Gamme/Amundsen....again....sorry

[corlay]

Btw, just got a set of Gamme 210s in Europe. The seller got them from Asnes so definitely being made.

Odd that Varuste doesn't have them, though.
(one of the easiest vendors in the EU to buy and ship to North America...)

and neither does SkatePro or Telemark Pyrenees...

I really lucked-out and was able to obtain a lightly-used green-man Gamme in 210 this pre-season.
Feeling fortunate in that regard.

[GrimSurfer]

There’s a store in Montreal called La Cordee that has a pretty complete Asnes line. Their shipping fee to the US has to be less than Europe (Canada is integrated into the big American courier network, everything can be ground shipped, and the distances are far shorter).

The US dollar has a good exchange rate with the Canadian dollar. Might be worth it for Americans (particularly in the border states) to think about that option. (I often look south to the US when buying stuff, and it gets to my door quickly and inexpensively… except for that damned exchange rate. Ouch.).

[corlay]

There’s a store in Montreal called La Cordee that has a pretty complete Asnes line.

no Gamme in-stock there, either.
and also: their shipping policy states that skiis may only be shipped within Canada.

[GrimSurfer]

There’s a store in Montreal called La Cordee that has a pretty complete Asnes line.

no Gamme in-stock there, either.
and also: their shipping policy states that skiis may only be shipped within Canada.

This is what I see. Shows in stock for 210s. Isn’t that the size you’re after? (Site shows in stock for 180, 190, 200, 210)

If they don’t ship to the US, anyone at NYS could have it shipped care of UPS (nearest border point) and take a trip to pick them up. Canadians do this all the time in reverse. Some folks around here do it so often that they buy a mailbox in places like Ogdensburg or Syracuse.

Or day trip it. Can be in Montreal from central NYS in about four hours. Lunch at Swartz’ Deli on St Laurent. Then a 15 minute drive to Lacordee, pick up the skis, and drive back to the US. You’d be across the border (it’s about 70 minutes to the border) before the meat sweats started. Ha ha.

Don’t let the price scare you. It’s Canadian $s. Subtract 20-25% for US $s.

[corlay]

that's a mis-label.

the "Borge Ousland" is a totally different ski than the Gamme 54.
(or perhaps it is an older model that precedes the Gamme?)

not sure why they have included "Gamme" in the title of that ski on that website.

[GrimSurfer]

that's a mis-label.

the "Borge Ousland" is a totally different ski than the Gamme 54.
(or perhaps it is an older model that precedes the Gamme?)

not sure why they have included "Gamme" in the title of that ski on that website.

Gotcha. I was wondering the same thing. If the Borge is still available, I’m surprised that Cordee isn’t carrying it… they seem to have full size ranges in so many Asnes skis. Not like small shops that can’t afford the inventory (which has got to be a huge business risk these days).

Maybe give them a call? They seem to be a big outfit. Their buyer will have the down-low on line changes etc.

[JohnSKepler]

My point was that the general dimensions of the Gamme and BC65 are close enough to make a fair/fair comparison.

Gamme 68 54 61, metal edge
BC65 65 53 60, metal edge

There’s a mere 5cm length difference in my weight range (Gamme 200 cm, BC65 195 cm). As you know, a jump in size/weight range is normally 10 cm, so a 5 cm difference is about as small as one typically sees.

One is (grip) waxable and can take a skin (Gamme) the other is waxless (BC65), but that’s not enough to put them into separate classes in my view. If one did that, then Asnes would need to rethink how it markets the same models of waxless/waxable skis in its own line.

The power plant driving both skis is identical, unless the Gamme comes with a subscription for anabolic steroids or high altitude conditioning.

This is not to say they perform the same way in any or all conditions. The really interesting point people make is that there is a difference in performance. Same class, apparently better ski. Hence my interest. I don’t want a better BC65. I want my next ski to do more or can do better than my BC65 in the conditions in which I ski. THAT was my point.

Anyhow, good to read about your experience with the Gammes nonetheless. That was my other point. LOL.

(I’ve edited this quite a few times to stay on topic. I’d love to debate cars with you (have owned four models of Subaru and have written two books on cars) but might bore the hole off folks who come here to discuss skiing.

I'm going to disagree, in a friendly way, with the statement in bold up there ^^^. Yes, they have similar dimensions but, from what I've learned here, and experienced myself over the last few weeks, not only is that not the whole story, it's not even half the story. The wax vs waxless nature is, IMHO a much reasonable comparison. In some conditions wax/waxless is about the same. In a few conditions the scales might work better. Ultimately, wax lets you tailor to a wider range of conditions and is a "smoother ride." But comparing dimensions between the two for the purposes of, I'll broadly say float, just isn't a fair/fair comparison. There is, I have learned over the past year, a lot more to making a ski float and be stable than the weight of the skier divided by the surface area. And, I think there must be a subscription for anabolic steroids or high altitude conditioning that comes with them.

Asnes skis are a premium product designed by people who know what they are doing, care very much, and are upholding centuries of Nordic tradition. They are made in small batches in a factory in Europe by free people with quality control as a goal. Rossignol is a French company that makes millions of skis a year. France has had some decent skiers but XC is not a tradition there. They probably reverse engineer other designs - which is NOT the same as designing the original item. They are cranked out by the thousands in Chinese factories by what we'd consider slave laborers with a goal of minimum cost per unit. If there wasn't a huge difference between the two products I, and many others on this very site, would NOT be considering getting another set of Asnes skis and threatening our marriages.

[wabene]

Btw, just got a set of Gamme 210s in Europe. The seller got them from Asnes so definitely being made.

Odd that Varuste doesn't have them, though.
(one of the easiest vendors in the EU to buy and ship to North America...)

and neither does SkatePro or Telemark Pyrenees...

I really lucked-out and was able to obtain a lightly-used green-man Gamme in 210 this pre-season.
Feeling fortunate in that regard.

What? How did I miss the 210 Green Man? Dang. Not that I'm not happy that you scored a set @corlay . I picked up a nice pair of Green Man in 200cm last year and love them. I would like a Green Man in 210 if I could find them.
Where did you get yours?

[GrimSurfer]

My point was that the general dimensions of the Gamme and BC65 are close enough to make a fair/fair comparison.

Gamme 68 54 61, metal edge
BC65 65 53 60, metal edge

There’s a mere 5cm length difference in my weight range (Gamme 200 cm, BC65 195 cm). As you know, a jump in size/weight range is normally 10 cm, so a 5 cm difference is about as small as one typically sees.

One is (grip) waxable and can take a skin (Gamme) the other is waxless (BC65), but that’s not enough to put them into separate classes in my view. If one did that, then Asnes would need to rethink how it markets the same models of waxless/waxable skis in its own line.

The power plant driving both skis is identical, unless the Gamme comes with a subscription for anabolic steroids or high altitude conditioning.

This is not to say they perform the same way in any or all conditions. The really interesting point people make is that there is a difference in performance. Same class, apparently better ski. Hence my interest. I don’t want a better BC65. I want my next ski to do more or can do better than my BC65 in the conditions in which I ski. THAT was my point.

Anyhow, good to read about your experience with the Gammes nonetheless. That was my other point. LOL.

(I’ve edited this quite a few times to stay on topic. I’d love to debate cars with you (have owned four models of Subaru and have written two books on cars) but might bore the hole off folks who come here to discuss skiing.

I'm going to disagree, in a friendly way, with the statement in bold up there ^^^. Yes, they have similar dimensions but, from what I've learned here, and experienced myself over the last few weeks, not only is that not the whole story, it's not even half the story. The wax vs waxless nature is, IMHO a much reasonable comparison. In some conditions wax/waxless is about the same. In a few conditions the scales might work better. Ultimately, wax lets you tailor to a wider range of conditions and is a "smoother ride." But comparing dimensions between the two for the purposes of, I'll broadly say float, just isn't a fair/fair comparison. There is, I have learned over the past year, a lot more to making a ski float and be stable than the weight of the skier divided by the surface area. And, I think there must be a subscription for anabolic steroids or high altitude conditioning that comes with them.

Asnes skis are a premium product designed by people who know what they are doing, care very much, and are upholding centuries of Nordic tradition. They are made in small batches in a factory in Europe by free people with quality control as a goal. Rossignol is a French company that makes millions of skis a year. France has had some decent skiers but XC is not a tradition there. They probably reverse engineer other designs - which is NOT the same as designing the original item. They are cranked out by the thousands in Chinese factories by what we'd consider slave laborers with a goal of minimum cost per unit. If there wasn't a huge difference between the two products I, and many others on this very site, would NOT be considering getting another set of Asnes skis and threatening our marriages.

For me, a ski is just a tool. One of many in the world’s toolbox. I don’t buy into the dreams woven by marketers.

I’m not dissing Asnes here. Their skis seem to be well made. Their lines have enough differentiation to cater to the needs of a broad range of BC skiers, hunters, adventurers. They probably have some people on staff that know what they’re doing. So do other companies.

The truth is that all the “free people” talk isn’t going to get me up the hill or down the hill as fast as my arms and legs are. Whatever works, man. It’s just a tool.

[riel]

My point was that the general dimensions of the Gamme and BC65 are close enough to make a fair/fair comparison.

Gamme 68 54 61, metal edge
BC65 65 53 60, metal edge

There’s a mere 5cm length difference in my weight range (Gamme 200 cm, BC65 195 cm). As you know, a jump in size/weight range is normally 10 cm, so a 5 cm difference is about as small as one typically sees.

One is (grip) waxable and can take a skin (Gamme) the other is waxless (BC65), but that’s not enough to put them into separate classes in my view. If one did that, then Asnes would need to rethink how it markets the same models of waxless/waxable skis in its own line.

The power plant driving both skis is identical, unless the Gamme comes with a subscription for anabolic steroids or high altitude conditioning.

The Gamme has a totally different flex than the BC65.

The BC65 is a soft ski, which always has grip, and which (for the same reason) always has drag. On deeper snow, the BC65 will bend like a banana, resulting in minimal gilde, and with only the middle of the ski supporting you, you can sink in pretty deeply.

The Gamme is a stiff ski, which always has glide. You need to actively push down with one foot at a time in order to get good grip. In deeper snow, the ski will stay mostly straight. With the whole length of the ski supporting you, you sink in less, and you glide better.

Don't let the superficial similarities trick you.