Sorry this is not triathlon-related, directly, but maybe some of you are also skiers?
I have recently moved to Norway from the US, where I skate-skied a lot. I want to buy some skate skis here in Oslo, and have found some on finn.no (like craigslist). But it’s been a long time since I bought my first skate skis, and I do not know the Norwegian brands—or really any brands well, for that matter. What do you think about this offer?
I am 70kg (155lb), 183cm (6’), euro size 47-48 (US 13).
Skis+bindings are offered for $110 (1000 NOK)
Skis: 185cm (a little short?) Madshus Suprasonic Skate. Here’s a link, but the ones he is selling are from 2016, marked at 70-85kg for weight (a little on the heavy size for me?): https://www-klikk-no.translate.goog/helse/suprasonic-skate-3657636?_x_tr_sl=no&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=no&_x_tr_pto=wapp
Bindings: Rottefella Performance Skate: https://www-skatepro-no.translate.goog/752-16193.htm?_x_tr_sl=no&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=no&_x_tr_pto=wapp
Condition: good, other than the ski sole is worn and might slide (see picture).
Is this a good deal? Anything else I should ask the seller about or consider, including if I decide to look at them?
Thank you for the advice!
Those bases look really bad. Maybe it’s just the lighting, but the bases are supposed to look glossy. You could fix this with a stone grind and waxing but that’s going to cost you about the same as the skis.
Madshus is a good brand, but a few things to check, make sure the bindings fit your boots. They are NNN bindings, check what your boots are. If they are weighted heavier they will just be a little stiffer, not the worst thing though it maybe be a bit tougher to control.
In my opinion for $110 you should be able to do better. I guess things might be more expensive in Norway, but here in Minnesota I can find a good, new pair of last years model skis + bindings for around $150.
Before you buy I would check some local shops.
Thanks; this helps!
On a Norwegian board, I was told: “Looks like the sole is a bit worn, yes, they will probably be fixed with a brass brush, fibertex and a couple of rounds of glider.” (not a great translation of “Ser sÃ¥le er litt slitt ja, fÃ¥r nok fikset de med messingbørste, fibertex og et par runder glider.”)
The Norwegian also said that it would be best to give them a whole new “steinslip” (= have them ground new, I believe).
I can get skis ground here in Oslo for 700 NOK. The skis I am looking at are 1000 NOK. I can buy some basic skate skis (187cm) at the local store for 1999 NOK: https://www.xxl.no/madshus-xc-skis-active-skate-21-22-skoyteski-rod/p/1190519_1_style. Or I could spend 2499 for these: https://www.xxl.no/rossignol-delta-performance-skate-ifp-20-21-skoyteski-unisex/p/1167264_1_style.
Now maybe the old Madshus Suprasonic Skate skis from 2016 (the ones I am considering buying used) are much better than the 2020-2021 Madshus Active Skate skis? I’m not sure how to compare them. But if they’re not better, then it seems like I’d be better off just spending the extra 300 NOK (=$33) for new skis.
What do you think of the comparison between the used ones and the new ones?
I am not sure about Madschus skate ski lengths, but I would go longer. I am 176cm and I ski on a 190. Also, those bases look like they have never been waxed. They need some rehab. I guess it depends how much performance you want.
What’s up with the hand prints on the neighbor’s storage unit - creepy. Would definitely pass on those skis
Old good skis are better than new average skis provided they haven’t been turned into rock skis by heavy usage. Also note those new skis don’t come with bindings, which you would need.
I think it is right to look for used skis, but you probably want to see them in person mostly to check the bases.
Welcome to Norway. Here you have access to the best xc-skiing stores in the world.
Around Oslo you can find many great places for a grind.
Several of them are used by the Norwegian national teams.
Check out:
Milslukeren
Bull Ski & Kajakk
Bjørn Myhre Sport
Foss Sport
Braa
Oslo Sportslager
and more.
A grind will give you a huge improvement. But the ski has to be good in the first place.
Check out if some of the stores has a last year model.
Happy skiing
Excellent, thanks for this. I am very excited to be here!
I bought the skis, and they didn’t look so bad as in the picture. A random guy on the tram took a look at them and suggested I might not even need to get them ground; instead, he said, I could just use some glider and an iron (something from here, maybe? - https://www.milslukern.no/langrenn/skismoring/glider).
Clearly I need to do more research as to what to do. But I think these skis are a good start. Now to find some boots on finn.no and some poles, maybe at XXL or somewhere cheap.