Mount an NNN-BC binding on a AT ski?

[JohnSKepler]

Coming from a guy who learned the turn last year and hopes to improve and apply the turn this year, for learning, for me, and assuming you have a decent mental picture of the dynamics of the turn, learning the turn came down to, in this order:

1. Ski, ski, ski, and ski some more
2. Requisite physical conditioning
3. Skis that will turn
4. Good conditions for learning
5. Appropriate bindings and boot
6. Other stuff...

Others will differ.

So, IMHO, you're not going to be doing yourself a lot of favors learning on NNN-BC but IMHO you can definitely do it though you will be very limited and it will probably take longer. Then, once you've learned it, you'll be more limited with that binding. I learned on Asnes Falketind 62 and Gamme 54, Voile Objective BS, all with Xplore bindings and either Alfa Free or Alpina Alaska Xplore boots. Not the easiest but much better than NNNBC. Would have been much, much harder for me on NNN-BC.

Disclaimer: I'm talking about MY experience. I'm also not saying you can't Tele in NNNBC gear. I'm saying it's going to be hard to learn on.

[BigJohnS]

I mounted a set of NNN-BC magnums on an old pair of k2 four-r's I had laying around last season. I'm not sure what the width on them is but I'd say it's somewhere in the low 70s with some sidecut but not a ton and a pretty soft flex. I skied them with Fischer BCX Transnordics in the backcountry, on blue runs at a resort, and down the Sherburne trail on Mt.Washington. It worked pretty well on soft snow but on the harder snow on some of the trails at the resort and on the heavily skied Sherbie the relatively soft boots couldn't get the wider skis on edge very well so it was a bit skiddery. So, it will probably work but like others have said how well will depend on conditions.

[MountainGoat]

So much good input...thanks to all.
It sounds like for a newbie...I should come up with a new plan.

The skis I've been using with the Alaska boots are Fischer Europa 99...metal edges but not really any taper. Heres a link to some on ebay right now...mounted with telemark bindings. https://www.ebay.com/itm/325485089966
I've tried to test out Tele turns on the bunny hill at my local resort and felt quite skiddery (love that word btw). I was much better skiing up the hill than down.

Since posting, I almost scored a full tele setup (g3 saint, BD push boots, voile bindings, skins) on FB marketplace for $180, but just wasnt quick enough.

[Manney]

Any ski can be slid, smeared, or made to chatter. Some easier than others, depending on conditions. Same thing applies to a carving turn or a tele turn.

When shopping used, you’re at the mercy of what is out there. Things can get snapped up quickly, before you have time to ask questions, get a few answers, and decide. So you’re probably better off to do some reading and develop a sense of what type of skis will suit your conditions and skill level. That way, you can pounce on a deal when that type appears.

Type is sometimes described by the manufacturer but is really a summation of plan form (tip/mid/tail dimensions), camber, rocker, stiffness, and weight.

The thing to keep in mind is that conditions rule. Man made, machined groomed snow is completely different than natural snow. A bunny hill at a resort is completely different from most natural hills (the slope is often more uniform and there are no obstacles). So you need to keep conditions at the top of mind at all times (conditions are precisely why avid skiers own more than one type of ski).

[CIMA]

Yeah, the conditions matter.

On-piste, many starters equipped with modern telemark gear can make turns easily by just sliding their legs back & forth and banking slightly their bodies, and because of that they may feel like they have got the hang of telemark turns.
However, in the case above, they will face disasters when entering off-piste.

[phoenix]

Mountain Goat, since you were thinking of using the NNN BC set up on those Shuksan's, why not just pick up a pair of T2, or older 3 buckle T1's (or something similar) and some used cable bindings for those? That's actually a very user friendly, versatile rig. I've skied K2's, tele, for more than 20 years, and they're user friendly and versatile. Do go with a cable binding rather than 3pins or explore; the difference in control is quite noticeable.

Should be pretty simple to find used boots and bindings, maybe even here. Still wondering where you ski? Height, weight, and boot size would help dial you in too... is 186 the right length for you?

[Manney]

If you go this route (heavier gear), go TTS. And make sure it’s a TUV certified design (which kinda narrows the field).

Don’t get hooked on cheaply priced designs. These have inconsistent release, get jammed with snow more, fall in and out of favor, and put skiers on the roller coaster path of upgradeitis.

But do it for slope and not some kind of cool gear fantasy league bullshit. Oh… and if you buy used TTS bindings, take them to a professional tech for a full servicing before skiing them.

[timpete]

@MountainGoat , I thought I'd mention in reply to your original question that I started out tele skiing on Alipina Alaska NNN-BC and Asnes Falketind XC skis, similiar to what @fisheater has mentioned.

I did this because I was in a similar sounding situation as you, in that I had the Alpina Alaskas, had a lot of light nordic skiing background (so used to skiing downhill with soft shoes), and wanted to try it.

While I would echo what others have said that the NNN-BC setup is too light for some conditions (icy groomers or heavy crud, at least while learning), I also found it fun and a gateway drug so would just say "go for it". You'll soon find as we all do that you need several sets of equipment for different uses and that setup will always be there for when conditions allow. As others have said buy red flexors.

p.s. I have carried some DIY paracord leashes in my pocket while resort lift skiing on above NNN-BC setup, just in case, but I have never been stopped by ski patrol and told to put on leashes. You will get some weird looks by lift attendants who sometimes say "you can't ski here on XC gear" but I've always just said "its non-releasing tele gear" and then they go "oh ok" and let you go.

[Manney]

^^ Another viable approach. Good points, @timpete.

There are any number of directions one can go. Just need to cater to the need in a sensible way.

Avoid skiing easy terrain on heavy gear. Costs more, adds unnecessary weight, impairs mobility, limits progression in exchange for convenience.

[MountainGoat]

Even more good ideas. Thx.

I'm 6'0" (1.83m) tall, and weigh in at 200 lbs (91kg)...and that's about as high as I get..my usual weight is more close to 180lbs.

Some used tele bindings and boots may be the way to go.