A thread for discussing gear, favourite areas and experiences where pattern based skis with the odd skin augmentation comes into play. The view from Jagungal a few days ago and a lengthy discussion at Cesjacks hut with an old climbing identity has me thinking my horizons need to focus a bit further North from Munyang this Winter.
Stick the kickers on the tips of your skis PB or normal skis for pretty good kick and glide and ascending moderate hills with an overnight pack. A great way to avoid groin strain and go from A to B.
First bit up from the Power Station is quite steep .Would your suggestion work there and is Dissapointment Spur a better option to get to Whites ?
Love my Madshus Annums - wide enough for control on the downs, light enough for distance on the flat - no transitioning with skins on and off on rolling terrain - a real plus. Chatter on steeper firm terrain is an issue - definitely a compromise ski! Although they’re nominally tele skis I combine them with tech bindings and lightweight tech Scarpas. I carry kicker skins, full length skins and ski crampons and have used them all depending on conditions. I frequently ski a more moderate down without locking in the heel in pseudo-tele walk mode in the tech bindings. If I’m hunting terrain I leave them behind for a stiffer touring ski. Rhythm Snowsports in Cooma has the best Aussie pricing on the Annum.
@Kletterer - Consider a visit To the Bogong High Plains in Vic for rolling ground action on tourers - one can do a nice hut circuit over a couple of days...
Maybe . Have walked every bit of that area in my younger years. Skied Feathertop, Nelse , Fainter Bogong , Spion etc as well. Based in Canberra so much of the Snowies i have not experienced in Winter. Also have some wicked Namadgi peaks in mind.
Looking forward to skiing Namadgi myself. I’ve really enjoyed the Main Range after starting off Oz BC in Vic.
Over the decades I’ve skied many combinations of PB/binders/boots. Karhu XCD GTs double cambered, great for mileage, fun with no pack for OK turns. Karhu Guides and Rossi BC 95s, both cambered so minimal belly drag, no rocker, good for mileage and turns. Voile Vector BC, no camber so belly drag, good rocker, OK for mileage, great for turns. ATM my Jagungal touring skis are Karhu Guides (Annums) with Tecton AT binders.
Some people go narrower on a pattern base ski to optimise tracking in kick and glide on the flat but that compromises downhill performance.
Looking at moving to Franken bindings for my Annums - @Untele-whippet ‘s old ATK toes and Dynafiddle heels - heel lift on the intermediate up in tech bindings is a real plus.
So for shorter trips ( 1 day in and yoyo the next day) - return , what ski would you choose ? Vector ?
Vector BC, a great ski. Wifey's BC ski, she loves them. @telecrag has my old pair with Rotte Freedoms. @Fozzie Bear
I like the ski, not so keen on the binder. I would have bought longer, but @Untele-whippet made me an offer I couldn't refuse, and don't regret.
His and hers Voile UltraVectors. Love them on the rolling terrain we mostly ski out of Charlotte. Can get some good kick and glide going with them as well. Have full length skins but only needed ski crampons for additional grip on our trips last winter.
