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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
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    13

    Recommendations on Fat Skis-Telemark

    All you gear experts...
    I ripped up my '08-'09 Katanas (pulled out BD 01 bindings and tore the top sheet) which I loved and took a tongue lashing on this forum for suggesting that Volkl should bear some responsibility.
    Water under the bridge.
    The question now is what to buy to replace it. Want something with a medium flex that can be skied in deep snow as well as powder bumps and the occasional groomed exit (rockered yes or no?). Ilive and ski Colorado...mostly Vail and Jackson, Alta when traveling. Think...Katana like but will be able to handle a tele binding without falling apart. Will likely mount with Hammerheads. I am old but hard charging 185lbs and enjoy all manners of soft snow and tend towards shorter turns, no major hucking and to oold to learn tele switch. Must be able to hold the binding...not a huge K2 fan...yeah I know they have inserts.
    Don't ski by powder to find powder

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Posts
    19,201
    The Katana is 140-111-130, the Moment Ruby is 140-110-130. Don't know what size K's you were riding, but the 188 or 190 might just be the ticket for you. I ski them with Hammerheads and have absolutely no durability issues in 2 full seasons.
    Is it radix panax notoginseng? - splat
    This is like hanging yourself but the rope breaks. - DTM
    Dude Listen to mtm. He's a marriage counselor at burning man. - subtle plague

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
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    LV-426
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    21,123
    Check out the Blizzard freeride line of skis with the "IQ channel" topsheet; the Answer or Argos might fit what you're looking for.

    I believe they are available with a Marker alpine binding, or a Duke/Baron, or without any binding... and Blizzard sells a tele-drilled adapter that slides in place on the channel. Shouldn't be any issues with ripping out a tele binding on that setup.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Somewhere else
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    5,676
    For the record, I think everything you said in the other forum makes sense.

    But I also think the shop is equally to blame for the lack of info reasons you mentioned. Like you said, that's why you go to shop in the first place, because you could easily get a better price online.

    People are really agro with new posters here... if an established member said the same thing I don't think they would have been hammered so hard. You seemed to roll with the punches pretty well... if you can keep doing that you'll find this place is worth it.
    Goal: ski in the 2018/19 season

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Hell Track
    Posts
    13,841
    Maybe look at the Scott P4's. I like mine a lot (although my heel is firmly held down). They've been on Tramdock regularly, so they should be affordable, and they've got metal in the top sheet, so you shouldn't have any real durability issues.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Iron Range
    Posts
    4,961
    The last 2 pairs of Rossis I've had have held onto my O1's just fine. I sold the Scratch Brigade/S5 because I wanted the S6, so now they're mounted with my O1's. So far, so good, but I do what I can to prevent the pullout by mounting with epoxy, running only 5mm of preload (5mm of inner barrel exposed with heel down) and not skiing low. Who knows, they may still rip but it seems to me that people who rip them out do it quickly.

    Perhaps look into something with some metal. The Karhu Storm (Team 100 without twin) would be a good choice, even if it's slightly skinnier than you're after. It had a maple core and titanal layer, which seem good at retaining bindings.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Posts
    13
    Quote Originally Posted by bio-smear View Post
    The last 2 pairs of Rossis I've had have held onto my O1's just fine. I sold the Scratch Brigade/S5 because I wanted the S6, so now they're mounted with my O1's. So far, so good, but I do what I can to prevent the pullout by mounting with epoxy, running only 5mm of preload (5mm of inner barrel exposed with heel down) and not skiing low. Who knows, they may still rip but it seems to me that people who rip them out do it quickly.

    Perhaps look into something with some metal. The Karhu Storm (Team 100 without twin) would be a good choice, even if it's slightly skinnier than you're after. It had a maple core and titanal layer, which seem good at retaining bindings.
    Is the S6 the same ski as the Raven? Is the Raven beefed up under foot? Is it Rockered and how is that on the occasional groomed run-out?
    Don't ski by powder to find powder

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    in a van down by the river
    Posts
    2,769
    I picked up a pair of PraXis Rx's and I'm running O'1's with Syner_g's.

    They kill it. Although I think the O'1's are gonna get returned. Ten or so days and one binding has noticeable play in it (at the pivot when in ski mode)

    I definitely watch the preload and I have had to tighten the screws once.

    The blue font hurts to read. Don't use it unless you are being subtle.
    I don't work and I don't save, desperate women pay my way.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
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    Iron Range
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    4,961
    Quote Originally Posted by morrisairtime View Post
    Is the S6 the same ski as the Raven? Is the Raven beefed up under foot? Is it Rockered and how is that on the occasional groomed run-out?

    Yes.
    Dunno.
    No.
    Pleasant.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Posts
    3,673
    as a lifelong locked down heeler...what is the tele skier looking for in the ideal ski....something softer? always was curious.
    Do I detect a lot of anger flowing around this place? Kind of like a pubescent volatility, some angst, a lot of I'm-sixteen-and-angry-at-my-father syndrome?

    fuck that noise.

    gmen.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Whistler
    Posts
    1,038
    What about Black Diamond skis? Megawatts would be good...and designed with tele as possibility.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Posts
    13

    what tele skiers want

    Quote Originally Posted by volklpowdermaniac View Post
    as a lifelong locked down heeler...what is the tele skier looking for in the ideal ski....something softer? always was curious.
    Soft is not necessarily desirable. I think as with all skiers, it just depends on style, terrain, snow and preference. I was just loving the Katana. Best ski I ever skied. I found it really stable, very versatile, plenty floaty in powder, a good carver and damn good in just about everything. I was even skiing it in soft bumps. These days with big plastic boots and rigid active tele bindings, most high end alpine skis are awesome tele.
    Most manufacturers have quit making tele specific skis for just this reason. All the more reason why it is surprising to get "stuffed" by Volkl...but there I go again.
    Don't ski by powder to find powder

  13. #13
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Telluride
    Posts
    1,010
    Icelantic Shaman- idealistic powder tele ski. I am biased but will always tele on this ski in pow regardless of affiliation

    mounted w/ HH

    Last edited by telepow; 04-06-2009 at 08:24 PM.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    northern BC
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    30,879
    Quote Originally Posted by volklpowdermaniac View Post
    as a lifelong locked down heeler...what is the tele skier looking for in the ideal ski....something softer? always was curious.
    With modern big boots and bindings the same ski for tele as AT , at 170lbs I was pretty happy with a 180 cm 100mm ski for tele and then rmounted it fixed ... whatever you like for freeheel should work for AT IMO

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    967 tree 4
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    1,213
    This is just my experience with full rocker/reverse ski (Praxis Powder) but for whatever reason, they're more fun P-turning. I had a pair mounted tele, but I found myself doing all P-turns all the time (and no, its not because I suck at telemark, I suck even more at alpine). I think it has something to do with the rocker giving the snow contact points directly under the feet making it so easy to turn when the feet are together. I switched my bindings to Dukes. YMMV.

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Iron Range
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    4,961
    If you like the Katana so much, just have some subplates built that attach to the ski with 6 or 8 screws, then attach O1 with machine screws. All that particle board in the core surely can't resist that many screws.

    If I ever rip out my O1s, that's the first thing I'll do. I won't even bother with helicoils. I'd even build them for you for a modest fee, but you scare me as a customer.

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Posts
    3,064
    My brother demoed a pair of Zealot's w/ '01. The ski is heavy and he said skis very planky. Also, the binding had the same slop that Moose Pit was describing. A better option is 22Designs (HH or AXL if you need tour mode) they mount with 6 screws and ski very active. Also, Volkl is made by parent company K2(at least the fat skis). Maybe try a Movement Goliath- bomber construction, light weight, bomber topsheets, slight early rise tip, and very easy to ski. BTW, my bro is 6'6" 225 lbs. and he rips it on this set-up with no problems. Sounds like Bio-Smear has a good option for your existing boards!

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Idaho
    Posts
    10,953
    Been stoked on on the Kahuna/Maden sidecut and flex for tele. It's 108 at the waist. It does get a little floppy but still one of my favorite tele skis.
    Quote Originally Posted by Benny Profane View Post
    Well, I'm not allowed to delete this post, but, I can say, go fuck yourselves, everybody!

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    The San Pornando Valley
    Posts
    687
    Quote Originally Posted by El Chupacabra View Post
    Check out the Blizzard freeride line of skis with the "IQ channel" topsheet; the Answer or Argos might fit what you're looking for.

    I believe they are available with a Marker alpine binding, or a Duke/Baron, or without any binding... and Blizzard sells a tele-drilled adapter that slides in place on the channel. Shouldn't be any issues with ripping out a tele binding on that setup.

    Mouted up a pair of Argos with NTNs last week. Real cool interface with the tele adapter. The holes were predrilled on the plate with no holes in your ski.

    BT
    I got my Vans on but they look like sneakers.....

    Telemarktips.com

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
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    LV-426
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    21,123
    Quote Originally Posted by Big Tim View Post
    Mouted up a pair of Argos with NTNs last week. Real cool interface with the tele adapter. The holes were predrilled on the plate with no holes in your ski.

    BT
    Looking at Blizzard's website, it looks like those IQ rails are solidly affixed within the ski -- i.e., it'd be really hard to tear them out (harder than ripping out alpine bindings from a normal ski).

    At the demo day this spring, I was really impressed with the Blizzard skis. Build quality looked top-notch. And I loved skiing the 2009-10 Zeus -- I absolutely have to get that ski next year.

  21. #21
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Vail
    Posts
    629
    So far I'm thinking the rocker is a good thing for all soft conditions. hard pack isn't my cup of tea anyhow...

    Next years K2 Hardsides are way fun to rip turns on anything except all day groomers. Probably a medium flex, though I'm not a good judge, but I don't like stiff boards...

    The K2 Hardsides do float better in powder than a conventional design, with I think rockered tips? Even with sub-optimal bindings and boots, I was ripping pow the last two weeks at a flat place in Colorado with a big smile and feeling like 10" was bottomless. The extra float makes them optimal for powder days where conventional boards might be hitting bottom way to often and easy.

    The Hardsides feel like they have a short turn radius, but this works great in crud. Very easy to turn and short edge is easy to grab quick when you're in between powder puffs. If you spend time in the trees like I do, these Hardsides turn so quick and float well, just killer shredding fun in tight trees. They do edge well and feel fine on groomers, but aren't optimal for super high speed.


    I'm an Armade enthusiast myself. My current personal boards have been Armada ARV for a few years now. They are much more fun on groomed than the hardsides. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another pair of ARV's for all mountain use. They've really been great and skidded over more fallen tree parts than I could mention in the BC, advertised durability of Armada's good so far for me.

    Sadly the ARV's just don't float as well as the Hardsides: ARV's are better for edging, face shots, worse for submarining. If I was looking to buy powder boards, I'd sure like to demo some Armade JJ's (mounted with tele binders).


    Go with the Hammerheads for easy and durable. I'd prefer the NTN for performance, but the boot situation is still sorting out. First the HH and then the NTN's were mounted to my ARV's...
    Last edited by PowTrees; 04-07-2009 at 11:17 PM.

  22. #22
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    People's Republic of MN
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    5,755
    Quote Originally Posted by morrisairtime View Post
    Is the S6 the same ski as the Raven? Is the Raven beefed up under foot? Is it Rockered and how is that on the occasional groomed run-out?
    Change the color of your font, genius...
    Gravity. It's the law.

  23. #23
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    People's Republic of MN
    Posts
    5,755
    While not really "fat" per se, I just got a pair of Movemenet Akomas and skied them on some slushy mank last weekend. They performed great (183cm, 92 waist) in those conditions. Probably not a GREAT powder floater, but I bet they'd do okay with the right touch. I've got HH's on mine.
    Gravity. It's the law.

  24. #24
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Alpental
    Posts
    30
    I bought a pair of JJs this year and loved them with alpine gear. I was thinking about remounting them with tele bindings and buying another pair of dedicated powder skis for alpine. (full reverse camber >125 underfoot)

    I'm thinking I will switch to teles on my JJs and not get a new alpine set up. I'm going full time free heel.

    Anyone got suggestions on a good high power tele boot? I've got a great touring set up but if I'm going full time tele I'm gonna need one of the new style monster stiff four buckle boots. My old T2s are great but getting worn out.

  25. #25
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    northern BC
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    30,879
    At demo day I tried a number of skis that didnt really jump out at me more than the verdicts already I own ,then I did 2 runs on the JJ's and had so much fun I bought a pair ,buddy kicked em out at his cost

    the big problem ... the hill is closed till next year

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