I need help choosing a Backcountry touring Ski.

[amberula4]

As most of you know I have finally relocated from the Midwest to CO. So now it is time to start skiing in the back country! I have to start gearing up for this. I am looking for a back country ski, that also will work in powder when I want to ski in-bounds. I consider myself a more advanced intermediate skier. I have never skied in the back country yet. But it is my goal by next year to have all the gear to do so. I am 5'2" and 23 years old. Any advice you guys have will help out tons!

 

[PowDiva85]

when you say backcountry ski do you mean a powder ski or a alpine touring ski? IMO the best alpine touring ski is the miss baker from K2 is the only womens specific, AT specific ski on the market (or so the rep says). It has got rave reviews from our customers and employees alike who ski at berthoud and in bounds at jackson and resorts here in CO. If you arent looking for AT there are so many good powder skis out there.. i have a pair of salomon scarlets that did me quite well for my first powder adventures (im selling them too so.... ;))

 

[jaydog]

Check out www.telemarkski.com. They have loads of information on all the gear associated with backcountry stuff, including AT stuff, too.

 

[amberula4]

Thanks for the advice. I will check out the website. I am looking for AT skis. I do need a good pair of powder skis too. It is nice being able to have so many different terrain choices to ski on, instead of just groomers! Right now the only pair of skis I own are Volkl Attiva AC3's they are a good pair for all mountain skiing. Just a bit heavy for the powder. And would be way to heavy to carry on my back.

 

[oragejuice]

Whats the point of AT bindings/skis if you're carrying them on your back?

 

[amberula4]

I want to be able to carry the powder skis, if I decide I don't want to AT ski and want to just hike up the mountain.

 

[oragejuice]

Lol, sorry, it just seemed a bit odd to me, that you would have AT bindings, and then carry the skis on your back.

 

[amberula4]

So I take it you prefer to just AT ski when in the backcountry?

 

[oragejuice]

If I had AT bindings currently, absolutely. So much faster! I'm totally sick of hiking up stuff with buddies who have AT setups.

 

[PowDiva85]

ok so in the AT category check out the G3 luscious a nice wide ski with an asymetrical sidecut which helps it be more nimble also the Kiku from volkl can be set up AT and that is an awesome powder ski but might be a bit big since the shortest it comes is a 168

 

[oragejuice]

The G3 Siren? Awesome ski, I've heard.

 

[Sheena]

I would just get a good fat ski for both pow and touring. If you are touring it will probbably be for powder so bring a ski you will enjpy on the way down. AT bindings while flexy are more than enough for skiing inbounds when the snow is soft (powder day). Or jsut get dukes / barons if you want something more solid.

You will also want to buy avi safety gear and learn to use it.

 

[Nativecoskier]

It might sound dumb, but I have a pair of K2 phats mounted with the Dukes. I've skied both resort powder and backcountry (Berthoud, Cameron) and its a system that works great and is very versatile...

 

[amberula4]

I don't think that sounds dumb at all, from some of the research I have done others have done the same thing. I think I am leaning towards the Volkl Kiku ski with baron bindings. Any thoughts ladies? Does anyone have the Kiku ski?

 

[oragejuice]

I dont think anyone does yet. I just posted a review for it last week though. Great ski, its wiiide, and only comes in 168/178. 168 is over my head, and I wanted 178s anyways. You live in the right place for it, but you should absolutely try to demo it first. They are a surprising pair of sticks, you might not like them, you might love them.

 

[amberula4]

How tall are you? Trying to see if they may be to big for me. I like longer skis, but I am only 5'2". 5'3" if I round up . I am going to try and demo them soon.

 

[altagirl]

I was going to say - I don't know many people who use a ski specifically marketed as an AT ski as their AT ski. You just mount your AT bindings on whatever skis you want to use in the backcountry, which for most people is a reasonably light powder ski.

And with the bootpacking vs. skinning - it totally depends on where you are going. Skinning uphill is certainly more efficient, but there are places where the route involves a bootpack.