Telemark Skis

[jt]

I am making the switch to wide boards this year. For the last 4 or so I have been skiing on Tua Montes amd although they were great in the 90's it is time for some big floaters. Anyone have thoughts on what they have skiied?

j

[Cletus]

CHeck out the Karhu Jaks! HUge, fun lookin board. Lots of chatter about them at www.telemarktips.com . Ask your question there regardless - they are a fantastic resource, and have a great bulletin board.

 

Think freshies

[tobytortorelli]

the rossi mega bangs are nice and solid and damp, while the k2 work stinx are way to soft to be your only ski, in my opinion....

[E-rock]

Get Rossis... theyz expensive but worth the money, Karhus and K2's are made of styrofoam. The other goodies are Voikl's (G4's)

[Cletus]

Actually, Rossi has been having some serious durability issues on their last two years of Bandit xXx's (and MegaBangs, since they come from the same line). Sidewalls being blown out and such.

 

This aint the place to have a big ole ski discussion, which is why you (jt) oughta just go to telemarktips.com and check in there, but that being said, yes, wood core skis are generally more durable than foam core skis, K2 tends to make a pretty soft ski, and Volkl G4's rip, although they aren't really all that fat, particularly for the PacNW.

 

One thing to remember is that alpine boards do not have a reinforced topsheet underfoot that is often needed for the torque you put on the ski in a tele turn. TONS of people mount tele binders on alpine skis, but be aware that it is possible to rip out the top layer of the ski with the binding if its not a tele-specific ski. This can be mitigated a great deal by mounting with one of the newer plate or re-designed bindings (like Linkens, Hammerheads).

 

For a light (foam core), fairly stiff, bomber fun ski, check out the Atomic 10.EX/R.EX (same ski, different name this year), or the tele-version, the TM.EX. 84mm underfoot, wide but still versatile.

 

For a bomber, solid, crud bustin' plow (wood core, heavier), check out the G4s, the Fischer 84s, and the Dynastar Bigs from last year (although all but the longest length of the Bigs -194cm - are a bit soft).

 

Go to tt.com, ya won't be sorry.

C