lives2fly - 17-12-2009 at 04:26 AM
Hi
I'm going cross country skiing (i have never done any snowsports before) and I was wondering if its worth taking a kite along.
I'm willing to buy whatever touring ski's will allow me to kite with them - but i'm not looking for kite specific ski's.
I have been told to get Alpine/mountain touring ski's but that was by someone with no kitesport experience.
links or advice appreciated
rudeboysaude - 17-12-2009 at 06:26 AM
I kite with touring skis. Waxless, scaled bottoms with a metal edge. That will let you edge against the kite versus XC skis with no metal edge. I
use the 3 pin bindings and they work well. I have the Karhu 10th Mountains, but there are lots of options out there. Touring skis are pretty useful.
You're not really going to be shredding pow in them, but you can scoot around and get moving pretty fast under kite power.
lives2fly - 17-12-2009 at 09:41 AM
Thanks dude. Sorry about my lack of ski knowledge but whats a 3 pin binding? The ones I'm going to be using are the ones where your toe is clipped in
but your heel is free.
I'm not looking to do anything other than cruise along when we get to flat spaces - like frozen lakes etc (going to arctic Norway)
I may well strap into a snowboard at some point and see how I crossover from kitesurfing and landboarding as well though!!
kiteyakker - 17-12-2009 at 11:05 AM
A three pin binding clamps down onto an extended toe portion of the sole of your xc boot. This "extension" has 3 small holes in it, and the binding
has 3 pins that engage the holes to help keep the foot positioned and stable on the ski. The heel remains free like other xc bindings. Hope that
helps.
Hey Aaron, what are the dimensions on your Karhus? I'm getting some used Rossi touring skis and am wondering how they will work. I have seveal other
pairs that i use, but am eager to try these out.
rudeboysaude - 17-12-2009 at 02:36 PM
I have two pair. I think they are 190 and 220. I'm a big guy and pulling a pulk I wanted some length. Just have to make sure they aren't too long
to hit your pulk on your kick and glide. Those Rossis should be sweet. I'd think under kite power it wouldn't matter how long they are, but when
you're trudgin along windless, then a little more float is worth it.
Live2fly.. Those bindings should work too, but the problem I always saw was that the boots they make for that type of binding are like tennis shoes.
I wanted a stiffer ankle support and more warmth for trekkin so went with the 3 pin as there were more boots to suit them.
lives2fly - 18-12-2009 at 02:47 AM
Thanks guys! All knowledge is usefull when you know nothing!!
Will be making a trip to a ski shop next week when I go climbing over Christmas so I will see what's on offer.
Good call on the boots too rudeboy, I'm going to be well backcountry so I will need something reliable and warm.
Are there any kind of bindings that will take a standard mountaineering boot? - like a step in crampon style binding?
rudeboysaude - 18-12-2009 at 08:36 AM
they do make them though I've never used them kiting. I swore they sold them separate, but all I could find online was the Karhu Meta Ski:
http://www.backcountry.com/store/review/26986/fun-fun-fun
That universal binding accepts pretty much any boot. Those Meta skis are basically just climbing skins. Scootable snowshoes. But the binding is sort
of what a boot ski binding would look like. I'd like to get some just to have, and maybe try a kite test run too.
A.
Feyd - 19-12-2009 at 06:22 PM
If you're looking for a ski that you can really ride with a kite just about any ski will do. Personally I wouldn't go with a free heel (telemark or
XC) because of the added hassle of trying to stay centered as well as handle the kite. Especially if you have no prior ski expirience.
You're not going to enjoy using an Alpine Touring set up for basic XC because it's way more equipement tahn you need. But an AT set up would work
well for kiting.
We all use some flavor of AT for soft snow. You don't need an AT ski any alpine ski will work. The keys are the boots and bindings. We tend to run
a AT binding (Fritsche Freeride, Marker "Duke" etc.) with an alpine boot or AT boot (light weight/duty boot with rocker a Vibram sole and a "walk"
function) and a mid fat or fat ski with skins.
Skins are stick-on mohair strips that provide traction when free heeled so you can use the skis like snow shoes. Works great for getting out to
places to kite or for getting back if the winds die and you get stuck.
At the moment I'm riding an Atomic Kailas ski with a Fritsche Freeride binding. I have AT boots but prefer my Rossignol Bandit Carbons for kiting.
All we do is ride snow and this kind of set up works awesome for kiting and backcountry skiing.
lives2fly - 21-12-2009 at 05:27 PM
Thanks Feyd - thats great info. Will check out the gear you mentioned. I think i'm about to become unpopular with my climbing buddies for dragging
them into ski shops while they are impatient to get out in the mountains.
oh well, i'm driving so they are gonna have to like it!!
garydog - 23-12-2009 at 06:28 PM
I use a tele setup.
VPII plate bindings with BD skis. I like it because I can step into the bindings with both hands still on my bar, Having a free heel is a strong
advantage to me when the wind is light.
Your millage will vary.
Dan
Feyd - 23-12-2009 at 10:01 PM
Do worry about your buddies. Most of the gear we use you would find in a mountaineering shop. Not the run of the mill ski shop.
At least not in New England.
TEDWESLEY - 24-12-2009 at 08:32 AM
If you are doing backcountry work I'd look at tellemark type skis. a standard xcountry binding is too squirlly for control with a kite on anything
but smooth semi packed or firm snow. I'd want something with more control . You need edge control if you expect to do anything more than going down
wind