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New Asnes WL Waxless Skis 2018-2019 Ingstad WL & Nansen WL

Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2018 7:33 am
by Johnny
Asnes Waxless WLs-.jpg
Åsnes Ingstad WL and Nansen WL skis: The Scales are back!
I have just received the first prototypes of the upcoming new Asnes Waxless Skis for the 2018-2019 season. Yes, the scales are back! Meet the new Ingstad WL and the Nansen WL. They are simply beautiful. Both models have been previously reviewed here and here, but let's take a closer look at the new WL versions. Note that they are prototypes, so they might not be exactly what the production models will be like. But according to Asnes, they are very close to the final product that will be in stores in November.

Norwegians probably learn how to wax before they even learn how to read. I'm pretty sure they use the Swix wax system to learn colors in preschool and daycare centers. They don't have much use for waxless skis. But a lot of people elsewhere around the world do, including myself. No, it's not for beginners or for people with lack of waxing knowledge. With all the new advanced fish scale patterns on the market, especially the ones from Fischer, it became a class of ski of its own.

In the last few years, the only Asnes waxless ski available on the market was the Amundsen. And it was not available anywhere in North America or Europe, it was sold only for the Swedish market. A few years ago, while traveling around Norway, some forum users (Hi Ben!) reported that the Asnes fishscale pattern was very rudimentary, and mostly used for rental shops. Well, this is definitely not the case with the new WL models.
scales.jpg
The new Asnes waxless base on the Ingstad WL (Click to zoom)
OmniCrownVarioTrakPosi-ZeoliteUH+?
What we have here is a nice and progressive advanced traction pattern. Kind of an updated, small Omnitrak morphed into an Offtrack Crown pattern. From what I can see and feel, it seems to offer much better grip than the old Omnitrak but with better glide than the Offtrack Crown. The grip vs glide ratio will always be a matter of compromise, but this new WL pattern feels just perfect for their intended use, considering the geometry of both skis and their moderate wax pocket camber profile. A more aggressive double camber pattern like the Vario Crown or the MGV+ would be too slow for a Fjellski like this, while a plain, round scale pattern like the G3 and Voile ones would not offer enough grip for such narrow skis. It looks like Asnes achieved a perfect balance here, tuned especially for backcountry XCD skis. Very, very promising. I wish there was snow outside right now to fully test them, they look FAST!
AsnesWL-5.jpg
"The Waxless models are combining a waxless base with skin inserts in order to provide great grip and glide on any condition. The waxless base will make the ski great for flatter sections and the skins will make it effortless to climb even the steepest hill. A great choice for adventurous skiers that don’t want to waste time waxing. "
Precisely. Because for some of us, time spent waxing is time spent not skiing. Like the Fischer Easy Skin skis, the new WL models also come with Asnes X-Skin inserts. Just go out and ski, and put the skins on only for longer and more serious ascents. Take a look at the picture below and notice how the X-Skin inserts have been carefully moved a few centimeters to prioritize waxless efficiency over skins. Since the focus is placed on the waxless aspect on the WL series, the sweet spot where the skins usually go is now tuned for the fish scales. It doesn't matter much for the skins since they would be used here mostly for climbing or icy conditions where kick and glide efficiency is less important.
Asnes Ingstad WL Nansen WL Waxles-7.jpg
Left to right: Ingstad WL, Ingstad BC, Nansen WL
You know how I am always impressed by Asnes and how they make skis with the highest quality craftsmanship. The WL series are no exception. The company didn't bother coming up with a fancy name for their WL pattern. No tech primer on the polarity of their scales or 3D views of ski construction. The name Asnes itself is sufficient. People know that when they buy Asnes, they will get the best.

I would REALLY, really like to see waxless versions of wider Asnes skis, especially on their Toppturski series. But according to the brand manager, the WL skis are a test for the French and US markets to see if there is some interest. He mentioned that it would be somehow unlikely to see wider WL skis than the Ingstad, but who knows... We just need to show interest. ;)

Not everyone had the fortune of being born Norwegian. Fortunately for us and all the folks who don't have a degree in waxology, a waxless version is available for the following models below. I just can't wait to try them on snow, I'll keep you posted... In the meantime, you can pre-order (or at least reserve them) now at your favorite Asnes retailer to make sure to get your hands on a pair. They should ship around mid-October. Get them while you can!

Have a great winter my dear friends!
Reserve your pair now at:
Norseman Outdoor Specialist (Western Canada)
Neptune Mountaineering (USA)

Re: New Asnes WL Waxless Skis 2018-2019 Ingstad WL & Nansen WL

Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2018 7:34 am
by Johnny
Asnes Waxless WL Skis 2019-1.jpg
Asnes Waxless WL Skis 2019-2.jpg

Re: New Asnes WL Waxless Skis 2018-2019 Ingstad WL & Nansen WL

Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2018 9:12 am
by lilcliffy
Very nice Johnny! And very exciting for you to test them!

Like I said- one of the things missing from my E-109 and E-99 Crowns is the Easy-Skin attachment.

Re: New Asnes WL Waxless Skis 2018-2019 Ingstad WL & Nansen WL

Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2018 8:28 am
by Johnny
You Sir will never need them, with your *huge* collection of mohairs...! :D

Re: New Asnes WL Waxless Skis 2018-2019 Ingstad WL & Nansen WL

Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2018 10:41 am
by Johnny
How sweeeet!!! We can now leave Asnes Appreciation Society traces everywhere...!
Very, very efficient new pattern! The A-Ring offers the best grip/glide ratio around...! :lol:

(I thought of writing a romantic description of the technical specs of that supa-cool "A" pattern just for fun, but I will spare you my not-so-funny poetry, you serious guys... Notice that there are 7 of those A-rings, representing the 7 days of creation in the Old Testament, and also the lowest natural number that cannot be represented as the sum of the squares of three integers. There is probably a secret meaning for the middle A being split by the groove, but I haven't figured that one yet...)
Asnes Waxless Ski Pattern-2.jpg
I just got a pair of 205cm WL Ingstads, and they are the bomb!!! I felt the 195's were a bit short for me in my last year's review, but the two-o-fives are just AWESOME! 205cm of power and stability, ready to attack any terrain XCD style! And bonus: No sticky fingers!

35" of powder and more to come... 15th ski day in a row... Time for Norwegian Waxless action now! If you are looking for the best powder stashes, just follow the A's... 8-)

Re: New Asnes WL Waxless Skis 2018-2019 Ingstad WL & Nansen WL

Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2018 8:32 pm
by lilcliffy
What do you think of the Nansen versus the Ingstad?

Re: New Asnes WL Waxless Skis 2018-2019 Ingstad WL & Nansen WL

Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2018 9:56 am
by Johnny
Two different beasts... Similar, but different.

They both are described as having "Moderate wax pockets", still the wax pocket is actually different. The camber is a bit higher on the Nansen, but is also a bit softer. The slightly lower camber on the Ingstad is actually a tad more resistant to hand pressure for the same ski size. Very similar, but with a different personality. Ingstad & Nansen. ;)

The main difference, besides sidecut profiles, is obviously the Nordic Rocker tips on the Ingstad. The flex is pretty much the same on the whole ski, but the Nansen features traditional tips with no rocker at all. Well, actually, it does have 2-3cm of NR for the specs freaks, but nothing that really deserves the name NR.

I see the Nansen as more of a fast, long-distance BC kind of ski, while the Ingstad offering better performances for trail-breaking and turning. But hey, I didn't ski the Nansen yet, that's just my first impressions...

Two verrry BEEAUTEEEFUL species of Asnes skis...!
Do not even try to pick one over the other, you already know the answer...8-)

Re: New Asnes WL Waxless Skis 2018-2019 Ingstad WL & Nansen WL

Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2018 10:24 am
by Buda
I'm thinking a lot about the Nansen vs the Ingstad these days. Hours of reading, translating from Norwegian, etc but 15 minutes with each is all I'd need ... :-)

I'll use the skis in a variety of conditions but here I'm just considering resort skiing.

I've been skiing easy runs at resorts for years with 200cm long Madshus Glittertinds and it works for the most part but because the skis are so soft they become difficult when the groomed trails are too hard. Difficult but still doable and that's why I feel I just need a little more ski. Ingstad's are for sure easier to turn than the Nansen in the backcountry but I'm not convinced that they'd be easier on groomers by looking at the specs. The Ingstad has more sidecut but the Nansen has less rocker. Even though the turning radius is larger could the Nansen with it's longer effective edge provide more bite / control? Anyone tried both on groomed trails?

Re: New Asnes WL Waxless Skis 2018-2019 Ingstad WL & Nansen WL

Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2018 12:28 pm
by lilcliffy
Buda wrote:I'm thinking a lot about the Nansen vs the Ingstad these days. Hours of reading, translating from Norwegian, etc but 15 minutes with each is all I'd need ... :-)
Man do I hear you here! Wouldn't it be wonderful to be able to actually demo/test all of these skis?
I've been skiing easy runs at resorts for years with 200cm long Madshus Glittertinds and it works for the most part but because the skis are so soft
Interesting comment on the "soft" flex of the Glitt...I don't own a pair, but my friend has two pairs (both waxable and waxless) of the Glitt- the previous generation with the blue topsheets. To do find they have very soft tips and soft tails(I find the tips completely unstable actually), I find them to have a very stiff double camber underfoot...Gamme's UTE test (which I cannot seem to access anymore) put the blue Glitt as near as stiff and cambered as the Amundsen underfoot...
they become difficult when the groomed trails are too hard.
This is likely a result of a lack of torsional rigidness? Stiff double camber can be a serious challenge on hardpack as well- unless they are super short- but your model of Glitt sounds quite different than the model I am familiar with...
Difficult but still doable and that's why I feel I just need a little more ski. Ingstad's are for sure easier to turn than the Nansen in the backcountry but I'm not convinced that they'd be easier on groomers by looking at the specs.
I think Woodserson has tried the Ingstad BC on the groomed hill? I have certainly tried them on dense consolidated base here in the hills and they are quite dreamy to turn- all of that tip rocker greatly shortens effective edge on consolidated snow! Gamme's test of Nansen describes them as being wonderful downhill skis in the backcountry and even ponders the need for wide Telemark skis...
All reports suggest that the Nansen is much softer and rounder flexing than the Ingstad BC. I also doubt that the Nansen is as stiff and stable as the Ingstad. I would actually think that the Ingstad would be much more stable downhill skiing on dense snow than the Nansen- I would predict that the Nansen would bend and twist all over the place when really pushed to perform on hardpack...
There certainly is a stiff resistance underfoot on the Ingstad BC though. I have a 205cm Ingstad BC and I can squash the camber with both skis evenly weighted- but I can still feel that resistance underfoot- especially on soft snow.
Based on testing a wide range of all of these "xcd" skis over many years- I would humbly suggest that the current Ingstad BC is the world's best-ever downhill-performing XC ski...
The other options to consider are Asnes' Falketind 62 and Rabb 68. These two skis are currently in classes of their own. The 68 may seem similar to skis like the Fischer 98/112 or Madshus 68/78 but it offers true downhill performance. The FT 62 is a miniature version of a modern downhill "all-mountain" ski- torsionally rigid, rockered tip, single camber, slightly rockered tail (like the hybrid rocker on the Voile Vector/Objective)- but at a mere 62mm underfoot the FT62 is easily rode with a XC boot!!
The Ingstad has more sidecut but the Nansen has less rocker.
Ingstad BC: 84-62-74mm
Nansen BC: 76-56-66mm
These specs would suggest that the Ingstad has 2mm more sidecut than the Nansen....
But all of that tip rocker means that the widest point of the Ingstad's tip is not part of the skis effective edge- especially not on hardpack. I would hazard a guess that the Ingstad BC actually has less effective sidecut than the Nansen...
Even though the turning radius is larger
Would be interesting to know which one has a longer turning radius- we should email Asnes and see what they say...

Re: New Asnes WL Waxless Skis 2018-2019 Ingstad WL & Nansen WL

Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2018 12:39 pm
by lilcliffy
My 205cm Ingstad BC:
- sidecut: 84-62-74mm
- effective sidecut: 76-62-74mm
The effective sidecut of this ski is damn near perfectly parabolic!