Dostie's View #18 | What Makes a Great Telemark Ski & How to "Read" It's Characteristics

[@johnbrewer7221]

So much to learn! Thank goodness for KZbin and for people, like Dostie, who make great videos. Learning Telemark and this really helps.

[@FreeheelLife]

Happy to help!

[@poudreuse8391]

We share similar backgrounds/builds/age/thoughts on what makes a good telemark ski. One of my all time favorite set up was the Atomic R:EX 177 (125-84-107)/Hammerhead/3 buckle Scarpa T Races. I’m in the hunt for a next gen set up. I’ve been skiing the Rossignol Sin 7 180 (128-98-118)/Oatlaw/Crispi WC Evo. Just Got the new Scarpa TX Pro 2.0 and thinking the Meidjo 3.0 bindings. Now the hunts for the skis. It must truly be able to do everything. FAST cruisers at the resort, tight steep tree shots, and even some powder when it’s available. There is a bewildering array of skis that would likely work. Prefer lighter as my legs aren’t what they used to be without sacrificing to much stability at speed or handling chop and crude. Your thoughts would be most appreciated. Thanks Kevin

[@FreeheelLife]

Right on Kevin. Heres a podcast that Dostie did on the ski subject. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rpLNnoaohLafnrM --- I also offer a consultation call if you'd like to get deep on the topic and I can guide you through it. Thanks - Josh Madsen --> Consultation Link: calendly.com/freeheellife/30min?month=2024-11

[@johnhickie1107]

RT 86 ! Still out in my garage. Took my old Targa's off and replaced them with Marker downhill bindings that let me use my AT boots at the ski hill. RT 86's were a revelation when I first got them. No more planning my tele turns three trees ahead. With the RT 86 I just thought, turn here, and they did. One of the great skis of all time. Great to see them featured. Ski DPS 106 with Meidjo now - mostly for safety in Avy terrain. Nice nice flotation in the back country, but I can still do moguls on piste without to much problem edge to edge. Ski both tele and AT now - lots of great crossover skill development. Great post.

[@stvbrsn]

I’ve found a very nice compromise in all of these characteristics. Rockered tip and lightly rockered tail, a huge amount of camber (by today’s standards) between the rocker sections, fairly even round flex, 18-19 m radius (depending on length), 100 underfoot, so floaty enough but also carvy when the conditions are right. Also, I found them to be perfect as a learning ski. Forgiving, but when loaded gives plenty of rebound (I mentioned the generous camber)… so when I’m wearing my salesman hat (White Pine Touring in PC, in case you’re wondering) I call it the “you get out of it what you put into it” ski. You can ride them leisurely or you can drive them (not super hard, but I did say compromise earlier). What ski is it? The Bent Chetler 100.

[@vjr5261]

This year, I picked up a pair of K2 Work Stynx 170s for $10 at a thrift store in northern Idaho and absolutely scored. What fun!!

[@rockymountainwoman2618]

Would you be willing to do a video for those of us who still ski on traditional/BC nordic touring/downhill gear (e,g., Asnes, Madshus, Fisher etc.)? You mentioned learning on traditional gear. Your expertise would be really helpful!

[@FreeheelLife]

Great suggestion!

[@keithwoods7206]

Great "View", today Dostie. An essential for people to know! ✊🏼👊🏼

[@FreeheelLife]

Glad you think so!

[@SeanMontague007]

Returned to my Völkl T-Rock this past season, super nimble in the bumps and trees, a bit squirrely on the hardpack. I do love them since when the snow is good I'm not doing many groomers and would like a modern replacement but have no clue what to look for.

[@jsmith5278]

Great information. I switched to Voile V6s from 90's telemark skis and am finding I periodically washout on firmer snow. Now I know why. I also learned the V6 sidecut works out to only 15mm BUT with the large camber I understand why they're very maneuverable and I can easily do jump turns. I really like the V6s - although finding an edge hardpack is sometimes a challenge. If I invest in a another pair I think I'd go with something similar to the Atomics in the video - but geez - now that I'm on Medijo's that's an expensive proposition. Hopefully in a couple of years there will be a larger used market.

[@DavidRChild]

Thank you for your outstanding guidance for selecting a great telemark ski. Does Volkl have a ski in their current lineup that compares to the BMT 94?

[@dalbecsail]

Thinking about pickup a pair of Bishop BMF/R's. I currently have 75mm boots but wondering if I should upgrade to a NTN boot (BMF/R comes in both 75mm and NTN setup). I have been alpine skiing for 40+ yrs and tele for 5+ yrs. now. I want to have a good 80% resort/20% backcountry and uphill skinning setup. From my research on the internet, you would think that guys with 75mm boots vs NTN boots were doing two completely seperate sports (lots of opinions). Since the BMF/R's can handle both . . . its really just about what boot is a better all around boot going forward.

[@markpurdy8626]

Great info! Hard to get this objective info from ski shops. Question though: Craig, I noticed all these skis are inches taller than you. Are these all your skis or just being used for this talk? If yours, they would seem longer than what is normally recommended which I thought was about your height or up to 6 inches shorter. Any comments or corrections to what I thought I understood about ski length?

[@FreeheelLife]

Haha. Remember, I'm old school. There was a time when the appropriate sized ski for me was 200cm. I've settled on 175-180cm in length because that's how much edge I want available when I need it. Fads in ski sizes (length, width, shape) come and go. Knowing what you prefer, and why, is what should control your decision for ski size, not what the herd says.

[@davidbanks6896]

That was outstanding. Thank you Dostie. I've been out of the telemark game since 2015 but looking towards this year visiting some spring corn. My absolute favorite pair of skis were Atomic Tm-22? Maybe 45 mm of sidecut. Snappy, super easy to carve on edge in firm, resort, and corn. Great for the PNW Volcanoes in spring. In getting back into the game, is there a ski, binding combo you would recommend to drive with some soft Scarpa T-2's (love them, never gone to give them up), and today's ski bindings?

[@wiredbliss683]

I'd like to have seen the answer to this question. I'm trying to find out the same thing too. Did you ever come to a solution? I'd like to have my Rainey super-loops mounted to new skis, but cant find anyone willing to do so.

[@macmurfy2jka]

Voile Switchbacks are good modern versions of a cable binding. I started on G3 Targas. The setup skied intuitively after the switch. They also have a more progressive version in black if you want a more active binding flex. There is a step in binding for 75mm too.

[@stevedoe1630]

Good stuff, thanks, fundamental ski performance stuff applicable to both tele & alpine. If sales rep’s in the stores could communicate even 50% of this content, they’d have a more informed skiing community _(and probably increase sales, too)_

[@grizzkid795]

I look for fairly light skis for tele, so I can whip them around. I'm liking the Liberty Origin 96 in a 186.

[@phaethon3124]

i had rossignol scratch backcountry the 2nd year they came out 20 years ago.89mm..people were saying i was a nutter to want to mount telemark on such a fat ski..haha

[@FreeheelLife]

Funny that it seemed like a fat ski right!?

[@trouthunter4250]

I’ve been waiting for a long time for this simple explanation. Just beginning to think about supplementing my RT-86’s that still have Hammerheads. This helps a lot.

[@skirolf]

Does this apply to alpine skis also?

[@FreeheelLife]

No idea we all just Telemark ski. If you are talking about making parallel turns on Telemark bindings, yup work great. - Madsen

[@jgurtz]

Ain't nothin wrong with skinny skis! 👏

[@chriselnicki5223]

Dostie is the temple god of every old telemark dude that sees you in the parking lot to drop some truth. Somewhere between dale gribble and the guy who owns your local rock gym. This is a compliment.

[@shannononeal7375]

Nice overview, thanks!

[@markhurst7755]

Very helpful thanks you.

[@FreeheelLife]

You're welcome!

[@daramacdonald]

Try the libtech wunderstick. Chuck Norris would use this ski since it has kung fu grip and magne traction.

[@OnlyEirik]

The only true great Telemark ski i tried is the EVI Television, made for Telemark.

[@TheRasmaf]

Høssen er dei å køyre? Bestilt eit par til sumaren. Stend du wire ell ntn?

[@OnlyEirik]

@@TheRasmaf var meidjo på dem. Stabil men leken, mye enklere å gunne enn andre ski jeg har kjørt. Forøvrig fantastisk kombo med meidjo, da skia er lett.

[@TheRasmaf]

@@OnlyEirik kanskje eg må legge frå meg 75mm til neste vinter...🤔

[@nikolasharykin]

это не я спрашивал, но вопрос хороший

[@markthomasson5077]

What makes a good tele ski......ScottyBob.

[@phaethon3124]

never tried them but they look designed to ride with heel down on the leading ski, i think weight should stay on the balls of the feet

[@markthomasson5077]

@@phaethon3124 the beauty of Scotties is the control of the inside ski. I was asked by Uk top tele ski racer how I weighted my skis, I said I try to do classic big toe little toe. Well she was too young to of heard that and advised the leading foot should pressure on the heel.

[@markthomasson5077]

ps, they take a while to get used to.

[@redjetsen1002]

84cm at the waist.

[@FreeheelLife]

What makes that your favorite? - Madsen

[@redjetsen1002]

@@FreeheelLife any wider and the edge catches in the transition to the new turn. Wide is great in the deep, on the pack narrower is easier to get from edge to edge. 84 is in the middle. I've tried them all and come back from the 94cms to a little bit more narrow.

[@Impala-qp9cb]

I learned on mid 90s Tuas/plastic Scarpa s and leather boots/Asnes. Stopped skiing altogether in 2007 and am absolutely horrified with the ridiculously large width underfoot and lack of camber. Equally horrifying is the lack of any telemark skis and bindings worth note. Trying to find a decent setup to teach my stepson who wants to learn to ski. What the hell happened? PSIA level I Nordic and Telemark in 2006. I’m absolutely confused why there is a need for these wide of skis to telemark on and goes against anything I was taught for turn initiation, weighting edging and rotary with this lack of proper gear. eBay seems like a good resource for older, proper gear.

[@FreeheelLife]

Sounds like ebay is the place for the type of gear you're looking for. Happy hunting and thanks for checking out the vid. Cheers - Madsen

[@Impala-qp9cb]

@@FreeheelLife cheers to you as well. Managed to find some Karhu Jaks with some Hammerhead bindings. Thanks for the video

[@FreeheelLife]

@@Impala-qp9cb Oh nice! That's a fun setup. Let me know how it goes. - Madsen

[@jasonwebb6484]

‘Absolutely horrified’. Oh, the humanity. These setups are worse than the Hindenburg disaster, probably.

[@Impala-qp9cb]

@@jasonwebb6484 yep. Not a fan. I’ll stick with stick shift and you can use your paddle shifters.