Hi Johnny,
Would the Asnes Borge Ousland 210cm be a good match for an all around ski for 190 cm / 72 kg?
Or do you have anything that would be?
I already have a pair of MR48s in 210cm.
I’m a little concerned that the Ousland might be too stiff for my weight, and not that much of a step up from the MR48s for float in deeper snow. What do you think? I had been thinking maybe the Gamme would be a good step up?
I am new on TT. I swear I’m not making this up — today, really, not yesterday, but today I picked up a pair of size 47 Alaskas at REI. They are NNN BC, I bet yours are 75s? You might have seen my post “Seeking Wisdom...” — Basically from scratch, I‘m putting together everything I want to re-enter XC this winter. Things have changed a lot since the 70s, and this forum has been tremendously helpful in terms of remapping what I know from the past into todays XC world. Back then, I never thought about “Am I XC or xcD or XCd?” It was all fun — flats, fresh powder down mountains, groomed runs, overnights, ...
I know — I’m wandering...
So I have been trying to nail down my gear: skis, binding, boot, poles, etc.
(Already purchased a decent 4 season tent, and a Marmot Col -20 sleeping bag — there have been some great sales.)
On the skis, I was trying to find something like the 220 cm Tur Langrenn I had skied on. No more 220s! Heck, my downhill skis were 210s. Anyway, at first I was thinking: buy some used 220 woodies on eBay or something. Then I found the Asnes skis, and they looked good! Maybe the Finnmark, since I thought I didn’t want a metal edge (being a purest, and all), but then I started admitting that there were times a metal edge would have been nice, then I found Dan’s really nice Blog post on the MR48s and that sounded like just the kind of skiing experience (and therefore ski) I was looking for. Got lucky and found the last pair of 210s in North America (dramatic conjecture) at Neptune and went for it. But more reading on TT makes me think I might really like to have a ski that will have better float in deep snow and be more appropriate for downhill and for carrying a pack for camping. Lots of the Asnes skis I’m reading about sound good.
So my question is: SOMEONE TELL ME WHAT THE BEST SKI WOULD BE FOR JUST ALL AROUND SKIING with more float than the MR48s? Again, being a purest, I’m thinking a wax ski. Okay, that’s skis...
BOOTS
I have looked at Four different boots:
Alfa Kikut
Ok, boot (I could say more, but I’m already over my word count)
Alfa Skarvet
This is a nice boot. Comfortable, toe box is almost big enough for by wide forefoot (probably as wide as I will find)
Alfa Outback
I was really hopeful on this boot, but ended up not being that impressed (for the kind of skiing I will do, anyway. Also, pretty heavy)
Alpina Alaska
This seems like a pretty nice boot at a decent price, but not sure I want a boot collar that tall, and I think it is the heaviest of all these boots.
But, there seems to be SO much love for the
Alfa Guard here that now I’m torn. I haven’t been able to find the Guard sold in NA, so no way to try before I buy. But, I have tried the Skarvet, and they are good. I saw something on the Alfa website that said about the Guard: “This boot is a reinforced model of the classic Skarvet / BC Advance GTX BC ski boots...” So, fit should not be a problem. And I found a pair in Europe at a decent price, so really thinking of just rolling the dice and going for it.
Anyone with some real world experience with both these boots out there who can give me some advice?
And if you’re still here THANKS.
Any thoughts or opinions are appreciated!
