Madshus Panorama 78

[rongon]

I've skied the Wright Peak Ski Trail on my Annums with Switchbacks and 3-buckle plastic boots, and had a good run. I think they'd handle Mt Cardigan and the Wildcats in good conditions, but if icy then I don't know... The Annum doesn't give you a lot of grip on icy hardpack, even with 3-buckle plastic boots. The ski is pretty soft.

[metamorphosis108]

I've skied the Wright Peak Ski Trail on my Annums with Switchbacks and 3-buckle plastic boots, and had a good run. I think they'd handle Mt Cardigan and the Wildcats in good conditions, but if icy then I don't know... The Annum doesn't give you a lot of grip on icy hardpack, even with 3-buckle plastic boots. The ski is pretty soft.

This is very helpful, thank you! What is your preferred set up for icy hard-pack conditions in the Northeast?

[rongon]

For the same trails but icy and hardpacked? If yes, then I guess I'd take my full-scale downhill setup, which is a pair of Dynastar Cham 97 High Mountain with Axl bindings. If those trails are just hardpacked and not particularly icy, I might take my Voile Vector BC skis with Switchback X2 bindings.

Then again, I just got a pair of Elan Ripstick 96 skis which also have Switchback X2 bindings on them. That might become my new favorite downhill setup. I've only had them out once this season, since we haven't had deep snow and I don't want to scrape them up on their first couple of outings.

For low angle wanderings where I know it'll be icy and nasty, I have an old pair of Fischer Outtabounds which I ski really short (169cm), with a pair of Voile 3-Pin Hardwires on them. I use those with an old pair of Asolo Extreme boots.

I've collected a fair number of skis over the years...

[wabene]

Yesterday was my first time out on my new M78'S (182cm). These skis were from last year and not selling so they marked them 50% off. I can't believe you can have this much fun on a $165 ski.
We had about a foot of fresh powder and I went to my, apparently, personal hill. Why nobody else marks up the snow here I have no idea. My focus this season was to learn tele after about a dozen first laps last year on my M62'S (195cm). This year I've done well over 100 laps at a few different locations on some SB98'S (189cm) I picked up in the spring. Really feeling like I was progressing. I'm 182lbs (82.5kg) and was skiing my Svartisens on Voile 3pin cable. This was different. The most fun I've had skiing. I felt like I was surfing the hillside. The more I angled the skis the tighter the turn these soft skis would bend into. Again I want to thank all the contributors on this site for allowing me to figure this out at 58 years old, thanks!
The ski is very noticably softer than the 98. It seems in deep snow, breaking trail for the skin (scale) track is slightly more difficult than with the more supportive 98. After one pass it's all good though.

Beautiful sunny windless day in the 20's.
A foot of untracked powder.
Super light March work schedule.
Work day for most.
Yes

[metamorphosis108]

For the same trails but icy and hardpacked? If yes, then I guess I'd take my full-scale downhill setup, which is a pair of Dynastar Cham 97 High Mountain with Axl bindings. If those trails are just hardpacked and not particularly icy, I might take my Voile Vector BC skis with Switchback X2 bindings.

Then again, I just got a pair of Elan Ripstick 96 skis which also have Switchback X2 bindings on them. That might become my new favorite downhill setup. I've only had them out once this season, since we haven't had deep snow and I don't want to scrape them up on their first couple of outings.

For low angle wanderings where I know it'll be icy and nasty, I have an old pair of Fischer Outtabounds which I ski really short (169cm), with a pair of Voile 3-Pin Hardwires on them. I use those with an old pair of Asolo Extreme boots.

I've collected a fair number of skis over the years...

I appreciate this! For my downhill set up on icy terrian, I am debating between Elan Ripstick 96 vs Voile Ultra Vector BC with a NTN set up.

[metamorphosis108]

Yesterday was my first time out on my new M78'S (182cm). These skis were from last year and not selling so they marked them 50% off. I can't believe you can have this much fun on a $165 ski.
We had about a foot of fresh powder and I went to my, apparently, personal hill. Why nobody else marks up the snow here I have no idea. My focus this season was to learn tele after about a dozen first laps last year on my M62'S (195cm). This year I've done well over 100 laps at a few different locations on some SB98'S (189cm) I picked up in the spring. Really feeling like I was progressing. I'm 182lbs (82.5kg) and was skiing my Svartisens on Voile 3pin cable. This was different. The most fun I've had skiing. I felt like I was surfing the hillside. The more I angled the skis the tighter the turn these soft skis would bend into. Again I want to thank all the contributors on this site for allowing me to figure this out at 58 years old, thanks!
The ski is very noticably softer than the 98. It seems in deep snow, breaking trail for the skin (scale) track is slightly more difficult than with the more supportive 98. After one pass it's all good though.

Beautiful sunny windless day in the 20's.
A foot of untracked powder.
Super light March work schedule.
Work day for most.
Yes

This is helpful! I am planning to try out a new pair of M78 with Crispi Bre this weekend.

[metamorphosis108]

Yesterday was my first time out on my new M78'S (182cm). These skis were from last year and not selling so they marked them 50% off. I can't believe you can have this much fun on a $165 ski.
We had about a foot of fresh powder and I went to my, apparently, personal hill. Why nobody else marks up the snow here I have no idea. My focus this season was to learn tele after about a dozen first laps last year on my M62'S (195cm). This year I've done well over 100 laps at a few different locations on some SB98'S (189cm) I picked up in the spring. Really feeling like I was progressing. I'm 182lbs (82.5kg) and was skiing my Svartisens on Voile 3pin cable. This was different. The most fun I've had skiing. I felt like I was surfing the hillside. The more I angled the skis the tighter the turn these soft skis would bend into. Again I want to thank all the contributors on this site for allowing me to figure this out at 58 years old, thanks!
The ski is very noticably softer than the 98. It seems in deep snow, breaking trail for the skin (scale) track is slightly more difficult than with the more supportive 98. After one pass it's all good though.

Beautiful sunny windless day in the 20's.
A foot of untracked powder.
Super light March work schedule.
Work day for most.
Yes

Were you riding M78 with Svartisen? I am torn between Bre and Svartisen.

[wabene]

@metamorphosis108 yes the Svartisen. I have the Alico Ski March(heavy) and these really nice brown leather vintage Heierlings (exactly the same weight as the Svartisen), but the Svartisen is so good when I'm looking for turns or really anything that's what I grab. So comfortable and versatile. I'm always on the lookout for Norwegian stitched 75mm boots so I've considered the Bre. Probably a little lighter than the Svartisen, but for some reason it's hard to get definitive specs on this kind of gear. You hear about thermomoulded boots like the Alaska failing and many question their durability which is a reason why I've pursued Norwegian stitched boots. Well I'm on my third season on the Svartisens (thermomoulded) and they show absolutely no sign of wear. The thick duckbill will fit either Voile or Rottefella and it won't break. Has there been one report of a Svartisen duckbill failing? Not that I have seen and it bears out in practice. The carbon cuff ruins the beautiful leather boot aesthetic but is part of what makes the boot. The rand, which the Bre doesn't have, protects the leather and is not just glued on but stitched too. It doesn't delaminate. The boot has a soft forward flex and is great for kick and glide. Don't be fooled. Strap a cable on it and the exoskeleton comes into play and it becomes a downhill boot where you can pressure with your shins. The ability to easily adjust the different tensions on the boot with the rachet straps is another reason to choose this boot. Obviously I'm smitten

[metamorphosis108]

@metamorphosis108 yes the Svartisen. I have the Alico Ski March(heavy) and these really nice brown leather vintage Heierlings (exactly the same weight as the Svartisen), but the Svartisen is so good when I'm looking for turns or really anything that's what I grab. So comfortable and versatile. I'm always on the lookout for Norwegian stitched 75mm boots so I've considered the Bre. Probably a little lighter than the Svartisen, but for some reason it's hard to get definitive specs on this kind of gear. You hear about thermomoulded boots like the Alaska failing and many question their durability which is a reason why I've pursued Norwegian stitched boots. Well I'm on my third season on the Svartisens (thermomoulded) and they show absolutely no sign of wear. The thick duckbill will fit either Voile or Rottefella and it won't break. Has there been one report of a Svartisen duckbill failing? Not that I have seen and it bears out in practice. The carbon cuff ruins the beautiful leather boot aesthetic but is part of what makes the boot. The rand, which the Bre doesn't have, protects the leather and is not just glued on but stitched too. It doesn't delaminate. The boot has a soft forward flex and is great for kick and glide. Don't be fooled. Strap a cable on it and the exoskeleton comes into play and it becomes a downhill boot where you can pressure with your shins. The ability to easily adjust the different tensions on the boot with the rachet straps is another reason to choose this boot. Obviously I'm smitten

Great write-up on Svartisen! I tried both. Bre fit like a glove right out of the box, while the Svartisen fit was odd on my feet. Bre is certainly not as beefier compared to Svartisen (specially with those straps and the exoskeleton). I now wonder though if Bre would sufficiently power M78. I may have to look into Scarpa T4.

[wabene]

@metamorphosis108 how would you describe the difference in fit between the Bre and Svartisen? Might be helpful in deciding about the Bre.