Military Ski Master List (w/ Photos)
Re: Military Skis
The photo was of 8 Alpini Regiment on parade for the 2010 Republic Day. Location unknown. Meta data is often stripped from published photos and captioning is atrocious. Regardless, militaries can re-up with manufacturers. Since the pattern was unique, figured that 2010 ski was a good place to start.
A completely different pattern of ski shown in December 2017 when the Alpini was training wit the US Army in the Dolomites (with skins fitted). That photo didn’t contain meta data but the US military photographer included full captioning and the high resolution images can be downloaded, zoomed into, etc.. The problem is that the skis didn’t have any unique characteristics to help identify them.
This later patterned ski was most recently imaged in 2022. Pretty confident that one is still in service. Plus, the hand written numbers on the skis suggests that they are operational skis, not parade models.
The US Defense Visual Information Distribution Service has been really helpful in this project. The images are high resolution and well labeled. Other photo services like Alamy and Getty Images are marginally useful due to poor resolution and limited contextual data. Not finding much coherence elsewhere… other militaries.
Lotsa snipe hunts. Takes time just to get through images. Then more time x-referencing to manufacturers. That’s why feedback form TT correspondents is so helpful… lots of time saved if definitive feedback received.
A completely different pattern of ski shown in December 2017 when the Alpini was training wit the US Army in the Dolomites (with skins fitted). That photo didn’t contain meta data but the US military photographer included full captioning and the high resolution images can be downloaded, zoomed into, etc.. The problem is that the skis didn’t have any unique characteristics to help identify them.
This later patterned ski was most recently imaged in 2022. Pretty confident that one is still in service. Plus, the hand written numbers on the skis suggests that they are operational skis, not parade models.
The US Defense Visual Information Distribution Service has been really helpful in this project. The images are high resolution and well labeled. Other photo services like Alamy and Getty Images are marginally useful due to poor resolution and limited contextual data. Not finding much coherence elsewhere… other militaries.
Lotsa snipe hunts. Takes time just to get through images. Then more time x-referencing to manufacturers. That’s why feedback form TT correspondents is so helpful… lots of time saved if definitive feedback received.
Go Ski
Re: Military Skis
Now up to 15 skis, 13 nations. Additional data posted on users of Asnes Combat NATO.
https://www.telemarktalk.com/viewtopic. ... 999#p61334
https://www.telemarktalk.com/viewtopic. ... 999#p61334
Go Ski
- fisheater
- Posts: 2601
- Joined: Fri Feb 19, 2016 8:06 pm
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- Ski style: All my own, and age doesn't help
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Re: Military Skis
@Manney this has turned into quite an interesting thread. I know Voile had a military version of the Vector. I had also heard the US military was purchasing that ski. I also heard that possibly the contract was not executed.
Re: Military Skis
It is interesting… lots of investigative work because we only read about contracts sporadically. When delivered, the skis are very “low key” and disappear from collective consciousness until they pop up at Coleman’s a decade later with no description. It robs us of exercising options to buy when civilian versions are available before the ratshit is beaten out of them.
A good case is the Icelantic model just posted… if it wasn’t for high resolution images taken of troops on manoeuvres, they’d be just another white parabolic ski. The resolution allowed zoom until Icelantic was readable. Below that was the length… 173 or 176… barely legible. This allowed the exact civilian version to be matched (ironically, the 10th Mountain Special Edition).
Note that this image has only been viewed 43 times… ever. Probably half of those are from the National Guardsman photog who who posted the image after a cool bit of TDY. Three times by me. Crazy how much stuff is out there for the taking, if yer willing to dig deep enough.
Talk of the Voile Vector doesn’t appear to be more than conjecture and banter on TT…
http://eddie.dnsprive.com/~telemark/vie ... 453#p29955
The truth is that SOF often chooses small batches of personal gear, sometimes chosen by operators at the sub unit level. Because they operate “low key”, you don’t see announcements. Their buys might be part of a generic purchase by US Army etc. Or it’s a local purchase. Photos of equipment in the field are vetted to remove “signatures”. Doesn’t mean the odd one doesn’t slip though, but there often isn’t the body of evidence to conclusively say that, for example, the SEALS use “x” ski.
Doing this because we all know how to ski. We all know what we ski. What we don’t always appreciate is what’s out there, being used in places other than a Powder article… most of which isn’t functional skiing. Just asshatting.
Too much of that online already. We can make TT a place of real knowledge if we want.
A good case is the Icelantic model just posted… if it wasn’t for high resolution images taken of troops on manoeuvres, they’d be just another white parabolic ski. The resolution allowed zoom until Icelantic was readable. Below that was the length… 173 or 176… barely legible. This allowed the exact civilian version to be matched (ironically, the 10th Mountain Special Edition).
Note that this image has only been viewed 43 times… ever. Probably half of those are from the National Guardsman photog who who posted the image after a cool bit of TDY. Three times by me. Crazy how much stuff is out there for the taking, if yer willing to dig deep enough.
Talk of the Voile Vector doesn’t appear to be more than conjecture and banter on TT…
http://eddie.dnsprive.com/~telemark/vie ... 453#p29955
The truth is that SOF often chooses small batches of personal gear, sometimes chosen by operators at the sub unit level. Because they operate “low key”, you don’t see announcements. Their buys might be part of a generic purchase by US Army etc. Or it’s a local purchase. Photos of equipment in the field are vetted to remove “signatures”. Doesn’t mean the odd one doesn’t slip though, but there often isn’t the body of evidence to conclusively say that, for example, the SEALS use “x” ski.
Doing this because we all know how to ski. We all know what we ski. What we don’t always appreciate is what’s out there, being used in places other than a Powder article… most of which isn’t functional skiing. Just asshatting.
Too much of that online already. We can make TT a place of real knowledge if we want.
Last edited by Manney on Fri Jun 23, 2023 8:11 am, edited 2 times in total.
Go Ski
Re: Military Skis
Recall reading a post on here in 2022 saying the US didn’t buy Asnes Combat NATOs. Incorrect. Lots of photos of troops skiing on them. Maybe they borrowed them? Wrong!
Here they are, some showing visible signs of use, in pre-positioned stocks for the US military in Norway. Norwegian territory… 100% US owned materiel.
Definitely Asnes Combat NATO. Same profile, grommet, curvature of the top sheet to side wall, finish, skin lock tabs.
Not critical of TT banter… simply correcting a fallacy which, over time, becomes accepted “lore”.
Also explains the high number of edits to the master list. Updates made as new info, backed by a photo, is received. Not possible in a linear conversation… because resolving the unknown to the known isn’t a linear process.
Here they are, some showing visible signs of use, in pre-positioned stocks for the US military in Norway. Norwegian territory… 100% US owned materiel.
Definitely Asnes Combat NATO. Same profile, grommet, curvature of the top sheet to side wall, finish, skin lock tabs.
Not critical of TT banter… simply correcting a fallacy which, over time, becomes accepted “lore”.
Also explains the high number of edits to the master list. Updates made as new info, backed by a photo, is received. Not possible in a linear conversation… because resolving the unknown to the known isn’t a linear process.
Go Ski
- Jurassien
- Posts: 207
- Joined: Tue May 10, 2022 12:12 pm
- Location: Switzerland
- Ski style: Nordic touring; Alpine touring
- Favorite Skis: Too many!
Re: Military Skis
Location no longer unknown. This is Innichen (also known as San Candido – Südtirol is bilingual). The façade has changed slightly in the intervening 8 years, but the similarities can be seen:
Re: Military Skis
Ha ha. Good one @Jurassien.
Tyrol region even!
Updates to list here…
https://www.telemarktalk.com/viewtopic. ... 999#p61334
Tyrol region even!
Updates to list here…
https://www.telemarktalk.com/viewtopic. ... 999#p61334
Go Ski
Re: Military Skis
Finally… info on the skis used by the Japanese Ground Self Defence Force… media photo and official photo.
Details on this unique ski included at post #2 of this thread under “Jieitai”. Master list now contains 16 verified contemporary military skis.
https://www.telemarktalk.com/viewtopic. ... 999#p61334
Details on this unique ski included at post #2 of this thread under “Jieitai”. Master list now contains 16 verified contemporary military skis.
https://www.telemarktalk.com/viewtopic. ... 999#p61334
Go Ski
Re: Military Skis
17 skis, 15 nations, various forces (regular army, specialist units, SOF, paramilitary).
Currently working to identify this model of Hagan ski, used widely by German forces…
Any German skiers out there able to help?
Currently working to identify this model of Hagan ski, used widely by German forces…
Any German skiers out there able to help?
Go Ski