Alpina Pioneer 80 XPlore Ski Review

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Woodserson
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Re: Alpina Pioneer 80 XPlore Ski Review

Post by Woodserson » Fri May 07, 2021 1:39 am

Wait. Hold up. I just watched @Tom M 's video and he's on Discovery 80's... So there is a Pioneer 80 and a Discovery 80? What's the difference?

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Johnny
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Re: Alpina Pioneer 80 XPlore Ski Review

Post by Johnny » Fri May 07, 2021 3:17 am

Stephen wrote:
Thu May 06, 2021 5:42 pm
That sounds pretty tempting...
Assuming that would be this fall?
This is probably not going to happen, I was just dreaming aloud... 8-)

riel wrote:
Thu May 06, 2021 9:57 pm
Next year I'll probably use both again on a more equal basis, though the Ingstad seems to have better torsional rigidity than the T78 / 2018 Alpina Discovery 80. I'm naming them both in one breath here since Woodserson and I compared his T78s with my 2018 Alpina Discovery 80 skis side by side, and they appear to be identical.
Hey, thanks for all the VERY interesting info and reflections Riel!

The fishscale science is a lot more complex than we think... As you said, there is so many factors to consider, lengths, camber profiles, flex, nordic rocker etc. It would be a mistake to judge a waxless ski only by the pattern length and position... But hey, it's the only thing we can do before trying it... 8-)

FWIW, I didn't use grip wax on my 195cm Ingstad WLs, and I was 160lbs back then. But they were definitely not long enough for my taste. Now back at 130lbs, I do need wax in front of the scales of my 205's... 8-)
/...\ Peace, Love, Telemark and Tofu /...\
"And if you like to risk your neck, we'll boom down Sutton in old Quebec..."



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Johnny
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Re: Alpina Pioneer 80 XPlore Ski Review

Post by Johnny » Fri May 07, 2021 3:19 am

Woodserson wrote:
Fri May 07, 2021 1:39 am
Wait. Hold up. I just watched @Tom M 's video and he's on Discovery 80's... So there is a Pioneer 80 and a Discovery 80? What's the difference?
Yes!!! They both are alive! 8-)

"Just like the Discovery 80's top sheets, but without the red paint... So cool!"

"I would be curious to see the difference between the Pioneer and the Discovery 80, which seems identical... (Reinforced mounting area for XPlore bindings perhaps?) Unfortunately, there isn't much information about Alpina products on their website, as it always been the case..."
/...\ Peace, Love, Telemark and Tofu /...\
"And if you like to risk your neck, we'll boom down Sutton in old Quebec..."



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Stephen
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6’3” / 191cm — 172# / 78kg, size 47 / 30 mondo

Re: Alpina Pioneer 80 XPlore Ski Review

Post by Stephen » Fri May 07, 2021 2:20 pm

Johnny wrote:
Fri May 07, 2021 3:19 am
Woodserson wrote:
Fri May 07, 2021 1:39 am
Wait. Hold up. I just watched @Tom M 's video and he's on Discovery 80's... So there is a Pioneer 80 and a Discovery 80? What's the difference?
Yes!!! They both are alive! 8-)

"Just like the Discovery 80's top sheets, but without the red paint... So cool!"

"I would be curious to see the difference between the Pioneer and the Discovery 80, which seems identical... (Reinforced mounting area for XPlore bindings perhaps?) Unfortunately, there isn't much information about Alpina products on their website, as it always been the case..."
So the Pioneer and Discovery are different skis?
If so, can anyone offer a comparison of the two?



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Johnny
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Re: Alpina Pioneer 80 XPlore Ski Review

Post by Johnny » Sun May 09, 2021 12:04 pm

Stephen wrote:
Wed May 05, 2021 10:04 pm
The cosmetics are a nice change -- fake wood, but still a nice look.
Please forgive my lack of knowledge of resins, cosmetics and fake stuff... But I was totally wrong here.

After a closer look, it's actually REAL wood!!! WOAAAAH! With clear top sheets! BEAUTIFUL!!!!
Best looking skis in years... I'm in love... 8-)

IMG_0159.jpg
/...\ Peace, Love, Telemark and Tofu /...\
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Stephen
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6’3” / 191cm — 172# / 78kg, size 47 / 30 mondo

Re: Alpina Pioneer 80 XPlore Ski Review

Post by Stephen » Sun May 09, 2021 1:03 pm

So I wonder if that is a cosmetic veneer we are seeing, or the actual core of the ski?
I would assume the former.
Either way, it would seem to be a bit of a maintenance concern to make sure no dents or gouges allow any water into the wood.
Are you sure it’s fiberglass — I thought top sheets were normally a plastic material?
A fiberglass top sheet would not be as durable, since any nicks would expose glass fibers. And, glass fibers in skin are not nice.



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Johnny
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Joined: Wed Dec 18, 2013 5:11 pm
Location: Quebec / Vermont
Ski style: Dancing with God with leathers / Racing against the machine with plastics
Favorite Skis: Redsters, Radicals, XCD Comps, Objectives and S98s
Favorite boots: Alpina Alaska XP, Alfa Guards, Scarpa TX Comp
Occupation: Full-time ski bum

Re: Alpina Pioneer 80 XPlore Ski Review

Post by Johnny » Sun May 09, 2021 1:37 pm

Stephen wrote:
Sun May 09, 2021 1:03 pm
Are you sure it’s fiberglass — I thought top sheets were normally a plastic material?
A fiberglass top sheet would not be as durable, since any nicks would expose glass fibers. And, glass fibers in skin are not nice.
Oh, what I mean is that we can see the pattern of the fiberglass cloth on top of the wood... There's got to be a layer of protective plastic material over that? I don't know much about ski construction... But it's only 1045g at 196cm... 8-)
/...\ Peace, Love, Telemark and Tofu /...\
"And if you like to risk your neck, we'll boom down Sutton in old Quebec..."



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Stephen
Posts: 1485
Joined: Thu Aug 06, 2020 12:49 am
Location: PNW USA
Ski style: Aspirational
Favorite Skis: Armada Tracer 118 (195), Gamme (210), Ingstad (205), Objective BC (178)
Favorite boots: Alfa Guard Advance, Scarpa TX Pro
Occupation: Beyond
6’3” / 191cm — 172# / 78kg, size 47 / 30 mondo

Re: Alpina Pioneer 80 XPlore Ski Review

Post by Stephen » Sun May 09, 2021 2:16 pm

Johnny wrote:
Sun May 09, 2021 1:37 pm
Oh, what I mean is that we can see the pattern of the fiberglass cloth on top of the wood... There's got to be a layer of protective plastic material over that?
8-)
Yeah, that seems more likely.
That would be interesting if what we see is actually the ski’s wood core.
From the finger joint in the middle foreground of the picture, it looks like it might be the actual core.



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Stephen
Posts: 1485
Joined: Thu Aug 06, 2020 12:49 am
Location: PNW USA
Ski style: Aspirational
Favorite Skis: Armada Tracer 118 (195), Gamme (210), Ingstad (205), Objective BC (178)
Favorite boots: Alfa Guard Advance, Scarpa TX Pro
Occupation: Beyond
6’3” / 191cm — 172# / 78kg, size 47 / 30 mondo

Re: Alpina Pioneer 80 XPlore Ski Review

Post by Stephen » Mon Dec 06, 2021 3:56 pm

Anyone heard anything on this ski?
Supposed to retail with the Xplore binding, which is not available yet?



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jyw5
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Re: Alpina Pioneer 80 XPlore Ski Review

Post by jyw5 » Mon Dec 06, 2021 4:47 pm

oh no!

another shiny new toy... you mean, i have to buy more ski boots??



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