Thread: Euro Touring Ski

So in an effort to catalog some of the "What skis for Europe" threads, and to hopefully find an answer to my own query, I have decided to start this thread.

First, some background:

• Skiing primarily in the Dolomites, Austria, and Eastern CH. Probably not going to spend a significant amount of time skiing in the French Alps or Western CH.
• All skiing will be in the spring semester (Jan-April)
• I will only be bringing one setup, and it whatever I choose will be mounted with Freerides

188 Soft Bros vs. 186 LPs of the race room variety (05-06). LPs are my favorite ski. Ever. However, I have never toured on them and the weight has me a bit leery of them. This is my only misgiving and I think it could be trivial enough to just say "Sack up and use your favorite ski"

With that said, I've been thinking drinking the Kool-Aid and picking up a pair of 188 Soft Bros. BUT I've never skied them. They do seem to have all the aspects of a good touring ski though. Light, softer flex, and bomber.
In the interest of weight saving, these seem to be the clear cut winner.

Am I an idiot to take a ski over there as a one ski quiver that I've never skied just because it's lighter?


Now onto the cataloging.

How fat makes sense in the Alps?
Skis for Europe
Mixed Conditions Touring Ski

Haute Route Gear

Euro Travel Tips
Touring on LPs

I woudl prolly just sack up, and go with LPs.

But honestly, the soft 188 Bro would prolly serve you almost as well (if not better. clockin' a lot of alt per run, means that with lighter rig you'll have more fun on the way down).

Oh, which ever rig you bring... replace binders with dynafiddles.

people I know who randos in the dolomiti likes the LP. It should work there, because you'll not skin >1,500m. If you are also considering the west part of the alps, then LP+freerides might be too heavy....

as verbier61 said, in the dolomites lots of tours start from the lifts or arent that long... do you get a season pass? or will you tour for the most time?

freak~[&]

I had a pair of Soft Bros and wouldn't consider them a euro quiver of one, too soft and not durable enough.

I skied for a month in Europe last year, mostly touring, on Mantras with dynafits. Nice to have a durable ski that's going to work well on hard snow, and be decent in soft snow. Never skied the LP's, but I'd guess they're better on hard snow and more durable than the Bros, so that's my suggestion.

If you're worried about weight, better to save it on the bindings than on the skis.

Originally Posted by hemas

Oh, which ever rig you bring... replace binders with dynafiddles.

I wish I could, but I just don't have the cash right now for 1) Dynafit compatible boots 2) or a pair of Dynafits. Right now I'm going to have to stick with Tornado Pros and Freerides.

Originally Posted by verbier61

people I know who randos in the dolomiti likes the LP. It should work there, because you'll not skin >1,500m. If you are also considering the west part of the alps, then LP+freerides might be too heavy....

Like I mentioned, I don't think I'll be spending enough time in the western Alps to bring a ski that would suit be me better there. If I do venture that way, I'm just going to have to sack up and deal with the little bit of extra weight.

Originally Posted by freak

as verbier61 said, in the dolomites lots of tours start from the lifts or arent that long... do you get a season pass? or will you tour for the most time?

freak~[&]

I'll have a season pass, but I intend to split my days pretty evenly between touring and lift-serve. I like touring a lot more.

Originally Posted by panchosdad

I had a pair of Soft Bros and wouldn't consider them a euro quiver of one, too soft and not durable enough.

If you're worried about weight, better to save it on the bindings than on the skis.

Good info. Where did you do the majority of your skiing?

Thanks for all the input all.

Originally Posted by givebackbloom

I'll have a season pass, but I intend to split my days pretty evenly between touring and lift-serve. I like touring a lot more.

well, there are lots of options where you take the lifts first, ski a while from the top station, ski down into a different valley to another lift, ski again from the topstation and ski back into the valley from which you started. have you got the guidebook already?

freak~[&]

Originally Posted by freak

well, there are lots of options where you take the lifts first, ski a while from the top station, ski down into a different valley to another lift, ski again from the topstation and ski back into the valley from which you started. have you got the guidebook already?

freak~[&]

No I haven't. I remember reading a thread on here a little while ago though about a Dolomiti guide book, but it couldn't be found in English?

Are there any specific ones that your recommend?

I would also consider the Bro 183s. I have the AK built ski, and it bomber, great ski in a variety of conditions, and is light. I like it better then the 188 or 179, but I have only demoed those skis.

Sack up and use your favorite ski.

Originally Posted by givebackbloom

No I haven't. I remember reading a thread on here a little while ago though about a Dolomiti guide book, but it couldn't be found in English?

Are there any specific ones that your recommend?

yeah, the one im talking about is called "freeride in dolomiti" and is written bei francesco tremolada. it is italian and english (both languages in one book). its "the" guide for skiing the dolomites...
i think its hard to get in the us and partly sold out anyways, but i heard there will be a new version in november 2009, not sure though. you should be able to get in once youre in italy...

freak~[&]

Originally Posted by givebackbloom

So in an effort to catalog some of the "What skis for Europe" threads, and to hopefully find an answer to my own query, I have decided to start this thread.

First, some background:

• Skiing primarily in the Dolomites, Austria, and Eastern CH. Probably not going to spend a significant amount of time skiing in the French Alps or Western CH.
• All skiing will be in the spring semester (Jan-April)
• I will only be bringing one setup, and it whatever I choose will be mounted with Freerides

188 Soft Bros vs. 186 LPs of the race room variety (05-06). LPs are my favorite ski. Ever. However, I have never toured on them and the weight has me a bit leery of them. This is my only misgiving and I think it could be trivial enough to just say "Sack up and use your favorite ski"

With that said, I've been thinking drinking the Kool-Aid and picking up a pair of 188 Soft Bros. BUT I've never skied them. They do seem to have all the aspects of a good touring ski though. Light, softer flex, and bomber.
In the interest of weight saving, these seem to be the clear cut winner.

Am I an idiot to take a ski over there as a one ski quiver that I've never skied just because it's lighter?


Now onto the cataloging.

How fat makes sense in the Alps?
Skis for Europe
Mixed Conditions Touring Ski

Haute Route Gear

Euro Travel Tips
Touring on LPs

Suck it up, cupcake.