I’m an avid recreational x-country skate skier. I’m thinking of updating my equipment since it’s about six or seven years old now. Time to get the latest and greatest, or at least the most bang for the buck.
I did a goggle search and couldn’t find any sites to review or compare current skate ski equipment. Would anyone know of any sites or have any suggestions?
Dev are you there?
what price point are looking? top of the line? mid/citzen racer range?
Kurt
Alpina/Madshus XC race team
I’m going to invest in good stuff but I’ve always been a bang for the buck shopper and tend to research the market carefully in everything before buying. I don’t need the latest equipment that the Olympic skiers are using but I want decent versatile performance equipment suitable for an enthusiastic recreational skier that will last for a few seasons. I’m past the beginner/entry level and would want good mid to upper range equipment dependent on price and value. I have no problems buying last years models, purchasing on ebay or even buying second hand if suitable. A good time to buy is in the spring when the discount sales are on so I’d have it for next season. I’m not in a rush. I’d say it’s much the same as my tri gear. I have good equipment that I put together with performance/price considerations but I’m not the type that will rush out and buy the newest or most expensive just for the sake of doing so.
At the moment I’m leaning towards Atomic RS10 skate skis as a performance/value but have more research to do. I still have to look at the latest boot/pole styles as well.
Tom, if your’e thinking Atomic (good choice) go with the RS-11, not the 10. More ski, better performance.
Definitely go with the Salomon carbon boot (silver). It’s very comfortable. This will require the Salomon Pilot binding which are great-esp for an intermediate skier as this will make a big difference in your technique with the added stability. As for the poles-get very light, perhaps carbon fiber. They are now using poles that are cut 20cm less than your height. Skis-we live in France so all we see is Rossis.
Sorry Frenchfried I disagree…Buy the boots that fit you best. Salomon, Rossi, Alpina, Fischer, whatever as long as they fit great. I really like this year’s top on the line Rossi and Alpina skate boots. The carbon cuffs work as good as they look. I do like the Salmon Pilot binding system but not enough to recommend buying boots with that as your #1 consideration. If NNN bindings were dogs I’d put more emphasis on the Pilots but NNN has plenty of stability.
To the OP…You’re smart to look at last year’s skis. Technology is so good these days that it’s hard to find bad skis out of the big 4 (Fischer, Rossi, Atomic, Madshus). IMO the best thing you can do performance/price is buy 1-2 year old top of the line skis. As with boots get to a reputable shop and get them sized to fit your weight/style/experience. You may find a 3 year old pair of Rossi Xiums or Fischer RCS’s somewhere that fits you perfectly and is a great deal. If you end up having to buy this year’s models the #2 ski in most lines is very good (Fischer SCS, Rossi Delta, etc).
XC skis, treated well, can last a long time and still perform great. My main pairs these days are 2003 Rossi Xiums (skate) and 1998 Rossi Deltas (classic). The Delta’s have over 300 ski days on them, the Xiums about 125. If you wax them regularly and get an occasional stone grinding they can stay fast and stable. If you’re happy with your current skis and they’re in ok shape consider a good stone grinding (use an XC specific specialist like Zach Caldwell or Nat Brown). That might be one way to justify those top on the line boots this year and new skis a couple years down the road.
Check out www.ernordic.com They’ve done a pretty detailed comparison of various skis - Fischer, Atomic, Salomon. Details in terms of the dimensions, glide index, grip index and a pretty neat profile of the skis loaded and unloaded. Biggest hole in the data is that they don’t have Madshus or Rossi skis. In the end, all these skis are pretty close and none seem to have a super advantage over another brand (except Karhu, which generally suck).
i dont have a ton of time, but here is a quick overview (Note I have seen, handled, flexed and waxed a lot of skis as a coach, Swix Wax tech and long time skier).
Atomic: ok skis, but they need a stonegrind from the factory. They pass the ski over the factory stone too quick and burn the base and they are no where near flat. A very stable ski on the downhill, with some work, can become fast. Flex the ski at 90-100% of BW in kilos (odd I know)
Fischer: tied with Mashshus for best “off the shelf ski”. The RCR, is actually the 2nd tier ski to the RCS. Same base and Diamond Tune Grind, no scallop on the tail for weight savings and a double sidewall to make it more durable for high school skiers. Flex these near 115-125 of BW in kilos.
Madshus (my favorite): tend to be VERY fast off the shelf. Not the most stable on the downs (more of and advanced ski?) Flex it between 110-115% of BW in Kilos. The new NIS system is cool. I have actually played with the binding in different locals relative to the balance point.
Rossi: don’t know a lot as they are Toko folks. I have seen a few good ones, a few pretty bad ones and one pair mismatched from the factory by 15 kilos in closing pressure. Not sure on flex, they seem to be ~115% of BW.
Boot: buy what fits. I use the new Alpina CCS, the best boot I ever wore. I have used everything from salomon carbon pro skates to adidas. Fit, Fit, Fit.
Bindings: used Salomon for ever, switched to NNN 3 years ago…actually like the NNN. The R3 skate has a more “responsive” feel than Pilots and don’t break like those damn pilots!
Poles: Swix man for a long time (I might have a pair or 2 of Stars to sell?). Toko is gone so you have Swix and Exel. Exel are nice, but tough to find parts. Swix is everywhere. There is a russian/swiss pole (KV2 I think), sold by reliable racing, seems ok. Avoid Infinity, you look at those things wrong and they break. Go to 1KM into the Birkie for proof! Most important…DO NOT GET THEM TOO LONG!!! Bottom of the lips max! Skating is very dynamic and from the legs now. You ski in a slightly hunched position and the turnover is quicker. I V2 a lot more hills now then I ever did. If the pole is too long, you have to “reach” way up the hill to get your hands in front of you.
Hope that helps…sorry to ramble.
Kurt
Alpina/Madshus XC Race Team