Need help with Backcountry Equipment

[mtnbke]

Hello folks,

I need a little help choosing the proper backcountry ski equipment. The problem is that I'm kind of a bigger guy.

I'm 6' 8" and 330lbs.

I have a pair of Alpina BC Tour boots. I only bought the boots because they were the only size 49 I could find. I couldn't find any BC boots in a 50-52 which is what I probably really need.

I have been interested in buying some bindings and skis and starting to get out there and try some trails.

I was told that with my size and weight I would be better off on BC equipment than touring. I am a very experienced alpine skier but the couple of times I was on touring boots and skis (low end rentals) the boots just were too flimsy to really support me. The boots would just twist off the binding (I have a pretty long foot).

I have been told that with my weight any ski will not really have the camber to get an effective glide. The recommendation was to purchase a waxable ski and only apply kickwax to a very small area of the camber.

Any thoughts on a BC ski that would be a little wider, with a strong camber to help with glide.

How miserable will I be with BC equipment in touring tracks?

thanks,
Tiny

 

[dave.m]

So long as the ski tip is under 70mm in width, you will be fine with a waxable ski in groomed tracks. Around 60mm or 65mm would be better. Keep an eye on the Want Ads for decent stuff cheap. I would stay away from any ski under 210cm for you.

Boot selection, as you already know, is key. I believe that Alico was making boots like the Super Telemark and Skate in sizes up to 50. But their current web site is only listing 48s. Let me do some more digging in some older info at home. I have no problem using nordic backcountry boots at touring center except from lycra clad fashion police in skate gear. (shrug)
http://www.alicosport.it/TELEMARK BOOT.htm
NOTE: Alicos have not had good distribution in the states. You may need to spend all your $$s getting boots. Not to worry. Workable skis and bindings are much less expensive.

Binding selection should follow boot selection. If you get a thick soled nordic backcountry boot like the Alico, you will need a telemark norm 3 pin binding like the Voile Mountaineer of Roteffella Super Telemark. For skiing in tracks, you might toss a Voile 12mm shim under the bindings. This will help keep the wings of your binding up out of the tracks a bit and prevent them from dragging on the sides of the tracks as much. Not needed.
Here are more of my thoughts on bindings.
http://home.comcast.net/~pinnah/DirtbagPinner/bc-bindings.html

Don't listen to the advice of only waxing under your foot. This is racer talk where the interest is maintaining great speed. Kick wax glides just fine *If* you get the wax right. Here are my thoughts on waxing.
http://home.comcast.net/~pinnah/DirtbagPinner/wax.html

 

[dave.m]

In last year's Backcountry magazine, they claimed that the following Alico boots were all made in a size 50:
+ TeleTour
+ SkiTour
+ Glide

Here is their web site.
http://www.alicosport.it/TELEMARK BOOT.htm

Since they aren't currently imported, you might contact them directly.

Another option was suggested by some folks in Europe on TelemarkTips.com.

Quoting...

"Well, Swedish Lundhags makes all their Boots (handmade) at Järpen, Sweden (also their main office) and although they only list sizes up to 48 I'm pretty sure thy would be happy to make a bigger one-off.

Their web-catalog. (http://www.lundhags.se/index3.html?http://www.lundhags.se/asptest/index.asp)

Choose: "Kängor, Pjäxor & tillbehör" - "Pjäxor" - "Pjäxor NN 75" and then the model.

Sadly the pages seem to be only in swedish, but if you email 'em they'll reply all the info you'll need in english (so you can email 'em in engish)."

 

[mtnbke]

Need Strong Camber BC skis

Thanks for the info on the boots, I'll definitely look into those.

Now about skis...

Am I right to be looking for a BC ski over a traditional touring ski? Waxable over fishscales?

What skis have the strongest camber? Most of the 210-215 skis seem to be rated for "over 200" lbs which is why I can't ever seem to get a good glide going. I'm always on the scales even with weight balanced on both feet.

thanks again,
Greg

 

[dave.m]

Crudely summarizing here... the big difference between touring skis and backcountry skis is the addition of metal edges. Choose edgeless touring skis if you will primarily be skiing in tracks at touring centers. Choose metal edged backcountry skis if you plan on skiing on hiking trials and USFS roads and the like, where you might encounter hard ice.

Any nordic ski with a tip width of 72mm or less will fit in prepared tracks.
Under 70mm is preferred. Edgeless skis follow tracks better.

The big decision for you, I think, is between a longer traditional ski or a shorter so-called compact type xc ski. The following was written for metal edged backcountry skis in mind, but it pretty much applies to their edgeless cousins.

Traditional Touring skis:
http://home.comcast.net/~pinnah/DirtbagPinner/bc-skis.html#TRAD

Compact Skis:
http://home.comcast.net/~pinnah/DirtbagPinner/bc-skis.html#COMPACTS

My suggestion for you would be to stick to a traditional ski. Something along these lines...
http://tinyurl.com/4qlax

By all means, I would suggest a call to the folks at Akers and ask for their advice. They are very helpful and very knowledgable. Definitely get their opinion.

In terms of speed and patterns and waxing.... No wax skis are slower than waxed skis as a rule. This only gets worse when you remove camber or add weight. On the other hand, I've not noticed that additional weight (like adding a full winter pack) or removing camber (double camber vs flat cambered) makes a huge difference with waxed skis. Well choosen kick wax glides surprisingly well. For this reason, I strongly recommend you get a waxable ski and learn a simple kick wax system.
http://home.comcast.net/~pinnah/DirtbagPinner/wax.html

Hope this is helpful,