In reply to KellyKettle:
> (In reply to Snowdave) I'm in a similar position to the OP, but with almost no skiing experience; I'm curious as to opinions on how it would be best to proceed to learn.
>
> The most accessible option appears to be refine my alpine skiing with some of my friends who are very experienced and acquire a cheap, (probably old) Randonee setup...
>
> In spite of this, I'm drawn towards tele over randonee, but I've been told (rightly or wrongly) it has inherant disadvantages from a climbing POV, namely you can't climb very well in Tele boots due to the increased flex, it's slightly more difficult to ski across the flat in anything but the most flexable boots, and it's more difficult to descend in-control carrying a heavy pack...
>
> To confuse the matter further, a friend of a friend suggested that xc skiing was probably a better overall solution, even though you have to descend steep slopes on foot; which would at least lend itself to using silvretta bindings with mountaineering boots (albeit, loosing some of the efficiency of the XC setup).
>
> Is launching straight into tele over alpine/randonee going to make me better at it/less concerned by it's shortcomings, and would I actually be better learning XC as a method of accessing climbs and then developing downhill skiing as a separate thing entirely if it takes my fancy?
So much of what you want to know is basically a personal thing.............
BUT here are some practical tips/ observations...........
I've skied almost every type of XC gear out there...also skied various AT & tele gear...........
I've done hop telemarks on the gun barrel on cairngorm using my "back country XC gear" (Fisher E99 mtns with NNN BC bindings and heavy leather boots)............not fun as you are trying to work against the length (210cm) and the camber of the XC ski.
My tele/ski mtn gear is Scarpa T2eco boots 7TM bindings (power tour) and a 176cm ski trab ski..........This is tele with the "duck-bill"...the plastic boots have a built in bellow flex (better for uphill, along, and need for tele). Also I have ice climbed and done long walk ins and not had any problems with the duck-bill getting in the way! (got the petzl wire bail for tele boots to adapt my petzl crampons)
My mates ski AT.........but I trounce them on the along and the uphill.......I'm starting to get my speed on the downhill and just about keep up on a red run!
My bindings which are the 7tm power tour are the best "duck-bill" bindings out there..........you can almost get a XC tour glide and they free pivot like AT and they DIN release in a fall............stay away from NTN bindings as Rottefella are still having problems with the old ones (version 5??).and the new ones have problems too.........when they produce a version that is as well built as my 7tms then I might get a set of NTN!
I can do most types/versions of parallel/skid turns as well as tele.....all on tele gear....infact my AT mates can't believe how good I can parallel....but these are skills needed for the steep (get the paul parker book of freeheal skiing)
heavy packs..........yep skied with a full 45lt pack with ice axes, crampons in Coire an Snechda........crampons on at back skis on rucsac.......skin along plateau....ski down nice slopes...........still finding my centre of balance for perfect teles on frozen crud..........
If you want to try hire a set of teles (mtn capable) in Aviemore..........but if buying get a tele setup which can do it all!
And when you get to a nice slope a pull some good teles!!.............even my AT friends just stand and stare and are really jealous when I just rip a perfect set!.......