Comments on: Backcountry Skiing’s Ann Landers – Ask Lou? http://www.wildsnow.com/1200/backcountry-skiings-ann-landers-ask-lou/ Backcountry Skiing Snowboard Telemark Snowsports Information News Sat, 20 Mar 2010 00:35:08 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Lou http://www.wildsnow.com/1200/backcountry-skiings-ann-landers-ask-lou/comment-page-1/#comment-12454 Lou Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:45:58 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=1200#comment-12454 John, if you're serious about learning alpine I'll recommend to you what I say to everyone who asks this. Indeed do buy an alpine package and learn to ski on that stuff. But you should be able to find such a good deal on that, you won't need to sell your Megarides. At the same time, look for deals and buy the parts for a backcountry setup. John, if you’re serious about learning alpine I’ll recommend to you what I say to everyone who asks this. Indeed do buy an alpine package and learn to ski on that stuff. But you should be able to find such a good deal on that, you won’t need to sell your Megarides. At the same time, look for deals and buy the parts for a backcountry setup.

]]> By: John http://www.wildsnow.com/1200/backcountry-skiings-ann-landers-ask-lou/comment-page-1/#comment-12452 John Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:27:50 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=1200#comment-12452 Hi Been subscribed via RSS to this site for about 18 months now & can't get enough of the info up here. I've been a snowboarder the past 5 years (took to it very quickly) & feel very confident on all on piste terrain now, but haven't been on skis since my teens (I'm 37 now). I've got long range plans of becoming more active in the backcountry sports. Figure the best way to enjoy it during the winter is on skis rather than a split board. With that said, I found a pretty good deal on some Megarides that fit me, so I splurged & bought them. But now I'm wondering.... & asking for input.... Should I sell the Megarides & invest that money & little more on an intermediate alpine package set up as I move up the ski learning curve? Or should I just finish up buying the AT bindings & skis & use them as I go up the learning curve on-piste & eventually off? TIA for your comments Hi
Been subscribed via RSS to this site for about 18 months now & can’t get enough of the info up here.

I’ve been a snowboarder the past 5 years (took to it very quickly) & feel very confident on all on piste terrain now, but haven’t been on skis since my teens (I’m 37 now). I’ve got long range plans of becoming more active in the backcountry sports. Figure the best way to enjoy it during the winter is on skis rather than a split board.

With that said, I found a pretty good deal on some Megarides that fit me, so I splurged & bought them. But now I’m wondering…. & asking for input….

Should I sell the Megarides & invest that money & little more on an intermediate alpine package set up as I move up the ski learning curve? Or should I just finish up buying the AT bindings & skis & use them as I go up the learning curve on-piste & eventually off?

TIA for your comments

]]> By: Lou http://www.wildsnow.com/1200/backcountry-skiings-ann-landers-ask-lou/comment-page-1/#comment-11202 Lou Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:31:19 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=1200#comment-11202 I'd go for the 178. As for boot size, when you're at the end of the range like that you've probably got to try the boot/binding combo on the pre-drilled ski before you know for SURE if the pre-drilled holes work or not for you. Since I don't have that exact combo here, I'd be remiss to make a definitive statement about it. I’d go for the 178. As for boot size, when you’re at the end of the range like that you’ve probably got to try the boot/binding combo on the pre-drilled ski before you know for SURE if the pre-drilled holes work or not for you. Since I don’t have that exact combo here, I’d be remiss to make a definitive statement about it.

]]> By: Stephen http://www.wildsnow.com/1200/backcountry-skiings-ann-landers-ask-lou/comment-page-1/#comment-11200 Stephen Mon, 22 Sep 2008 05:53:27 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=1200#comment-11200 Thanks for the response Lou. Based on your recommendation I will put the fish scales out of my mind. If I'm going to need to skin up anyway it seems silly. I had mentioned the Manaslu previously, but to be honest they had primarily caught my attention because of the pre-drilled mounts. After reading what you had to say about skins I took a harder look at some other skis, including the Manaslus. I found quite a few positive reviews for the Manaslu to include a glowing review on WildSnow. I'm left with two questions that I can't seem to find an answer for anywhere else and was hoping you could help me with. First, I found one mention of the pre-drilled mounts size range starting at 25 on the small end, even with the adjustment range on the bindings. I tried on the F3s in a ski shop and was told that I was probably a 24.5 (though they didn't have any in stock to try on). Assuming that estimate is accurate, I assume that means I would need to drill new holes anyway? And would the flexible toe on an F3 or Terminator cause any addition problems as far and mounting the bindings? Second, I can't find any length to skier weight charts. What length should I be looking at? Recall that I'm about 170 but expect to have a heavy pack. Probably put up around 200 even with a light amount of camera gear. Should I go for the 178 cm or the 187 cm for the additional surface area and better float? I expect the longer length would sacrifice some maneuverability and increase the weight a bit. Are there any other drawbacks? Thanks again for your help. I can't wait for winter to get here and start putting all this talk to action. Stephen Thanks for the response Lou. Based on your recommendation I will put the fish scales out of my mind. If I’m going to need to skin up anyway it seems silly. I had mentioned the Manaslu previously, but to be honest they had primarily caught my attention because of the pre-drilled mounts. After reading what you had to say about skins I took a harder look at some other skis, including the Manaslus. I found quite a few positive reviews for the Manaslu to include a glowing review on WildSnow. I’m left with two questions that I can’t seem to find an answer for anywhere else and was hoping you could help me with.

First, I found one mention of the pre-drilled mounts size range starting at 25 on the small end, even with the adjustment range on the bindings. I tried on the F3s in a ski shop and was told that I was probably a 24.5 (though they didn’t have any in stock to try on). Assuming that estimate is accurate, I assume that means I would need to drill new holes anyway? And would the flexible toe on an F3 or Terminator cause any addition problems as far and mounting the bindings?

Second, I can’t find any length to skier weight charts. What length should I be looking at? Recall that I’m about 170 but expect to have a heavy pack. Probably put up around 200 even with a light amount of camera gear. Should I go for the 178 cm or the 187 cm for the additional surface area and better float? I expect the longer length would sacrifice some maneuverability and increase the weight a bit. Are there any other drawbacks?

Thanks again for your help. I can’t wait for winter to get here and start putting all this talk to action.

Stephen

]]> By: Lou http://www.wildsnow.com/1200/backcountry-skiings-ann-landers-ask-lou/comment-page-1/#comment-11193 Lou Sat, 20 Sep 2008 16:02:14 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=1200#comment-11193 Hi Stephen, I'd forget the fish scale skis and go with skins. Nearly all Colorado backcountry skiing trails are created assuming users have skins. Sure, on spring snowpack when you can go virtually anywhere without trail breaking, scales may work, but skins are the ticket in winter. Along with that, you can always bring some nordic wax for long flat sections, but you need to clean nordic wax off before applying skins, to avoid risk of contaminating your skin glue. As for width, I'd not worry about it. Though getting something super wide will indeed result in a ski that doesn't tour all that great. I'd define super wide as wider than Manaslu. Hi Stephen, I’d forget the fish scale skis and go with skins. Nearly all Colorado backcountry skiing trails are created assuming users have skins. Sure, on spring snowpack when you can go virtually anywhere without trail breaking, scales may work, but skins are the ticket in winter. Along with that, you can always bring some nordic wax for long flat sections, but you need to clean nordic wax off before applying skins, to avoid risk of contaminating your skin glue.

As for width, I’d not worry about it. Though getting something super wide will indeed result in a ski that doesn’t tour all that great. I’d define super wide as wider than Manaslu.

]]>