Comments on: Finding Treasure in the Tetons http://www.wagnerskis.com/blog/2009/the-backcountry-riding-is-getting-good/ Custom Ski Stoke Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:30:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: AJ http://www.wagnerskis.com/blog/2009/the-backcountry-riding-is-getting-good/comment-page-1/#comment-596 AJ Mon, 04 Jan 2010 15:09:43 +0000 http://www.wagnerskis.com/blog/?p=204#comment-596 Check out the Backcountry Magazine 2010 Gear Guide, pg. 92 for a really good write-up on Wagner Custom approach skis being used with Spark R&D's Fuse binding. The author mounted the Voile Splitboard touring toe- and heel-pieces to the approach skis, and the binding pucks to his solid deck. This way he can switch the Fuse splitboard binding back and forth between the approach skis and snowboard, removing binding weight from his back while touring/riding. Seems like a pretty slick setup for softboot riders. I ride in hardboots, which allows me to tour with a Dynafit AT binding toepiece on the approach skis--super light. Having traveled up and down Denali and all through the Tetons on my short skis, I see few drawbacks to using these rather than a splitboard, even on long approaches and multi-day tours. And it's pretty nice stepping into a bomber, solid board for the downhill trip. Check out the Backcountry Magazine 2010 Gear Guide, pg. 92 for a really good write-up on Wagner Custom approach skis being used with Spark R&D’s Fuse binding. The author mounted the Voile Splitboard touring toe- and heel-pieces to the approach skis, and the binding pucks to his solid deck. This way he can switch the Fuse splitboard binding back and forth between the approach skis and snowboard, removing binding weight from his back while touring/riding. Seems like a pretty slick setup for softboot riders.

I ride in hardboots, which allows me to tour with a Dynafit AT binding toepiece on the approach skis–super light. Having traveled up and down Denali and all through the Tetons on my short skis, I see few drawbacks to using these rather than a splitboard, even on long approaches and multi-day tours. And it’s pretty nice stepping into a bomber, solid board for the downhill trip.

]]> By: Marco Rubeo http://www.wagnerskis.com/blog/2009/the-backcountry-riding-is-getting-good/comment-page-1/#comment-594 Marco Rubeo Sat, 02 Jan 2010 19:51:58 +0000 http://www.wagnerskis.com/blog/?p=204#comment-594 I have both a split board and the K2 approach skis, and I've considered getting snowshoes, but they don't slide and can be difficult traversing angled pitches. I use the splitboard for longer trips to minimize weight, but its a clunky ride. Voile is now selling their own binding to eliminate the plate. I prefer my K2 approach skis because then I can ride what ever board I am digging at the time. The skis are fine, but the bindings are pretty flimsy. If the skis were a little fatter for float and the bindings were bomber, then I think that would help a lot. How much did your approach skis cost you? I have both a split board and the K2 approach skis, and I’ve considered getting snowshoes, but they don’t slide and can be difficult traversing angled pitches. I use the splitboard for longer trips to minimize weight, but its a clunky ride. Voile is now selling their own binding to eliminate the plate. I prefer my K2 approach skis because then I can ride what ever board I am digging at the time. The skis are fine, but the bindings are pretty flimsy. If the skis were a little fatter for float and the bindings were bomber, then I think that would help a lot. How much did your approach skis cost you?

]]> By: AJ http://www.wagnerskis.com/blog/2009/the-backcountry-riding-is-getting-good/comment-page-1/#comment-446 AJ Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:12:42 +0000 http://www.wagnerskis.com/blog/?p=204#comment-446 Nope, I use removable skins for my approach skis so that I can glide out of the mountains on rolling exits. The big problem with the splitboard skins was that they're tail-less so once they become wet and/or frozen on a multi-day trip they don't stay on the split skis anymore. My bigger problem with them is the amount of hardware on them (and therefore amount of potential failure points), and the really slow transition times. Yes, the approach skis have less surface area, but I don't find it to be a big drawback and with the tremendous foot-borne weight advantage of my mini skis I think it's a net gain in speed and efficiency. I'm clearly in the minority as a proponent of approach skis for backcountry snowboarding, but having worked my way through multiple systems (including splitboards) I really think this is the best way to get it done. Nope, I use removable skins for my approach skis so that I can glide out of the mountains on rolling exits. The big problem with the splitboard skins was that they’re tail-less so once they become wet and/or frozen on a multi-day trip they don’t stay on the split skis anymore. My bigger problem with them is the amount of hardware on them (and therefore amount of potential failure points), and the really slow transition times.

Yes, the approach skis have less surface area, but I don’t find it to be a big drawback and with the tremendous foot-borne weight advantage of my mini skis I think it’s a net gain in speed and efficiency.

I’m clearly in the minority as a proponent of approach skis for backcountry snowboarding, but having worked my way through multiple systems (including splitboards) I really think this is the best way to get it done.

]]> By: Dan LeRoy http://www.wagnerskis.com/blog/2009/the-backcountry-riding-is-getting-good/comment-page-1/#comment-445 Dan LeRoy Thu, 12 Mar 2009 23:15:54 +0000 http://www.wagnerskis.com/blog/?p=204#comment-445 Great luck on the descent, but as an engineer, i am more curious about what went wrong with the splitboard skins, and how we can fix it. Of course you have the skins pretty much permanently on your ascenders right? Is it the mobility that makes up for the lack of surface area in your opinion? We should start a tech blog... Great luck on the descent, but as an engineer, i am more curious about what went wrong with the splitboard skins, and how we can fix it. Of course you have the skins pretty much permanently on your ascenders right? Is it the mobility that makes up for the lack of surface area in your opinion? We should start a tech blog…

]]> By: Humble Pie in the Apocalypse Couloir - Wagner Custom Skis and Snowboards Blog http://www.wagnerskis.com/blog/2009/the-backcountry-riding-is-getting-good/comment-page-1/#comment-422 Humble Pie in the Apocalypse Couloir - Wagner Custom Skis and Snowboards Blog Sun, 22 Feb 2009 06:52:53 +0000 http://www.wagnerskis.com/blog/?p=204#comment-422 [...] the huge success of my trip into the Tetons with NOLS in January (check out my last post,) I was super inspired to get up into the higher peaks at the core of the range.  Unfortunately, [...] [...] the huge success of my trip into the Tetons with NOLS in January (check out my last post,) I was super inspired to get up into the higher peaks at the core of the range.  Unfortunately, [...]

]]> By: Pete Wagner http://www.wagnerskis.com/blog/2009/the-backcountry-riding-is-getting-good/comment-page-1/#comment-420 Pete Wagner Mon, 16 Feb 2009 22:54:27 +0000 http://www.wagnerskis.com/blog/?p=204#comment-420 Sounds like a good day of riding and a good backcountry trip. Sounds like a good day of riding and a good backcountry trip.

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