Fast technical singletrack ski?

[JeffXCD]

This is a quest.

I have a favorite local mtbike trail, the Poto, here in mid-Michigan, that I just love to ski. If I kick back it's just bliss when we have a 4" base with 4" fresh on top like we do now. It smooths out the rootiness, softens the babyheads. It's rougher on a bike than on skis. Nice.

My problem is sometimes I like to go fast. Then I get going TOO fast on the really tricky downhills. So I make aggressive control moves to keep speed down and keep me from launching into trees. These control moves nuked my legs the last fast lap I did!

It's an 18 mile 3 hour lap when you're on a record pace. 4 hrs is joy. 3 hrs is testing everything at its limit. My hip stabilizers both blew out just from the downhill control move stresses! Then I couldn't hardly ski anymore! Kinda unpleasant tho I kept up a fast pace. Lost a lotta uphill punch too.

I used crazy Superlight waxers, 210's. I'm 6 ft. Last year I tried it w race skis but they were too tippy. 46 or 48 is better, whatever the Supers are.

The day before I did a fun scout tour using Fischer Touring Lights -- 58mm skis built to race specs. They handled the downhills fine but my speed was half that of the fast day on the Superlights.

I'm wondering... If I used a ski that let me relax on the twisty, droppy downhills my hips would last longer. I'd then have umph to put into the rest of the uphills. Maybe the net result wd be a faster lap even tho flat glide suffered. Maybe slow is fast! Ideally then something like an Evo Quest at 63mm and 195? But I want a waxer! And heck what about a bit of metal edge. So then... the OT Evo 65? Or about how about the Alpina 68? Get one of these in XL to help keep the nasty fishscales from dragging so much?

What if I went from NNN to NNN-BC?

Is high performance technical singletrack a thing? How to get there?

I do keep kinda screwing up my fast lap attempts on this trail. Least I haven't gotten hurt. I wear a helmet and hip pad shorts. If I cd get my scene dialed in maybe a 2:30 lap wd be possible...

I think it's cute that I'm trying to set a record lap there at age 60 that I'd truly like to see a "real skier" improve upon. But I want it to push em. I mean, let's see if any youngster can do better. They might be surprised. It's fun having an old fart be the fastest on this famous trail. Every ski racer hammers it on their bikes. Nobody dares to ski it except for a few who really love to ski. Someday this might change. I want to leave em a time to chew on.

[athabascae]

This is awesome. Great read. I love skiing our single track cross country biking trails. I'm inspired. Thanks. I use Mountian Race 48 skis with NNN BC and light boots. Not the fastest - and I am slow - but good control.

[JeffXCD]

thanks for the ski tip! I had never heard of that ski. anyone import this line to the USA?

https://www.en.asnes.com/produkt/mountain-race-48-2/

[fisheater]

Hello Jeff,
I know you guys in Washtenaw County are proud of the Potowatomi Trail, however we have a lot of nice trails in Oakland County as well. I ski a Gamme 54 at 210 cm, and Alaskas.
Brakes??? Don’t need no brakes, most tight turns are banked thanks to the bikes! However Gamme can be wedged if needed and Alaska and NNN-BC handle the ski. My outfit makes really nice Tele turns in the conditions we have been having, a few inches of cold dry snow on top of a firm base.
So that’s what I ski. I don’t think about the downhills, except for getting as much free speed as possible.

[Inspiredcapers]

Fisheater, the way you talk about Gammes, the more I contemplate going that direction in the future...

[Musk Ox]

Reading your post, Jeff, I'm imagining the text of a double-page advertisement in a 1960s gentleman's magazine. On the facing page is the picture of a moustachioed man in natty tweed looking directly into the lens, holding a glass of brandy and stroking the topsheet of a ski glistening in cabin firelight.

The copy ends: "Now I've found that ski — the MOUNTAIN RACE 48, from ÅSNES."

Edit: the guy in the picture is probably wearing a neck brace though.

[wooley12]

Metal edges and snow plow is the best for going fast on packed down single tracks. In my experience.

[fisheater]

Metal edges and snow plow is the best for going fast on packed down single tracks. In my experience.
ouch.jpg

Woolley, always nice to see a man with gray hair that has not grown up yet!

[Woodserson]

Currently skiing double camber race skis with NNN and looking to shralp and go fast but want more stability?

MT51, or Gamme, pick your poison. (Ousland, maybe?) Fischer E-99 TOUR (wax version if you can find it!)

and NNN-BC.

Go long on the length.

(reports of MT48 are lower and slower camber than expected? is that correct from those who have it? otherwise, this one would be light and fast--- and can be skied with NNN & Combi boots)

Look, & screw the other skis you mentioned. They are for intermediate skiers or those looking for a more sedate pace. It sounds like you want a racehorse. If you want a racehorse, get a racehorse, not a pony.

[red_pine]

I like my Fischer Powerlight skis- they are 51 mm at the tip. I'm not as fast of a skier as you, so it is hard for me to judge whether the skis will be fast enough for your taste. I am often able to fly past other skiers on these skis though, and I'm in Norway where most of the people are frankly better skiers than me, so I would say the skis are fairly fast. They have metal edges, so downhill control is incredible. I can fly around corners on icy slopes where most people are removing their skis and walking. The metal edge also gives the ski a bit more heft, which I find advantageous on a single-track trail, as I get pushed around less by bumps when I am going straight. You may have a hard time finding them in the US though- you might have to order them from a store in Norway or somewhere else in Europe.