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Ski Review- Åsnes Amundsen BC

By lilcliffy
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  Ski Review- Åsnes Amundsen BC Åsnes Amundsen BC- Old Roald the Faithful! What can I say- I truly love this ski (the red one with old Roald on it)- the Åsnes Amundsen BC. Totally stable. Totally efficient. Over many decades and many, many skis- the Amundsen BC is the most universally efficient backcountry-cross country ski I have ever used. Yes- there are specific conditions where other designs are more efficient- But, the Amundsen always works- and always performs well. And despite its railway efficiency- point em at the South Pole- tracking- the Amundsen BC is so light that it is no problem on hills as long as you are prepared to make step/strifing/jump turns. Perhaps continue with what the Amundsen BC is not- The Amundsen BC is- Not a highly cambered ski- it is not as cambered as the Sverdrup/E99-XL/E109-XL. Not rail-stiff over its entire length- the shovel and the tail have some flexibility to them. The Amundsen BC is longitudinally-stiff and stable- offering superb stability ...
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Ski Review- 2021 Åsnes Otto Sverdrup BC

By lilcliffy
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Ski Review- 2021 Åsnes Otto Sverdrup BC I'll start this with a photo- Look at those tails!!! ........................... I must begin this review with the admission that I was expecting to be disappointed with this ski. I am not a believer- nor a fan- of skis (as well as many other technologies) that are designed to be good at everything. Up until this point- every ski that I have tested that is a “jack-of-all-trades”- has also been a “master-of-none”- and in most cases has either offered poor performance in every context, or at the very least is boring. So- I went ahead and bought a 205 Åsnes Otto Sverdrup BC- advertised as being a cambered efficient XC touring ski, yet also offering good downhill performance.  I was expecting to be disappointed. I must now report- after more than a month of striding and charging- that I am not disappointed with the Sverdrup. I am thrilled with the Sverdrup BC- thrilled with it.  And- if the conditions were perfect for it every day- it would ...
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Location: Stanley, NB E6B, Canada
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Boot Review- Long-Term Test: Alpina Alaska BC, Alfa Guard Advance GTX BC, Crispi Svartisen GTX BC

By lilcliffy
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  Boot Review- Long-Term Test: Alpina Alaska BC, Alfa Guard Advance GTX BC, Crispi Svartisen GTX BC What follows are my notes, thoughts and perspectives on three fantastic backcountry-cross-country ski boots- each with NNNBC outsoles: 2013 Alpina Alaska BC 2018 Crispi Svartisen GTX BC 2018 Alfa Guard Advance GTX BC The Alaska has the most miles on it- the Guard is getting close.  The Svartisen has much less. All three of these boots are beautifully made of high-quality materials.  They offer excellent support- designed for touring on backcountry Nordic touring skis (i.e. fjellskis), and on variable hilly terrain. 2013 Alpina Alaska BC I bought the Alpina Alaska early in the 2012-2013 winter.  I had been having fit problems with NNNBC boots with synthetic uppers- suffering from toe-pinch.  I had been considering ordering a leather boot from Europe, but discovered that I could get the Alaska in Canada, and therefore could easily return it if necessary.  The A...
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Location: Stanley, NB E6B, Canada
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