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

[JohnSKepler]

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.

Speaking of tools, SnapOn vs Harbor Fright? They look the same. They do same thing. But I know which one I want in my toolbox!

[GrimSurfer]

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.

Speaking of tools, SnapOn vs Harbor Fright? They look the same. They do same thing. But I know which one I want in my toolbox!

We can have tool discussions offline. So unless Snap-On is expanding their range to include bindings (or Harbor Freight is knocking out skis), bringing them into the convo isn’t terribly productive. The reputation of one (Snap-On/Harbor Freight) has nothing to do with the other (ski manufacturers).

[GrimSurfer]

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.

Speaking of tools, SnapOn vs Harbor Fright? They look the same. They do same thing. But I know which one I want in my toolbox!

We can have tool discussions offline. So unless Snap-On is expanding their range to include bindings (or Harbor Freight is knocking out skis), bringing them into the convo isn’t terribly productive. The reputation of one (Snap-On/Harbor Freight) has nothing to do with the performance of other (ski manufacturers) on the feet of recreationalists.

[GrimSurfer]

Speaking of tools, SnapOn vs Harbor Fright? They look the same. They do same thing. But I know which one I want in my toolbox!

We can have tool discussions offline. So unless Snap-On is expanding their range to include bindings (or Harbor Freight is knocking out skis), bringing them into the convo isn’t terribly productive. The reputation of one (Snap-On/Harbor Freight) has nothing to do with the performance of other (branded skis) on the feet of recreationalists.

[GrimSurfer]

@JohnSKepler

Do you know the most appealing quality (to me) of the Combat NATO? Nothing.

Let me clarify that.

I don’t need Roald Amundsen’s image on my skis to make me feel good. Nor do I need a picture of some hound to confirm I’m a dog lover. But most people get off on this. That’s what sells.

The thought that a ski had to pass a stringent set of tests specified by an outside body (like NATO) appeals to me. Why? Well first of all, I’ve deployed with NATO. Second, I’ve seen how NATO Standard gear holds up while operated by people who treat it like they didn’t buy it (soldiers don’t buy their gear… it’s generally used hard, mostly by generalists, and put away wet). Third, because of something called “economy of effort”, which is a military principle that says good enough is good enough.

But the real reason why I like this ski is because I might be able to use it to reasonable effect. The dimensions, side cut, and camber appear to be reasonably suited to where I want to go.

I know it has a titinal base plate, which people think is titanium because that’s what the marketing team wanted (it’s just a fancy term for mostly aluminum with a bit of zinc, mag, and copper). It could have been any number of aluminum alloys. Heck, it could have been magnesium. But good enough is good enough.

The fact it is made by Asnes is secondary, tbh.

Years ago, my dad used to deploy to Norway with AMFL. I think that stands for Allied Mobile Force Land, which was an airborne force designed to stop a Soviet advance in key choke points.

Canadians used AMFL deployments to provide instruction on cold weather ops to other NATO forces because, believe it or not, we’re reasonably familiar with really cold weather.

He’d always take his issue snowshoes. They were unusual. No logos, graphics etc. Heck, the paint was worn off in many places and the bindings were simple leather. Not like the wood and gut ones used at the time by outdoorsmen and hunters in Canada. (There weren’t too many recreational snowshoers back then… probably because people were too busy working or trying to escape the cold.)

They were REALLY light. I thought that must make it easier to use them.

He shrugged and said, “I guess. A snowshoe is a snowshoe, son. When you’re carrying an 80 lb pack up hills in waist deep snow all day long, everything feels heavy.

But they’re made of magnesium. So if you have to start a fire in the mountains on a wet and snowy night and have nothing but green wood at your disposal, you take out your bayonet and whittle away at the tail. The shavings will ignite anything. They also burn bright enough to pierce cloud and snow, which is good it you need to establish a beacon for a zero visibility helo pad or drop zone”.

Now do you think anyone knew, or cared, who made the things other than the procurement staff? Nope. Not the guys using them on the mountain. But if they didn’t fulfill their primary function as a snowshoe, the troops would have started a magnesium bonfire that would have been visible in Murmansk.

Never put brand or image over performance and practical features, unless your objective is to impress people who don’t know any better.

But if you go that way, having something that burns well isn’t a bad idea either.

[mca80]

Plus Combat NATO is by far the best looking ski in their lineup.

[GrimSurfer]

Plus Combat NATO is by far the best looking ski in their lineup.

If I get them, I can tell all the soccer moms at the club that they’re no name skis that I bought at Costco. They like Costco. Yummy free snacks.

Chances are they won’t ask… or appear interested. Nothing I ski with has the CF/go fast look. Except for my toupee. That looks real. Honest.

LOL

[Capercaillie]

Fischer seems to have moved a bunch of production from its factory in Ukraine to the ski factory in Czechia, which I assume must have reduced the amount of manufacturing capacity available to Asnes. This hurt availability of both Gamme and the waxable Mountain Race 48 skis.

Here is what Fischer's press release stated about their Mukachevo factory after it burned down:

As of the beginning of November 2021, the new manufacturing hall, including technical infrastructure, was completed. Through the end of 2021, all essential equipment for ski manufacturing will be installed on-site and put into operation. Beginning in January 2022, manufacturing operations will be ramped up progressively. The 22l23 collection will then be produced in these new, technologically advanced facilities with state-of-the-art infrastructure.

https://www.snowindustrynews.com/articl ... mukachevo/

So Fischer has not produced any skis in their Mukachevo factory since it burned down in 2020.

Unless they decided to purchase one in the Czech Republic, Fischer's only other factory is in Austria. But are they even contracting with the same Czech factory as Åsnes? There's at least Sporten/Kästle, LUSTi, and Head.

If you look at the new arrivals this season at La Cordée, for example, Åsnes was able to allocate production for a full size range of many other models. It seems strange they wouldn't prioritize what seems to be two of their most popular skis (Norseman Outdoor claims they sell a lot of MR48). You would have to ask them why and hope they provide the real answer. Fischer also chose not to produce a Crown TN82 this season, and that ski is highly regarded as well. There is probably more going on here than just the Mukachevo factory.

Please don't put Russians and Ukrainians in the same category. The Ukrainians are lovely people. However, my family (and my fiancée's family) can atest to barbaric nature of the Russians over the last 80 years.

That went from 0 to racist real quick.

[Stephen]

Here is what Fischer's press release stated about their Mukachevo factory after it burned down:

As of the beginning of November 2021, the new manufacturing hall, including technical infrastructure, was completed. Through the end of 2021, all essential equipment for ski manufacturing will be installed on-site and put into operation. Beginning in January 2022, manufacturing operations will be ramped up progressively. The 22/23 collection will then be produced in these new, technologically advanced facilities with state-of-the-art infrastructure.
https://www.snowindustrynews.com/articl ... mukachevo/

I must not understand the situation in Ukraine. Is it not risky for Fischer to build an expensive new factory in a country that could potentially fall into enemy hands?

[GrimSurfer]

It’s in Western Ukraine. Russia’s not taking that region any time soon. LOL.

They have enough trouble taking and holding territory in the east of the country. Only do so where proxy forces (ethnic Russians and militia) are strong. Which is in the east, not west.

Terrain in the east is more conducive to manoeuvre warfare, not that the Russians are good at that. But it is tank country, when the ground isn’t a muddy mess.

Terrain in the west is hilly, mountainous. Ideal for the defender, particularly one with good light infantry and precision artillery.