A little background - I am fairly new to skiing. I am pretty traditionalist with about everything. I like all types of skiing, but don't care for resort stuff much. I like XC in the backcountry.
When I was researching skis to get my first pair for backcountry use this year, I decided on the Karhu XCD GTs since they are so highly regarded. What I didn't realize until recently is that I have a pair of Janoy Tur-Langrenn skis of wood in great condition. I never really used them because I didn't know how to wax properly until this year. Anyways, I have had a hard time liking my new expensive Karhus more than my $5 wooden skis. The wood skis glide so well and feel so right. I can't believe I don't see more people using them. I can't find much writing about people who actually use wooden skis anymore to compare them to our modern skis. I will keep experimenting and comparing between the modern skis I acquire and these old wooden skis, but in the meantime, could anyone explain the pros and cons of wooden skis and how they compare to their modern counterparts? Lets have a little discussion.
Nice to find this forum. I look forward to learning from everyone.
How about wooden skis?
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MikeK
Re: How about wooden skis?
Welcome to the best forum on the World Wide Web!
Thanks so much for sharing your experience. Mine, with wood skis, is zero... sounds like I may be missing out.
Can you provide some more specifics on your wood skis and your XCD GTs (there were different models over the years). Maybe that can help provide some insight as to the why you prefer one over the other. Maybe it's just you haven't found the perfect modern ski yet?!?
Also what boots and bindings are you using? Traditional old 10th mountain type bindings, something different, or something modern?
Thanks so much for sharing your experience. Mine, with wood skis, is zero... sounds like I may be missing out.
Can you provide some more specifics on your wood skis and your XCD GTs (there were different models over the years). Maybe that can help provide some insight as to the why you prefer one over the other. Maybe it's just you haven't found the perfect modern ski yet?!?
Also what boots and bindings are you using? Traditional old 10th mountain type bindings, something different, or something modern?
Re: How about wooden skis?
Check out this website and you will learn a lot.
https://home.comcast.net/~pinnah/Dirtba ... rtbag.html
I use homemade wooden skis with wooden bases. Most of the times I just wax them only putting on skins for steep climbs. I am not skilled in wax techniques rather I follow the temps printed on the Swix (www.swixsport.com) wax packaging. I don't buy the fancy wax, rather just the old hard wax tubes. Could my wax technique be improved, absolutely. Does my current low tech approach me 95% of my needs, absolutely. Would knowing more improve my fun factor, probably not.
https://home.comcast.net/~pinnah/Dirtba ... rtbag.html
I use homemade wooden skis with wooden bases. Most of the times I just wax them only putting on skins for steep climbs. I am not skilled in wax techniques rather I follow the temps printed on the Swix (www.swixsport.com) wax packaging. I don't buy the fancy wax, rather just the old hard wax tubes. Could my wax technique be improved, absolutely. Does my current low tech approach me 95% of my needs, absolutely. Would knowing more improve my fun factor, probably not.
Re: How about wooden skis?
Well thanks for the welcome! Dave M's backcountry page has been my go-to source for info and I am still reading his site. Thanks Dave if you are reading this!
I weigh about 145lbs naked...
My XCD GT's are 62/54/59 and 190cm long which is a 1991-1992 model according to Dave's website.
The wooden skis are actually Janoy Tur Modells - not the langrenn like I thought. They are 66/56/62 at 210cm long.
It could very well be because they have different dimensions, but I suspect the fact that it's wood has something to do with me liking the Janoys so much. Maybe it's psychological. Anything wood, leather, or canvas just feels 'right' to me.
I do intend to get some more modern skis to experiment with dimensions and what I like best.
Bindings on both are 75mm and my boots are some junky whitewoods and some old red bowling looking shoes. The boots are flimsy and soft and the bowling shoes are cold and stiff. I just bought some Alico Mod Double Telemark boots which I hear are stiff, so hopefully I can break those in and enjoy some added control and warmth.
nebcskier, I like your style. I work wood and have been wanting to make some skis for myself. Using my own skis is kind of my ultimate goal unless I find some big advantages to the modern skis... which I probably will for certain situations. Seems like there is never an end all be all in any aspect of life. Could you tell me more about those skis and how they work for you?
I weigh about 145lbs naked...
My XCD GT's are 62/54/59 and 190cm long which is a 1991-1992 model according to Dave's website.
The wooden skis are actually Janoy Tur Modells - not the langrenn like I thought. They are 66/56/62 at 210cm long.
It could very well be because they have different dimensions, but I suspect the fact that it's wood has something to do with me liking the Janoys so much. Maybe it's psychological. Anything wood, leather, or canvas just feels 'right' to me.
I do intend to get some more modern skis to experiment with dimensions and what I like best.
Bindings on both are 75mm and my boots are some junky whitewoods and some old red bowling looking shoes. The boots are flimsy and soft and the bowling shoes are cold and stiff. I just bought some Alico Mod Double Telemark boots which I hear are stiff, so hopefully I can break those in and enjoy some added control and warmth.
nebcskier, I like your style. I work wood and have been wanting to make some skis for myself. Using my own skis is kind of my ultimate goal unless I find some big advantages to the modern skis... which I probably will for certain situations. Seems like there is never an end all be all in any aspect of life. Could you tell me more about those skis and how they work for you?
Re: How about wooden skis?
The skis are ash with an ipe base. There is a layer of 22 ounce Triax fiber glass sandwiched between the two. They have metal edges though not full wrap around edge, there is no need. I am skiing on my first pair my friend and I made 4 years ago. I don't get out a lot but they have lasted. In comparison to the way new skis look after one season, mine look brand new. Each year I sand out any scratches and put a couple coats of linseed oil on the tops. The wood bases to get water logged if I don't put a heavy base wax on when temps are above freezing. I ski them back country steeps, low angle BC, tight trees and thicket. I have a pair with Bulldog step in bindings and one with Targas. I will eventually downgrade my boots to Scarpa T4 's from Garmont Energies as most of my skiing in the next 5 years will be low angle BC. I only get a few days each year where I may get to do some steeper couloirs/slides where the Energies might be better boots.
I have found no advantages to commercially made skis. The reason we started making skis was so we could experiment with shapes and rocker without spending a fortune. The commercially made skis I would want to buy cost over $1000 dollars. With less than $500 invested (already had plainer, table saw, router) we can now produce a pair of skis for about $150. We use a vacuum bag (we made) set up. Everything we learned was from experimenting and http://www.skibuilders.com.
Kevin
I have found no advantages to commercially made skis. The reason we started making skis was so we could experiment with shapes and rocker without spending a fortune. The commercially made skis I would want to buy cost over $1000 dollars. With less than $500 invested (already had plainer, table saw, router) we can now produce a pair of skis for about $150. We use a vacuum bag (we made) set up. Everything we learned was from experimenting and http://www.skibuilders.com.
Kevin
Last edited by nebcskier on Tue Feb 10, 2015 1:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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MikeK
Re: How about wooden skis?
Very neat Kevin. Care to share a build thread next time you make a pair??
Re: How about wooden skis?
Sure Mike. I currently have a pair pretty close to cooking 
We are currently modifying our vacuum bag mold so it may be a couple weeks, but I'd be happy to share the process.
Kevin
We are currently modifying our vacuum bag mold so it may be a couple weeks, but I'd be happy to share the process.Kevin
Re: How about wooden skis?
Very interesting NEBC. The ash tops looks GREAT! I grew up XCing with my parents who were on old wooden skis. They would periodically apply pine tar to the bases to help waterproof them. Have you tried pine tar instead of base wax to keep the bases waterproof?
Found this site a while ago for those interested: http://www.woodenskis.com/
Found this site a while ago for those interested: http://www.woodenskis.com/
Re: How about wooden skis?
I personally haven't experimented with pine tar but my friend did. It was smelly, time consuming and not really worth the effort. Fresh wax after every 3-4 outings is all that's needed. Wax is cheep, relatively oder less and easy to apply.
Kevin
Kevin
Last edited by nebcskier on Tue Feb 10, 2015 2:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: How about wooden skis?
Thanks for the info. I hope you continue to post on this subject in the future. I've been interested in making wood skis for a while now so it's great to hear from someone who's already gone down that road!