UKC

Anyone know of any snow blades you can buy with an AT style binding that could take a plastic. Yes I know all the usual stuff people say about blades... but a mate has a pair and swears by them for approaches.

Cheers,

Matt.

In reply to Matt_b:

Most 'new' blades come with ski bindings as they are a lon safer. Have a look on ebay - there maybe some old stuff there.

In reply to Matt_b:

A quick google found this link:
http://www.thesportsemporium.co.uk/acatalog/Blades.html

It might be worth hunting for Rossignol Free-Trek Venture skis as they come with skins etc for going uphill. Unfortunately they are no longer made so you'll need to find them second hand.

Blades + winter boots might be ok for approaches but I really don't recommend them for going downhill. I've had 3 attempts blading in winter boots this season (twice on piste and once off) and found the experience terrifying. I'm a reasonably competent skier/blader and found I had no control whatsoever. The shin & calf support in winter/plastic boots is pretty poor compared with a ski boot. It's an experiment I won't be repeating in a hurry.

In reply to Matt_b:
I have a pair that I wouldnt mind selling
drop me a line

In reply to Matt_b:

Approaches to what exactly? They are useless on anything except hard snow (i.e. a piste). Plus of course everyone will think you are gay.

In reply to Richard Horn:



Although that's a pretty good description of Snowlerblades...

Some peeps do actually use the bigger ones (~100cm long) for approaching climbs, and later ski down with a snowboard (almost as ghey as snowlerblades... until they are smart enough to get a split-board).

Anyway, you're best option is to just buy a cheap "big" snowlerblade (ie. around 80 to 100cm long) and then buy some old Silvretta 300's/303's/400's/404's from (german) Ebay.de.

Unscrew the stock binders from the snowlerblades, pour some woodglue into the screw holes and then gently tap a golf-tees into 'em. Let 'em dry for a night, and then use a saw to cut the plugs flat to the surface of the ski. Coat the ends of the plug with instant glue. And then drill in the AT-binder (mount the forward-piece 1st, then attach the heel-piece using the lock and drill it's holes plus mount it), use woodglue in the holes and 3.6mm drill-bit plus drill the holes 9mm deep.

All this takes around an hour on two evenings.

Lastly, try to get some skins and cut 'em to shape of the base.

In reply to Matt_b:

Why not just buy some snowshoes? They cost about the same and are more compact when on your pack. You can also travel uphill much more easily than with a snowblade. Plus, you won't get laughed at by everybody. They can also fit any boot so you don't have to wear stiff plastics to protect your ankles.

In reply to task-o: Yeah going up hill with snow blades would be just as hard if not harder than normal skies so why for approaches?

After Rossignol stopped making the Free-Trek Ventures, noticed that Kong had a similar ski; not sure whether they still make an approach-type ski circa 1 metre long.

In reply to Dee:
http://www.landausports.co.uk/Detail/section/ski%20dept/brand/skis/sib/mens...

Don't know if these would be any good for what the op is after.

ADe

In reply to Matt_b: I tried rossignol Free Ventures with plastic climbing boots a couple of winters ago. Good uphill but coming downhill fell over a lot due to tips sinking in to snow. Maybe a telemark stance would give better fore-aft balance.

In reply to ruarigh:

Tele-stance... Not really...

Anyway, the Rossi Free Venture was originally made for snowboarders... For going up, not really supposed to be used for downhill (sa they had a snowboard for that).

In reply to ruarigh:
Used my Freeventures in powder this winter. Thought they were OK going downhill, provided you sat the weight right back. Nowhere near as good as proper skis for skinning up to climbs in deep powder. Only really an advantage for 'up and over' climbs IMHO. Better considered as a snowshoe rather than ski substitute.

In reply to Matt_b:

Blades are for muppetts who can't be assed top learn to ski or board properly

end of

In reply to Matt_b:

There's so much rubbish talked about snow blades and if you ignore much of it and the ski, board and climbing 'fashion police' you'll have a great time.

Off the piste you want the wide off piste type around a metre in length.

'Free Treks' are a great bit of kit if you can get them though surprising heavy they fit easily to your pack for the walk in.

With the skins on for off-piste approaches in the alps and Scotland I've found they can faster than snow-shoes in some conditions though not quite as fast as ski mountaineering skis. Worth getting ski crampons if you can when there's a hard icy semi-breakable crust. They're also OK for off piste descents in powder (if there is a base) as long as you keep your speed and tips up, have ski mountaineering boots and can actually ski off piste in the first place anyway...!

They are absolutely fantastic for steep gullies and corrie headwalls!

With climbing boots they can work fairly well with plastics such Scarpa Vegas as long as the laces are done up really tight. However a lot of the newer light weight climbing boots don't offer enough ankle support to make skiing a real pleasure anymore though a good competent skier should be OK on easier pisted runs up to red with a few hour or days practise once they improve their balance and get used to the lack of ankle support.

If you are used to telemarking off piste on trad Nordic skinnies you'll find them really easy to ski on but if you are used to alpine carving skis on the piste you'll have to really work at it....

Have fun

Cheers Ron