I had no idea you could go downhill on XC skis...video proof

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Lo-Fi
Posts: 177
Joined: Fri Feb 19, 2016 3:34 pm

Re: I had no idea you could go downhill on XC skis...video proof

Post by Lo-Fi » Fri Aug 04, 2023 1:14 am

bauerb wrote:
Tue Jun 20, 2023 12:43 pm
so it is possible!!...
Erik H wrote:
Tue Jun 20, 2023 9:11 pm
Oh hey that's me! I just randomly uploaded this to YT the other day then I guess somebody sent it to Powder,
Great turns Eric H!

We here, all know we can and are doing it (ie. downhill on x-country gear, in one form or another), but it's nice when a prominent publication shares with the world that it's possible. Hopefully, it inspires more people to check it out.

JeffXCD wrote:
Sat Jul 01, 2023 9:50 am
...Why would someone make their life harder? And noting that for sure there'd be more crashes. Well... sliding out in the snow or even high-siding while using light gear is no big deal, it's part of skiing, often part of turns. Who cares. And as for making it harder, I've been trying to get comfy with modern tele gear recently, then took a visit back to my old-time gear and it wasn't harder at all! It flowed easier! It's so light! ...Like one commenter here said: the flexy stuff is easily conformed to whatever you need it to do. A friend warned me before my retro revisit that I was going to confirm that old stuff sucked. That didn't happen! I just started smiling. It was like re-meeting an old friend! ...So there's that...
Yes, of course, backcountry skiing isn't just one thing. It can be really gratifying to use different gear in different ways. Occasionally I tear myself away from backcountry skiing, to do some track or skate skiing. It's a thrill to move up and along the trails quickly, with continuous forward momentum and flow...

IMB_jrgzIL.GIF

...and while the most efficient downhill turning is some parallel and nordic step turning...

IMB_wyXXTt.GIF

...it's a hoot to manage some tele turns too, although kind of challenging...

IMB_LEht1n.GIF

JohnSKepler wrote:
Tue Aug 01, 2023 5:23 pm

..."... I don't fully understand why you wouldn't just opt for a proper backcountry setup if you plan on doing some downhill skiing. You don't win anything for making your life harder." Going up or flat is at least half of back country skiing and I simply hate that part in BC gear. Any BC skier who hasn't tried proper XC BC gear just doesn't know what they are missing.
mca80 wrote:
Tue Aug 01, 2023 7:26 pm
... 4mph skiing on flat is certainly not something to aspire to.

Light & fast is cool. Why aren't we all on skate skis and NNN in the backcountry?! From what I've seen, and certainly this site attests to it, most skiers that are oriented to exploring off-piste skiing end up at least trying a range of light to heavier gear through their skiing "careers". What people commit to - aesthetically or athletically - is usually quite personal.

I'm finding that with the gear that I currently enjoy the most - Altai Kom (98mm UF), hardwires and Excursion/t3/t4 - I am probably getting 2mph and I love it! What I "aspire to", is not to go faster but to just do more, every chance I get.

Plodding along, keeping the sweat down, while taking in and savouring every view, deep breath, chickadee chirp, and Zen moment on the flats and uphills...

IMB_kh2iKT.GIF
JeffXCD wrote:
Sat Jul 01, 2023 9:45 am
Low angle with wide boards is done around Mid-Michigan to help surf the shrubbery. ...Wide boards do seem to help w both regular float and trash surfing. Skiing over sticks and glancing off bark is all way less of a bother.
teledance wrote:
Tue Jun 27, 2023 9:55 am
75 mm for the win, decades of proof they work for XCD especially the Voile 3-pin cable..

Meanwhile, this "heavier" gear allows for discovering every bit of micro-terrain available and squeezing floaty turns out of features and snow conditions that would be virtually impossible to do on lighter/skinnier gear:

IMB_OcDt2A.GIF

connyro wrote:
Tue Aug 01, 2023 6:07 pm
... Each skier has unique needs and don't need to justify ... why they choose the gear that they do.
Absolutely. It's nice when we can maintain an environment here where everyone can feel comfortable sharing, if they like, what they do.

.

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lowangle al
Posts: 2752
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Location: Pocono Mts / Chugach Mts
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Occupation: Retired cement mason. Current job is to take my recreation as serious as I did my past employment.

Re: I had no idea you could go downhill on XC skis...video proof

Post by lowangle al » Fri Aug 04, 2023 7:03 am

Manny thinks it's all about speed and has turned this site into a xc skiing forum. He doesn't know the "joy of making turns" so it's not part of his thinking. Also, judging by what he has told us about his past and present skiing, he has no experience in the back country and his posts definately back this up.



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Manney
needs to take stock of his life
needs to take stock of his life
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Joined: Tue Mar 07, 2023 8:37 am

Re: I had no idea you could go downhill on XC skis...video proof

Post by Manney » Fri Aug 04, 2023 10:37 am

Nice skiing, Lo-Fi. Stuff like this keeps the stoke going until next ski season!
Go Ski



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Musk Ox
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Re: I had no idea you could go downhill on XC skis...video proof

Post by Musk Ox » Sun Aug 06, 2023 2:00 pm

There is an ignore button.

The bickering's more annoying than the dickhole, tbh.



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Lhartley
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Re: I had no idea you could go downhill on XC skis...video proof

Post by Lhartley » Thu Aug 10, 2023 11:23 am

Musk Ox wrote:
Sun Aug 06, 2023 2:00 pm
There is an ignore button.

The bickering's more annoying than the dickhole, tbh.
But muhhh "Adsense Impressions"



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