Homemade "Kicker Skins" ?

[gunit130]

I've got a shitty old pair of skins and was thinking about turning them into some kicker skins.

Anyone ever done this before?

[randosteve]

yeah man. i made some that are about 1.5 inches wide...and go from the tip of the ski to the back of my heel. they work great.

[Tye 1on]

yeah man. i made some that are about 1.5 inches wide...and go from the tip of the ski to the back of my heel. they work great.

Think that works better than 2-3" wide, going from the front of the binding 1.5-2' long? How do you affix the back of them, the front seems easy with some wire or sumpin...

edit: since you know the area, intended use=Mail Cabin...

[wooley12]

Directions here

http://www.agavegroup.com/?page_id=62

[Shorty_J]

Have you ever tried XC kick wax instead? For gently rolling terrain it works pretty good. I wax a bit more than you would on an XC ski. Glide is good, kick is OK, and it wears off eventually... but I've really found it to be beneficial on long flat/undulating approaches.

When you go to ski down your skis will feel a touch grabby at first, but once you get just a little bit of speed and momentum you can't even tell the wax is there.

[randosteve]

Think that works better than 2-3" wide, going from the front of the binding 1.5-2' long? How do you affix the back of them, the front seems easy with some wire or sumpin...

edit: since you know the area, intended use=Mail Cabin...

i don't think you need them for mail cabin. i use mine mostly to cross jackson lake....or long slogs north of taggart th.

there is less plowing of the snow with the skinny skin coming from the tip...as well as a smother glide. no fixing method needed for the tail...the glue is enough. just use an old skin tip loop for the front...and fold the skin over like regular skins.

[GeezerSteve]

yeah man. i made some that are about 1.5 inches wide...and go from the tip of the ski to the back of my heel. they work great.

That's precisely how I do it. Mohair is nice for the glide too. The metal ramp on the kicker sucks for the reasons RS notes.

Have you ever tried XC kick wax instead?

Sure, for Blue Extra (30F, newer snow) days and colder, but we PNWers often deal with twilight zone snow. I always iron Polar kick wax underfoot so that kicker wax will stick. Kicker wax doesn't stick worth shit to glide wax.

[Shorty_J]

I always iron Polar kick wax underfoot so that kicker wax will stick. Kicker wax doesn't stick worth shit to glide wax.

Huh... maybe that's why I find it wearing off quicker than I expected. Thanks.

[gunit130]

Directions here

http://www.agavegroup.com/?page_id=62

Awesome!

Thanks dude. I forgot I made this thread.