Waxless on Ski Resort Trails?
- AdamA
- Posts: 45
- Joined: Mon Feb 07, 2022 7:36 pm
- Location: Quincy, MA
- Ski style: xcD
- Favorite Skis: Asnes Falketind 62 Xplore
- Favorite boots: Fischer BCX Transnordics
- Occupation: Making terrible turns throughout the New England backcountry.
Waxless on Ski Resort Trails?
Alright everyone, a stupid question that probably has been asked a thousand times: how do waxless skis perform on groomed downhill trails? How big of a difference is it from waxable?
I've got some Madshus Eon waxless skis. I've taken them all around our New England golf courses, backcountry trails, and some backcountry downhill. Haven't taken them out to the resort...yet.
How would they perform on groomed downhill trails and typical New England conditions (dust on crust and packed powder)? How much of a difference would they be when compared to a waxable pair of the same dimension?
I've got some Madshus Eon waxless skis. I've taken them all around our New England golf courses, backcountry trails, and some backcountry downhill. Haven't taken them out to the resort...yet.
How would they perform on groomed downhill trails and typical New England conditions (dust on crust and packed powder)? How much of a difference would they be when compared to a waxable pair of the same dimension?
- Nick BC
- Posts: 270
- Joined: Sat Mar 19, 2016 10:04 pm
- Location: Vancouver, BC
- Ski style: Free heel Resort/Backcountry
- Favorite Skis: Voile Vector BC,Trab Altavia and Hagan Ride 75
- Favorite boots: Scarpa TX and T3
- Occupation: Retired Community Planner
Re: Waxless on Ski Resort Trails?
At a ski area with hard packed, groomed runs your waxless skis will be slower on low angle slopes. Steeper slopes not so much. If it’s icy you will probably find the skis harder to turn as they are “cross country” ski construction and don’t have the torsional rigidity of a more downhill oriented ski.
- montrealer
- Posts: 77
- Joined: Tue Mar 10, 2015 1:05 am
- Location: montreal
- Ski style: XC, XCBC, XCD, Telemark
- Favorite Skis: Dynastar Legend 8000, Eon, Nansen, Ultravector BC
- Favorite boots: Scarpa T2, Alpina Alaska NNNBC
Re: Waxless on Ski Resort Trails?
I’ve done this. It can be fun if the conditions are perfect but as Nick bc says you’ll really feel how light the skis are if the snow is hard and there’s ice.
I guess it also depends what kind of boots and bindings you plan to use. I did it with nnnbc and alaskas so it was a matter of doing perfectly balanced tele turns rather than trying to drive the skis too much.
All in all it can work occasionally but if you really plan on skiing at a resort often you’re better off getting a pair of resort skis.
Here’s an old post where I mentioned it:
https://telemarktalk.com/viewtopic.php? ... 695#p10695
I guess it also depends what kind of boots and bindings you plan to use. I did it with nnnbc and alaskas so it was a matter of doing perfectly balanced tele turns rather than trying to drive the skis too much.
All in all it can work occasionally but if you really plan on skiing at a resort often you’re better off getting a pair of resort skis.
Here’s an old post where I mentioned it:
https://telemarktalk.com/viewtopic.php? ... 695#p10695
Re: Waxless on Ski Resort Trails?
It also depends on how aggressive the pattern is. My Objective BC skis are painfully slow on beginner slopes--they definitely drag. My Ingstadt WL are not even noticeable as WL skis. XCD oriented skis on ice is really not fun, but with a bit of snow it's great.
- randoskier
- Posts: 1026
- Joined: Mon Oct 31, 2016 2:08 am
- Location: Yank in Italy
- Ski style: awkward
- Favorite Skis: snow skis
- Favorite boots: go-go
- Occupation: International Pop Sensation
Re: Waxless on Ski Resort Trails?
Have a look at FrenchFred from this board- he is using Eon skis and Alaska boots, he can ski man!AdamA wrote: ↑Mon Feb 07, 2022 7:54 pmAlright everyone, a stupid question that probably has been asked a thousand times: how do waxless skis perform on groomed downhill trails? How big of a difference is it from waxable?
I've got some Madshus Eon waxless skis. I've taken them all around our New England golf courses, backcountry trails, and some backcountry downhill. Haven't taken them out to the resort...yet.
How would they perform on groomed downhill trails and typical New England conditions (dust on crust and packed powder)? How much of a difference would they be when compared to a waxable pair of the same dimension?
- lowangle al
- Posts: 2752
- Joined: Sat Jan 11, 2014 3:36 pm
- Location: Pocono Mts / Chugach Mts
- Ski style: BC with focus on downhill perfection
- Favorite Skis: powder skis
- Favorite boots: Scarpa T4
- Occupation: Retired cement mason. Current job is to take my recreation as serious as I did my past employment.
Re: Waxless on Ski Resort Trails?
Fred had some loose snow to work with on that slope in the video. If your conditions are like that those skis should work, but you might not look as pretty as Fred.
- bornaginalpiner
- Posts: 60
- Joined: Sun Feb 14, 2021 11:47 am
- Location: Pennsylvania
- Ski style: Fall alot
- Favorite Skis: Soft flex.
- Favorite boots: The ones that fit.
- Occupation: Well I like to spend my time enjoying life.
Re: Waxless on Ski Resort Trails?
Glad you brought this up. I have no experience with the Madshuss, but I do with the ultra vector/Targa/T4. Just wanted to say that the connection with the ski is exceedingly fun. For those few hard surfaces it's tricky, but I get along by keeping my head over my downhill knee. All the rest is worth every second.
I also really enjoy my NTN setup. It's the perfect menage a' trois.
I also really enjoy my NTN setup. It's the perfect menage a' trois.
- mainexcguy
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Mon Jan 17, 2022 8:04 pm
Re: Waxless on Ski Resort Trails?
I took my M62s to Sunday River a few weeks ago. I was notably slower than my friends who are good skiiers, but was by no means the slowest on the mountain. It was snowing that day and the skiing improved throughout the day as more power fell. It was a blast, I highly recommend it!
- Harry M
- Posts: 28
- Joined: Mon Jan 24, 2022 11:00 am
- Location: Appalachia
- Occupation: Retired
- Website: https://www.summitpost.org/users/sierra-ledge-rat/35019
Re: Waxless on Ski Resort Trails?
XC skis on downhill slopes?
You've got much bigger problems with which to worry than the negligible difference on the downhill between waxable and waxless skis. Like control.
You've got much bigger problems with which to worry than the negligible difference on the downhill between waxable and waxless skis. Like control.
- fisheater
- Posts: 2601
- Joined: Fri Feb 19, 2016 8:06 pm
- Location: Oakland County, MI
- Ski style: All my own, and age doesn't help
- Favorite Skis: Gamme 54, Falketind 62, I hope to add a third soon
- Favorite boots: Alpina Alaska, Alico Ski March
- Occupation: Construction Manager
Re: Waxless on Ski Resort Trails?
I’ve skied both S-112 and FT 62 at the ski hill. Boots started as T4, but switched to Ski March because they are more comfortable. Personally I really dislike scales going downhill, but then I’m not to fond of that vibration on flats either. I know the air channel core of the S-112 lacked torsional rigidity, I turned them on black diamond hard surfaces, but that core did not inspire confidence. I believe the Eon has a similar core. I have a feeling the Panorama 62 has an upgraded core. The FT has a core that can be relied upon, however it is soft and light and gets kicked around in any kind of heavy snow or crud.
So you can ski at the resort, if you are able to do it. Choose your slopes and days wisely.
So you can ski at the resort, if you are able to do it. Choose your slopes and days wisely.