Looking for off track suggestions in 120cm ski

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phooka
Posts: 6
Joined: Sun Jan 24, 2021 1:35 am
Location: Banana Belt Alaska
Ski style: Depends on the day and snow

Looking for off track suggestions in 120cm ski

Post by phooka » Fri Jan 29, 2021 1:53 am

Anyone have a decent kid affordable option for an off track ski of about 120cm length? My little one is ready to head off the groomed trails just struggling to find a ski. She's 50 pounds or so in gear. Her 44-44-44 track skis aren't cutting it even following my tracks in more than 4-6 inches of fresh. We are costal Alaska for snow conditions and temps run upper teens to hovering at or around freezing most of the time. Base is up to 4-5 feet in places. 3/4 metal edges would be nice, but I am sure a pipe dream. She's ready to start learning to turn and not just snow plow.

Anyone know anything about https://www.ebay.com/itm/Snowman-Junior ... 3839650499. They appear to be an Asnes ski in 60-52-58. By the time you tack on shipping to Alaska we are getting up there in risk level, as I know there are some old stock Asnes skis oddly damaged bases popping up on ebay.

I'll match the skis up with an NNN combi boot, as she's wanting to learn to skate; unless I can stumble in to a pair of 20.5 G-rex/Telesaurus/Teldactlys. Any better options for a 31/32 3-pin that's more of a XC touring boot?

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fisheater
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Re: Looking for off track suggestions in 120cm ski

Post by fisheater » Fri Jan 29, 2021 4:40 pm

@lilcliffy started his kids quite young. I think he started with a Balla Hok, but he has some in their teens now. I know he will have sound advice



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w8n4snow
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Re: Looking for off track suggestions in 120cm ski

Post by w8n4snow » Sat Jan 30, 2021 1:58 am

Howdy fellow Alaskan. Been suffering through this same dilemma. Those Asnes snowmann skis are cute and functional, and also light. They’re not a real skiers ski, which might sound preposterous, but my three year old complained that they were “twisty”. The edges are rounded, which gives little confidence to a new skier. Our two year loves em though, and they’re good for making skiing cool and shuffling through the pow on their own. And they’re Asnes, which seems to be a prerequisite to anything on this forum that anybody pays attention to. Wouldn’t recommend though.

Now she’s skiing on some older Madshus skis (waxable-hard to get it right) that are pretty wide, low sixties, and some Fischer youth racing skis that are waxless and soft enough to engage to pattern. These were only cool enough after she had learned “ the glide” by me pulling her around on downhill gear. Why pull your kids in a pulk when they can follow behind on tiny downhill gear? They learn to shred quickly. Our two year old tolerates it even, and will soon be doing “S’s”. I really think this gives a solid foundation to skiing as well. Xc skis can be terrifying because of the unexpected slip which is the beginning of the glide. Little downhill gear shows how to manage the glide, and becomes fun very quickly. They learn to turn without thinking about it. Plus mom and dad can go for a ski while the girls are empowered doing their own thing. I use a little stick that’s small enough to grip easily, and some rope hooked to an old waist belt. On steep downhills I ski behind with a loop around her waist to control the descent.

Anyway, check Play it Again sports if you get to Anchorage or Fairbanks or Wasyphillis. Sounds like you’ll want scales. It’s tough to find that stuff used or new! Fairweather ski works has a short ski with a built in skin too. Pricey, but you’d have it forever for stomping around the woods long after she’s moved to LA with that one guy with the loud car.



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12gaugesage
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Re: Looking for off track suggestions in 120cm ski

Post by 12gaugesage » Sat Jan 30, 2021 7:43 am

Im looking at these for my 6 y.o., hes around 50# currently running a older rossi jr. track ski and the balla.
Fischer adventure 58. Not a whole lot to choose from under 160cm or so
httpss://www.amazon.com/Fischer-Adventure-Crown- ... 4980&psc=1

Also possibly worth considering are the Balla from Altai. Different than what you're looking for , but they're a good backwoods ski. My kid was skeptical until he walked straight up a hill with them. They're very light too.
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phooka
Posts: 6
Joined: Sun Jan 24, 2021 1:35 am
Location: Banana Belt Alaska
Ski style: Depends on the day and snow

Re: Looking for off track suggestions in 120cm ski

Post by phooka » Mon Feb 01, 2021 1:35 am

Thanks for warning me off those Asnes snowman skis. We are definitely looking for a "skier's ski". We are well into developing solid kick and glide technique. I had the Hoks on the radar, but by the time I realized she was ready to venture off the groomed trails, they were sold out this year. I'll keep an eye out. Not going be heading to Anchorage anytime soon. So a run through Play it again is out.

I have no issues at all with kickwax, or kilster for that matter - AK banana belt means kilster alot of the time. Spent two and a half ski seasons hauling her in a DIY pulk around behind various waxable skis. I never got the hang of skating with the pulk, so my tried and true Atomic Race Classics were my go to for any sort of speed. My wife though is of the opinion that if a waxless ski wont work, that just means its a skate day.

The search goes on.



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