Starting to Adjust to Skiing the New Scarpa TX Pro, January 2025

[@matshallstrom61]

That looks like the Perfect Day. If you never took a fall, you didn't try hard enough. (Our Proverb)

[@tomm9850]

It happened so quick and was so unexpected; my focus was on crossing the snowmachine track and my brain just didn't see beyond it. The fall scenario becomes more of an issue when I'm skiing with an expensive camera on a pole, so I tend to ski much more conservatively in this configuration. It was fun for me to look at the footage and I hope others enjoyed it as well.

[@stephentannen7960]

Proud of you!

[@Nathaniel13095]

What a fun video! Your skiing and cinematography make that area look even sweeter than I remember. Your crash is so relatable, and Insta360 was the perfect way to document it. I could see you shoot that front ski forward when you saw the dip...but just too late. The lens distortion alters the landscape, but I sure recognized a lot of that. The drone footage really sets the scene. Nice that the FS recognizes the ski potential of that spot. I'll be back, but not sure when. I'm planning a trip through New Mexico and Utah in a few weeks.

[@tomm9850]

Have a fun and safe trip to New Mexico.

[@little9066]

Skied that area shortly after you. Thank you for making the step! Moved to SRV last summer and was surprised how few xc skiers there are here

[@tomm9850]

Hi John. I think I've been seeing your tracks. The snow sure has been amazing this year. I'll keep my eyes out for you when I'm down there, it would be nice to meet you.

[@little9066]

@@tomm9850 I would like that very much. I do not know how to take this convo off KZbin, though.

[@tomm9850]

@johnlittle9066 Yes, KZbin is not the place where you want to post any personal information. I have used the telmarktalk.com PM to exchange information in the past. I'm Tom M on that forum as well

[@eugenemcgloin9680]

Looks like you had a fun day, spill and all! Thanks for posting the video! As far as your dismal snow: Louisiana has more snow than the hills where I ski.

[@tomm9850]

Thanks Eugene. I hope your snow conditions improve.

[@leegreen4165]

Thanks for sharing!

[@tomm9850]

Thanks for watching and for being a subscriber.

[@jasonwooden]

Some people are saying to ski the New TX-P with the top buckles totally undone, and the top strap loose until you get used to it. Thoughts? Thanks for taking us along! Can't believe you found an open slope in Star Valley that wasn't tracked up from snowmobiles! 😂

[@tomm9850]

I've removed the power strap (for now). I uphill ski with the top buckle in the loosest position and downhill ski in the middle position. I think the RECCO reflector is in the strap, so that needs to be taken into consideration. I'll probably end up buying a RECCO backpack tag if I decide to keep the straps off the boot. This is the only NTN system I've ever skied, so I can't really chime in on the old vs new TX Pro debate. There is a lot to like with the new system, I just need more time to reprogram my brain. At times I feel a bit off balanced, so it hasn't become second nature to me yet. I probably should head to a resort so that I can concentrate on the downhill, but for now, I'll just keep hitting my normal backcountry spots. It is hard to find untracked snow in Star Valley, but I can usually find some good spots mid week after a fresh snowfall. At any rate, thanks for tuning in and for posting.

[@jasonwooden]

@@tomm9850 Sounds about right. I'd try the descent with no top buckle at all (the tongue and stuff cuff give all the support you need). You may also have to adapt your stance by bringing the inside (trailing) ski more under your bottom, like your are going to sit on the heel. That way you can weight it better and edge it more. I hear these boots need some power put to them. Like you say, head to Pine Creek for a day and you'll master them (and NTN) handily!

[@jamesnewsom5899]

Hey Tom, thanks for the tour again. Love that you’re not afraid to break fresh terrain. I am 70 now and you are giving me the confidence to do the same. If I may ask, where do you get your gear and what kind of bindings are you using?

[@tomm9850]

In this video I'm skiing Voile Hypervector BC skis @ 178 cm, 22 Designs Lynx telemark binding with the soft plate, and the newly released Scarpa TX Pro boot. This is a downhill setup that I put together this year and is one of six very different setups that have to pick from that cover the range from fast track skiing at a nordic center to backcountry downhill skiing. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJzMhZesjd6ep80 I've bought gear from many different sources over the years but for this setup, I bought the boots, bindings and skis directly from Voile in Salt Lake City www.voile.com I tend to by my cross country skis and boots from REI. They have a store in Jackson WY and an amazing return policy on boots which is very useful in getting the right fit.

[@jamesnewsom5899]

Hey Tom, thank you for your detailed reply! You are the best

[@TheCaptainA]

Great video Tom! Looks beautiful. WhY do you think the slope angle is of the pitch starting at about 5:20? That camera is awesome but it's hard to grasp the terrain sometimes. Thanks!

[@tomm9850]

I've skied this slope many times and it ranges from about 16 degrees at the beginning then abruptly changes to 22 degrees. Check out this video at the linked timestamp. It is the same slope that I captured with a GoPro in part 2 of my video on ski slope angles. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rH_Pc35pjN5lsLs and yes, it is very hard to judge the slope with a front on camera view. The views are very distorted. If you are curious, check out two other videos I have posted over the years that discuss this issue. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fni0nn55mqeXbMU and kzbin.info/www/bejne/nGLNfaRnlL1ofMU

[@alexmacdonald258]

thanks Tom; great snow! "Dismal" isn't what I'd call our stuff-that's too generous. January was/will be completely snowless, and what we've got now is way past boilerplate. But it's great to see someone get out on good snow!! How are the new boots working so far?

[@tomm9850]

I had your previous comment on my mind that day. As always, thanks for tuning in and for posting.

[@ecphotographer]

Fun stuff! I hope you are truly enjoying the binding. Before Christmas, I was ready to buy the binding off the shelf, but I think I want the Bishop Gonzo ski and suspect that I will be skiing more resorts in the next few years as I train my knee for telemarking, mostly in the north east with rare trips to the west every few years. My purchase logistics (and budget) suggests that it would be easier if I go with the bishop’s binding at a 60* resistance free, but could I regret it? At 50, with a bum knee, I hate to be limited by my equipment as I expand range of technique and uphill climbs as I develop my skills. Also, is it common to convert a telemark skis to use threaded inserts after the fact, or is that something you really need to do as you buy the ski and bring it for custom fitting? That is to say, is it better to drill and mount the inserts at first drilling to preserve the structural integrity of the ski?

[@tomm9850]

I don't have any experience with threaded inserts or the Bishop binding. You might post this question over on telemarktalk.com as I'm sure someone has taken a similar path.

[@andrewmacaulay1585]

Excellent Tom Black diamond ski pack? New Brunswick Canada 🇨🇦

[@tomm9850]

The pack I'm using in this video is the Black Diamond Cirque 35 and it has been my go-to pack for several years. Once in a while I'll take my Gregory 24 (Blue), which I mainly use for summer day hikes and on Fall or Spring ski outings. The Gregory pack has outside mesh pockets for water bottles and that is ideal for stashing bear spray.

[@scottyellig5272]

Blue Bird Day. I need to move out west.

[@tomm9850]

It was an amazing day. Thanks for tuning in, posting and for being a subscriber.

[@pizzarune5]

Man, after trying to get into tele skiing and falling constantly, then watching your videos and thinking "Tom's so good he just never falls," it was surprising to see you take a tumble! How many years was it since last incident?

[@tomm9850]

That makes me smile. I fall all the time; it is just part of skiing. Julie captured a great fall of mine on her cell phone in December when I was skiing my Sbound 98's and tangled with a sagebrush. That event inspired the comment I made in a video at kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zoi2l2NoZ95_hZo In most of my falls, the camera lens quickly gets covered in snow, so they don't usually make it past the edit, but this was a faceplant fall and with the camera up and behind it made an interesting addition.

[@pizzarune5]

@@tomm9850 Any chance we can see Julie's video?

[@tomm9850]

@pizzarune5 She is keeping it for future blackmail and maybe a good laugh. :)

[@CaveSkiSAR]

Why you need to bring an Avy Snow Shovel and an Ice Ax. The First Step is the hardest.

[@tomm9850]

Usually, I can just kick step my way up the road berm but in this instance the lower level of the snowpack was too soft. If you look in the background you can see Julie watching me from across the road. She finished her ski before me and was kind enough to use an avy shovel to cut steps for me to get back down. What a sweetheart.

[@macroman3915]

Wow!!! Here my ski tour in Italian Alps, Bergamo. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eWXRZmyvgbqneJosi=ZbFwSVKhFyJp195d

[@tomm9850]

Looks challenging. Thanks for sharing your summit experience.

[@stefanodeste4930]

“If you crash in the woods and there is nobody around to see it, does it make a sound?” Not if it’s nice soft Wyoming powder! 🙂 But I can do without those kind of surprises - I fall on my own just fine. Great shots of nice skiing.

[@tomm9850]

Thanks Stefano. The snow has been amazing this week. I can't think of any better snow to face plant in.

[@imoldandurinmyway]

FWIW, I am really liking my new TX pro's. Much lighter and better ROM on the uphill and I don't think you give up much in stiffness on the downhill to the old Tx Pro. The word I would use is "precise", the boots just feel much more precise compared to the older version.

[@tomm9850]

I'm glad I bought mine. I spend most of my ski time on the uphill and I haven't experienced any of the problems with the boots that others have been complaining about. I don't have any experience with the previous generation TX Pro so my comparison is with a short list of 75 mm plastic boots.