First observations of an old ski racer/instructor on the new #NNN moveable #binding on new #Nordic #skin #skis. I did not buy the top of the line #Salomon skin ski, but one that still had the same racing base and a slightly heavier core. In a way this is ok, because I have had some racing skis in the past that I have compressed and then blown apart.
Three-day old snow and air temperature was -3C to -4C. Today
would have been perfect for hard wax and it would have been fast. I had #Swix
red #glider, 0C to -4C which was in the ball park. I used a deicer in the kick
area on the skins.
It should be mentioned that there are special cleaning solutions for the skins as well as a special glider/deicer roll on to help with glide in the kick area. Most of the major #wax companies carry something for skin skis.
I tried the binding setup at +2, 0, -2. I found next to no
grip at +2 and next to no glide. At -2 I found good glide and fairly good grip.
At zero it was ok. I did not try -1, which probably would have been ok too.
Around corners, I found the outside edge of the binding
catching on the track. This almost had me tumble a few times. After skiing
multiple times I still find the bindings catching a bit on the track.
At all times, the grip would not hook up solid, till my ski had
moved back a few inches. I suspect you must have a lazier kick and not be so
forceful, i.e. run on your skis more.
When you come out of the tracks the looser snow would catch and snag your skis a bit. Yes, the skin skis do sing in the right snow conditions too. The skin skis also catch leaves, twigs and grass a lot more then either klister or hard wax.
Wifey who has been on skin skis for over 2 years now, says it takes time to adapt your technique to the skin skis. She says that you must glide on your heels a lot more than a waxable ski, in order to have good glide and not have the grip area snag.
Well let me tell you I was sure wishing I was on my
25-year-old waxable skis which would have been rockets today.
However, I was out to test how these skis were, so I had to suck it up. I will certainly put in several more hours before I can make an informed decision as to whether I like them. Perhaps if the snow was a bit warmer it would have been far better against a waxable ski? I did ski in very wet conditions and the skin skis worked well.
In the future this ski will only be used when the snow is
very wet, but it does have a place in my ski bag.
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ReplyDeleteComments from a student. I switched to skin skis because I was at a point in my life where I just had short snippets of time to ski, and I just wanted to get exercise, so minimal fuss and prep.
ReplyDeleteWith the Salomon pair, I felt bomb proof! Awesome stability, amazing uphill climbing ability, but a definite, somewhat disappointing sacrifice in glide
The Fischer twin skins are a totally different experience. The glide is MUCH better than the Salomon full skin skis. In fact, most times I had equal glide to a lot of my class mates on waxable skis.
My issue with the twin skins is the uphill technique I really have to focus on the weight transfer, getting more on my toes and general body position, not so upright
Both of us are finding it just a bit different with skin skis and double polling, and body position is a bit different to minimize skin drag.
Overall, we’re really happy with the twin skin skis and these are now our primary skis!
Skin skis must be just right for your body weight. I have added a bit more covid weight and the skin skis are now grabbing. Wearing a day pack makes my skis grab! You must really weight the heels now.
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