Equipment upgrade from skinny skis

[dhdaines]

I find the advice about using extra long pole quite peculiar. Can you elaborate on that?

I can't because I don't understand it myself! Though I have definitely noticed old-timers skiing with surprisingly long poles. They will just hold them lower down (out of the straps) when the snow is piled up high next to the trail, or on downhills.

[bujinkantd]

i've done a decent amount of skiing in colorado on trails that are for hiking in the summertime (narrow, moderately steep up and down, blind corners). something to pay attention to is camber. i started with the madshus glittertind / bc55 / PANORAMA M55. the camber is too stiff to engage the fishscales on even lightly steep terrain (and forget about it if you encounter a small concave part of the trail). then like you, i found the trails were too narrow to herringbone or sidestep effectively. i ended up having to don kicker skins a lot and those are just a hassle.

this season i switched to the madshus epoch. it is a fairly wide ski, but that allowed me to go shorter (for maneuverability) and still have some flotation for powder. also the camber is much less stiff leading to much better grip. i do find myself wishing they had the glide of narrower skis on flatter terrain, but you can't have everything. one thing i do to help the glide is use a liquid glide wax on the entire ski (including the fishscales), and i found it hasn't affected grip much if at all. i think they are a great beginner ski for a wide variety of ungroomed terrain.

eventually as my skills improve, i may look around for a waxable ski with the dimensions of the glittertind but the camber of the epoch.

[Musk Ox]

Not only are you guys informative, but funny and in this case very observant! I'm a big selvedge denim fan. If only I could find a deal for skis like I've found for my jeans I'd be golden! I'm willing to role the dice on the fit of my pants, but I think I'll have to ski shop early in the season to make sure I get the right fit.

I'm wearing a pair of dying 18oz Flathead jeans right now. What's the deal you get and can I get in on it? I need some new trousers.

[Mtlsam]

i've done a decent amount of skiing in colorado on trails that are for hiking in the summertime (narrow, moderately steep up and down, blind corners). something to pay attention to is camber. i started with the madshus glittertind / bc55 / PANORAMA M55. the camber is too stiff to engage the fishscales on even lightly steep terrain (and forget about it if you encounter a small concave part of the trail). then like you, i found the trails were too narrow to herringbone or sidestep effectively. i ended up having to don kicker skins a lot and those are just a hassle.

this season i switched to the madshus epoch. it is a fairly wide ski, but that allowed me to go shorter (for maneuverability) and still have some flotation for powder. also the camber is much less stiff leading to much better grip. i do find myself wishing they had the glide of narrower skis on flatter terrain, but you can't have everything. one thing i do to help the glide is use a liquid glide wax on the entire ski (including the fishscales), and i found it hasn't affected grip much if at all. i think they are a great beginner ski for a wide variety of ungroomed terrain.

eventually as my skills improve, i may look around for a waxable ski with the dimensions of the glittertind but the camber of the epoch.

That's an interesting consideration. I have noticed that when there are dips in the trail and it's just tip and tail contacting the grip is gone. I hadn't thought to put it in words or that camber was the term for it.
One more useful point to ponder

[Mtlsam]

Not only are you guys informative, but funny and in this case very observant! I'm a big selvedge denim fan. If only I could find a deal for skis like I've found for my jeans I'd be golden! I'm willing to role the dice on the fit of my pants, but I think I'll have to ski shop early in the season to make sure I get the right fit.

I'm wearing a pair of dying 18oz Flathead jeans right now. What's the deal you get and can I get in on it? I need some new trousers.

I kind of feel that these sort of jeans are at their "best" when they are at their worst. There is a satisfaction to having thrashed them. My "deal" comes from the fact that Naked & Famous denim is based in Montreal. I happened upon the store where they send the two season old leftovers to liquidate. It's hit or miss but there is usually an interesting pair to be found in each size. Unfortunately they are old school in person only...

[Mtlsam]

Hi folks,
I've found some end of season deals on equipment that appears to be my size. What are your thoughts on these options:

Fisher E109 or E99 (both waxable Easy skin)

Magnum nnn-bc bindings

Alpina Wyoming & BC 1550
Rossignol Bc X10 & X6
Fischer Offtrack 5

Thanks for all the help so far!

[CwmRaider]

Hi folks,
I've found some end of season deals on equipment that appears to be my size. What are your thoughts on these options:

Fisher E109 or E99 (both waxable Easy skin)

Magnum nnn-bc bindings

Alpina Wyoming & BC 1550
Rossignol Bc X10 & X6
Fischer Offtrack 5

Thanks for all the help so far!

I cannot comment on the boots, I prefer leathers.

The BC Magnum bindings are great. No problem.

E109 or E99 - depends what you want to do. There are lots of reviews in the review subforum.
I owned an E109 and skied it to its demise.
The E109 is by far an easier turning ski than the E99.
It is also quite squirrelly on hardpack, its sidecut and rocker makes it want to turn when you want to go straight and has quite a soft shovel. It doesn't handle breakable crust that well, and in deep snow on the flats can leave you facing an endless uphill battle where your underfoot sinks deeper than the shovel at every step.
The E99 is much more efficient, fits in tracks (kind of) and is better suited to longer distances. It is a great touring ski.
That said I was happy with E109 on longer tours of 20-25km. I got used to the squirrellyness and enjoyed using it a lot. With an E99 I may have burned less calories over the same distance. I would not have been faster, as I was travelling in groups with mixed skills and fitness.

Basically, both will work.

[Mtlsam]

I cannot comment on the boots, I prefer leathers.

The BC Magnum bindings are great. No problem.

E109 or E99 - depends what you want to do. There are lots of reviews in the review subforum.
I owned an E109 and skied it to its demise.
The E109 is by far an easier turning ski than the E99.
It is also quite squirrelly on hardpack, its sidecut and rocker makes it want to turn when you want to go straight and has quite a soft shovel. It doesn't handle breakable crust that well, and in deep snow on the flats can leave you facing an endless uphill battle where your underfoot sinks deeper than the shovel at every step.
The E99 is much more efficient, fits in tracks (kind of) and is better suited to longer distances. It is a great touring ski.
That said I was happy with E109 on longer tours of 20-25km. I got used to the squirrellyness and enjoyed using it a lot. With an E99 I may have burned less calories over the same distance. I would not have been faster, as I was travelling in groups with mixed skills and fitness.

Basically, both will work.

Thanks, I think less easy turns and more straight line performance is what I'm seeking, glad to hear about that. I will check the review section!

[bgregoire]

Thanks, I think less easy turns and more straight line performance is what I'm seeking, glad to hear about that. I will check the review section!

That makes things a little clearer. Go for a Fischer E99/Asnes Gamme then. Other brands such as Madshus make similar class skis. Ask you sales rep for equivalents as inventory is very low these days.

[Mtlsam]

Thanks, I think less easy turns and more straight line performance is what I'm seeking, glad to hear about that. I will check the review section!

That makes things a little clearer. Go for a Fischer E99/Asnes Gamme then. Other brands such as Madshus make similar class skis. Ask you sales rep for equivalents as inventory is very low these days.

I will go check them out in person. Thanks again!