Thread: Info needed from Telemark Skiers

T1 will be a good choice for an overall boot that can tour but can handle more advanced terrain at speed. You'll be fine with it.

you'd be fine with the 3 buckle garmonts, too, if they fit. alexander1310's main point is speed, imo.

regarding driving the cuff versus bending at the ankle, on lightweight xcd-type skis/boot combos, w/ a torsionally rigid boot (snowfield for example), somebody with 'good "aggressive" technique' could ski them reasonably well in most terrain w/o a cuff. put that same person in stiff boots, more active bindings, and big boards, and they'll be able to ski much much faster with a similar or greater relative control. because there's a cuff to the bigger boot, they'll be driving a cuff by default, but it'll be because they are bending their ankle. this is based on my personal experience and talking to a few others.

huh???
I think the folks that "just try to flex bellows" are the same ones that tippy toe and poodle.
Get your feet under you flex the whole fuckin' boot and quit being a puss.

i think now is the time for two more fingers of whiskey.

Originally Posted by BLOWhERPOW

So what's the general consensus for a dude say 175 lbs, strong alpine background. Picked up tele last season a couple times and felt pretty good and comfortable on them after a few runs. They were rossignol sick birds with targas and some garment three buckles. Looking to progress into terrain that I can ski alpining and eventually do some mellow tours in fresh pow. Would t1's be alright for me?

Seriously - if you are starting from scratch I'd go NTN unless you want to pick up some cheap 75mm gear used.

I've skied a tonne of different setups over the last 5 years and I am strongly of the opinion that those who have had trouble with NTN are those that have been telemarking for years with the same gear (probably G3 Targas) and expect it to feel identical. It doesn't. But then neither do plenty of other binders.

Originally Posted by gritter

Seriously - if you are starting from scratch I'd go NTN unless you want to pick up some cheap 75mm gear used.

^ This

And people that aren't buyingr the "drive the cuff" thing haven't skied NTN.

Originally Posted by bodywhomper

you'd be fine with the 3 buckle garmonts, too, if they fit. alexander1310's main point is speed, imo.

regarding driving the cuff versus bending at the ankle, on lightweight xcd-type skis/boot combos, w/ a torsionally rigid boot (snowfield for example), somebody with 'good "aggressive" technique' could ski them reasonably well in most terrain w/o a cuff. put that same person in stiff boots, more active bindings, and big boards, and they'll be able to ski much much faster with a similar or greater relative control. because there's a cuff to the bigger boot, they'll be driving a cuff by default, but it'll be because they are bending their ankle. this is based on my personal experience and talking to a few others.

Wow ..... you used torsionally rigid and snowfield in the same sentence ...... thanks for the laugh! And what's "reasonably well"?? Personally, I think you'd have to pretty much be a fool to actually choose to use the gear you describe in "most terrain".

I consider it to be more of a softer vs harder snow issue, with a little steepness factor thrown in i.e. how much do you really need to set your edge?

I'm getting my girlfriend a new pair of boots as a graduation gift. She's been in powder blue t2x's for the last three seasons, can ski anything on the hill, but is ready for a bigger boot to help bring the style up to the next level. She's been in switchbacks, so we're also upgrading her to axl's for more power on longer, fatter skis. 5'7", 135 lbs. She loves the scarpa fit, so I'm trying to decide whether to go with the lady T1, or the new red T-Race. They're built on the same last, so sizing isn't a problem, but I don't want to get wrong boot. I think the T-Race might be better for her because it gives her something to grow into, but I also don't want to get something she can't flex. I know the T1 will be a whole new level of performance for her, but I'm afraid she'll outgrow them in a year or two and just want a stiffer boot. This might be a stretch, but does anyone have a girlfriend (unlikely with this group) who skis in either of these boots or just have an opinion what would be best?

Sorry, no naked pics...she takes lots of photos of me in the nude though if anyone's interested.

Originally Posted by PB

Wow ..... you used torsionally rigid and snowfield in the same sentence ...... thanks for the laugh! And what's "reasonably well"?? Personally, I think you'd have to pretty much be a fool to actually choose to use the gear you describe in "most terrain".

I consider it to be more of a softer vs harder snow issue, with a little steepness factor thrown in i.e. how much do you really need to set your edge?

of course, i'm a fool. i ski tele or xcd gear, exclusively

"reasonably well" and "most terrain": linked tele jump turns on steeper or narrow terrain (off piste), linked medium radius and short radius turns on less steep or more open terrain (off piste and on piste), early winter (non-manmade) california resort snow.

specifically, i used to ski mammoth in the early season (typically t-giving weekend) w/ borrowed E99's, snowfields (if you have used other boots in this category - maybe you have - torsional rigidity is relative), and 3pins. my prescription: climb up summer road to summit, and ski the chutes, gullies, and bowls that allow lapping chair 23 (cornice, drop outs, wipe outs, scotts, and P1). this was late 90's and early 2000's. lifties (and patrol) never seemed to care about this poach. very challenging (especially with leg strength/stamina), super fun, and a great way to dial in the body position, balance, etc. for amping things up on bigger gear. I do not recommend a beginner or intermediate to do this or somebody that is normally hesitant about skiing this kind of terrain with their 'normal' gear. these days, i only use this type of gear when skiing easy groomed terrain with my 5 year old and i haven't skied at mammoth in years.

clear enough, PB?

honus, are you sure the lady's t-1 is the same last as the (unisex?) t-race? i don't know the answer.

Thought that might tweak a button or two! I have the utmost respect for the skills used if you are so blessed, and everyone is entitled ski however they want to. You Sir, are obviously no fool, so my silly premise goes down in screaming flames, as it should. But you do seem to support a half-serious suggestion that I made earlier in this thread - minimalist gear can only really be used effectively by those at the high end of the performance scale. The vast majority of skiers in that group, however, would never choose to do so unless that was all that was available.

Originally Posted by bodywhomper

honus, are you sure the lady's t-1 is the same last as the (unisex?) t-race? i don't know the answer.

The men's and women's T1 and T-Race are all made with the same mold, just different plastics, hardware, and liners according the the email I got from Scarpa.

Any advice?

Since you are putting Axl's on them I would assume she will be using these in the BC. If so then get the T-1. She will not grow out of them. No one would. I skied both for years. The T-1 in the BC and T-Race at the resort. Both are great boots and the difference is not that big in performance. The T-Race gives you that 15% extra in performance but the T-1 can ski any ski in any terrain.

Originally Posted by honus

I'm getting my girlfriend a new pair of boots as a graduation gift. She's been in powder blue t2x's for the last three seasons, can ski anything on the hill, but is ready for a bigger boot to help bring the style up to the next level. She's been in switchbacks, so we're also upgrading her to axl's for more power on longer, fatter skis. 5'7", 135 lbs. She loves the scarpa fit, so I'm trying to decide whether to go with the lady T1, or the new red T-Race. They're built on the same last, so sizing isn't a problem, but I don't want to get wrong boot. I think the T-Race might be better for her because it gives her something to grow into, but I also don't want to get something she can't flex. I know the T1 will be a whole new level of performance for her, but I'm afraid she'll outgrow them in a year or two and just want a stiffer boot. This might be a stretch, but does anyone have a girlfriend (unlikely with this group) who skis in either of these boots or just have an opinion what would be best?

Sorry, no naked pics...she takes lots of photos of me in the nude though if anyone's interested.

5'7", 140ish. t-1's. She has no trouble touring in these, including mulriday tours.