear is 4 lbs lighter than my tele kit. I like the tele better for low angle but the skimo is definitely faster on the way up. As far as skimo boots go, the race boots suck for going down. Therefore buy light alpine touring boots that can handle a wider ski.(Scarpa LT). Ditch the Dynafit binding and buy an ATK or Ski trab. Oh, make you own skins with pomoca race off the roll and don't cover the whole ski. That's right, end 12" back of the tail. Most skimo racers use straight skins, the reason is to increase glide on the way up. It's all about the technique used

[bauerb]

true. what I am really after is effort. I'm thinking about cross-training for trail running races. slogging uphill in heavy tele gear will be just fine for me.

[joeatomictoad]

As far as skimo boots go, the race boots suck for going down.

Homeboys competing skimo are pretty talented skiers. They could probably descend a mountain with a pair of 2x4's with scrap leather straps for binding better than I can with an alpine rig. Their gear is definitely specialized for the "up."

[jyw5]

if you want to increase effort, use kicker skins only for steep icy ascents and carry a 40-50lb pack. I trained like this for 6 months last season. started with 5-10lbs and light xcd and gradually worked up to 50lbs and skiied via La Sportiva mountaineering boots, Silvretta bindings, and S125 skis. I was training for a traverse and a climb. will start up again in January as I have 3 of those lined up in the spring and summer next yr.

planning to climb Mt. Goode (next to Marcus-Baker) Mt. Redoubt (highest volcano in the aleutians), and Mt Isto (highest above the arctic circle)...these are all ski approaches on glaciers & boot the summits. my buddy is bored since he can't do K2 cuz of covid...so we are doing some local mountains. lol ...so I'm a bit terrified/excited. Have been skiing and hiking hard all year.

Using kicker skins almost all season, then using full skins for the climbs was amazing...it felt so much easier...(at least the skiing part was easier...climbing was a different story).