Giorgio Pioda

Very interesting indeed ! Thus you would propose Asnes Vikafjell. About poles, this is another big problem for "snow crust skaters" (many videos are available on youtube about this kind of offpiste). I usually use conventional Skating poles, 165cm (I'm 190 tall). In the downhill I often have to grip them in the middle, or, if I can do some wide telemark turns, I use them like a single pole in "canoing" stile, but it is far for ideal. cheers

You are of course right, Hendrik. But I have the sickness of skating, it is just too strong... I've already good skating skis in the basement (3 pairs, Atomic and Madshus racing level and older and little softer Karhu Hydromix, slower but with slight better control in the swing down), all of them provided with SNS-Pilot. The region where I ski offers manly hard snow (let say at least 70% of the time) so skating is rather fun even in offpiste.; probably in Norway such conditions are the so called "Easter skiing". The main problem is the downhill part since often it gets really very icy and without steel edges it gets dangerous. Have you tried to skate with Nansen class ski? Or the Amundsen class? If I could be more or less sure that the Nansen are more than decently skatable I would put a preference on this model. But I fear that 20mm of sidecut could be to much. Otherwise I'll probably choose Amundsen or Sondre. Asnes has this short fell system which would be ideal for the 30% of the restime when the snow is loose.

Thank to all the kind people that have already answered, hoping that this statistic would grow a little more. I'm thinking that probably the "classic telemark format" 68-55-62 or the narrower 60-50-55 (10 mm) would probably skate better than skis with bigger sidecut (like the Nansen with 20mm). I'll ask about this at Evans Cicles - Oslosportslager. Actually one month ago they told me to choose Amundsen, but probably I've been not enough clear about expressing my needs, mainly because I fear that Amundsen could be to hard to have decent downhill control on steep terrain. I have restricted now the choice between Amundsen, Vika or the softer Sondre. I guess that for skating the stiffness is not extremely important. Cheers

I guess that: 1) People are bored to reply again to this question (well, it is my fault, you ally are right, sorry) 2) That Google translate works really bad and is way better to post here in english. Here the question. How are the Asnes and also all the Fischer E*9 models under skating conditions? I really need steel edges for skating and possibly good downhill control in steep terrain in the alpine resort and also offpiste (see my avatar, that's me). At the end the ability to fit into the track is not so important, so far I can skate fine on the prepared tracks (all our track are prepared for skating) I've already opened a post about this, but I've discovered that the Fischer Powerlight are out of production; since then I'm thinking about an heavier equipment. I've read around the report of a blogger called GEITA, writing that Asnes Nansen are pretty good for skating. I just fear that a to large sidecut could make the skating difficoult. I guess that with Storetind/Vetletind is almost impossible to skate, and this fact restricts the choice between Vikafjell and Ingstad; I guess the optimum beeing between Amundsen and Nansen (or E99 E109) (for both up and down ability). Sorry again for disturbing.

Sorry for å spørre dette igjen. Jeg vil gjerne ha noen meninger om skating med Asnes Amundsen og Nansen. Jeg antar at Amundsen ski er bedre for dette, men heve jeg leste et innlegg i dette forumet hvor Geita ble rapportering Nansen for å være en utmerket skøyter ski. Andre erfaringer fra skating med backcountry utstyr er velkommen. Takk og jubel.

I'm slowing coming to the following conclusions. 1) With almost every ski is possible to skate at least in a decent manner; for exemple there is a guy in this forum http://www.skibanter.com/showthread.php?t=12331 reporting that he really liked to skate with Fischer GTS and 75 mm (80/60/70 sidecut backcountry classic waxable)! Following this I think that any ski model with a sidecut equal or lower than 20mm could be a good solution. 2) The weight; I've put my skis on the balance to see a couple of values. My madshus Hypersonic + SNS pilot are 1.7 Kg. And older pair of Classic XC Karhu 46mm + old Salomon binding are 1.95 Kg. Skating with these I feel NO weghit difference. The Salomon skating boots are about 1.6 KG a pair. (Old XC boots for old Salomon system are lighter, about 1.3 Kg). So I ski with about 3.4 KG. Just to compare I've also weighted my old Downhill equipment... Well Ski + Bindings are 6.3 KG and boots about 5 Kg, total 11.3 Kg (and I've skated with them for short tracks!). Thus I guess that a combination of Nansen + 3pin cable + Good 75 mm boots would land in, let say 2.2 + 0.7 + 2.3 = 5.2 Kg and a combinationof Asnes Nansen + BC system + boots 2.2 + 0.2 + 1.8 = 4.4 Kg. Both are still acceptable weights. 3) For these day, when the snow is really corny or icy, probably the fischer powerlight is the only model that is somehow similar to the incredible Fischer Revo 1992-1993, which where one of the very few skating skis with FULL METAL EDGES. Conclusion: I'll probably buy two sets -the Fischer powerlight putting on it recycled SNS pilot (I still have more skis to put to garbage, like an unskiable Atomic skating model) -and probably a Asnes Nansen equipment for heavy/wet snow, still undecided if BC or 75mm, but I'm more and more thinking to go with 75mm with cable. Well Asnes is really pricey, but the shot fell are really sexy. I've seen around some short fell system with straps on, but I guess they are not so reliable.

This guy is "worse" than me http://www.supertopo.com/climbers-forum/859199/Evolution-Skate-Ski-Alpinism-TR But definitely I dont feel any more alone...

Sounds really interesting... , like Madshus Kikut Steel... The main drawback is the lack of short skins; and mayby I'll still prefer a compromise with larger ski and slight better turning ability.

The temperatures are almost allways aroud 0. Starting at +3 at 1200m and getting -2 at 1700m for exemple.

Interesting... Are BC-Magnum compatible with "normal" BC bots ? The main problem for me is effetively that I have to choose and order all the equipment from internet, since there are really no local dealer either in Toscana (where I take my vacation), nor in the Italian part of Switzerland (where I live). The few dealer that already knows that there is a backcoutry discipline can offer to order only from catalogue, and I've nerver seen Asnes catalogue available... Just only Fisher I wouls say. But Fisher has only waxless, or waxable models. Waxless is No Go for skating. Waxable would fit, but then I'll forget to use classical technique since the snow condition varies to strong from the start to the end of the tour.

Well, I'm very naif about backcountry. Until now I'm skiing with Madshus Hypersonic with Salomon Pilot bindings and Salomon Skating boots. Skating boots are quite good offtrails and offer good control (enogh stiff); also the pilot binding is not bad for the control, but breaks. I've already broken one skiing in hard crusty conditions. I think that any of the asnens model will give better support for turning and downhill tha my (almost) competion skating gear. I would like to go back to classic tech, at least a bit; but I would like to keep the skating technique as option in my tours.

I've tested the following for the track measure. I've plugged two skating skis into the same track, so I guess are about 80mm.

Hi volks, I'm considering to buy backcoutry skis for the next winter season. I'm a very good XC skater and only a moderate classic skier and until now I've used skating ski and boots offtrails. I need steel edges, and appropriate width to be able to fit into a groomed track. I'm very attracted by the Asnes short fell system, since with appropriate conditions I could take the fells away and skate. The first question is the ski choice: Asnes Vikafiell, Amundsen/Sondre or even Nansen or Ingstadt. Have you experience over all these aspects? Fitting into groomed tracks, AND SKATING I also have a problem with the bindings. Do I have to choose NNN-BC to be able to skate or is it possible to use 75mm with an underliing plate? I'll ski mainly on the Amiata mountain (in Toscana, Italy, see www.amiataneve.it); the snow is most of the time quite icy and the terrain is not as steep as on the alps but is also definitely NOT flat. I'm 190 tall and 95-100 Kg. Fells free to answer in norwegian. Google translate will do the rest... TIA Giorgio