REVIEW: MADSHUS ANNUM

Ultimate Deep Powder Xcountry Ski

I here have decided to offer my humble “review” of the famous, and now legendary (in its own time), Madshus Annum/Karhu XCD Guide (my newest pair are the 2013/2014 model year).

The Madshus Annum is the replacement for the Karhu XCD Guide (the two are essentially identical).  With a 109-78-95mm profile; the Annum/Guide is one of the fattest xcountry skis on the North American market (only the Fischer S-Bound 112 (if only slightly), and the Rossignol BC125, are fatter).  The “XCD” stands for “xcountry-downhill”.

The Annum/Guide is a hybrid xcountry-telemark ski- designed to offer a balance between off-track xcountry touring, and downhill-turning performance (i.e. XCD).  As far as truly dedicated single-cambered XCD skis; Fischer’s S-Bounds, Rossignol’s fattest BC skis (BC90, 110&125), and Alpina’s fattest backcountry skis (e.g. X-Terrain/Discover 110); have a somewhat similar design and intent to the Madshus/Karhu XCD line.  Most of the other skis mentioned are not available in as long a length as the Annum (195cm).

The Annum/Guide is an obvious choice for XCD (i.e. telemark) touring in deep snow, in mountainous terrain.  I also highly recommend the Annum/Guide as a backcountry-xcountry trekking/touring ski (i.e. classic kick & glide) in deep snow.  The Annum/Guide is typically overlooked as a straight forward xcountry ski.  In my experience, the Annum/Guide is the best deep powder, xcountry kick & glide ski available in North America.  Don’t let the width scare you off- if you regularly xcountry ski in deep, soft snow- consider the Annum!

Here is a brief summary of the Annum/Guide specs:

• 109-78-95mm profile
• lengths up to 195cm (wish you could get 'em longer!)
• Progressive sidecut, with a relatively straight tail
• Full-length metal edges
• Single-cambered (it has been described as having a “traditional” single camber)
• Relatively soft tips/tails
• Waxless base under foot (Karhu’s “Omnitrack”)

First of all- no matter what the intended use- the Annum/Guide is, in my opinion, first and foremost a ski designed for relatively deep powder snow.  

As a xcountry ski, the Annum/Guide is brutally inefficient on dense and/or hard snow.  In my experience, as a telemark ski- you need some pretty rugged boots-bindings to control this ski on dense and/or hard snow, in a downhill turn.  This ski is not as torsionally-rigid as an "all-mountain" alpine touring/telemark ski (e.g. Voile Vector).   In my experience, on hardpack, this ski feels weak and "noodly", when put on edge.

However, put this ski in the deep pow- and it becomes the ultimate XCD touring ski!  In deep, soft snow this ski tracks, strides, kicks and glides, smoothly and efficiently.  In deep, soft snow, you can stride/drive this ski through a sweet traditional telemark- even with relatively light Nordic boots (and even system (SNS/NNN) bindings).

I have 195cm Guides, and Annums, in both a 75mm-3-pin-cable setup, and a NNNBC Magnum setup, respectively.  Although the Guide/Annum is the least versatile xcountry ski in my “quiver” (i.e. only for the pow); it is my favorite ski- allowing me to fully enjoy XCD skiing in deep, soft snow.

This ski is most commonly used as a light telemark-touring ski (with 75mm tele bindings) - and for good reason.  As a light “mountain” telemark ski, the Annum does it all in deep pow: climbs, turns, and strides.  

In recent years, I have changed my perspective on the Annum/Guide…My current perspective of this ski is that it is first and foremost an off-trail xcountry touring ski- with some moderate downhill performance.

A bit of background here.  In the past, I have always assumed that something as fat as the Annum is really a telemark ski, and have reserved them for that use alone (with 75mm-3-pin-cable telemark bindings).  I have used the 195cm Guide with 3PC bindings, and T-4 boots as my go to “mountain” setup for skiing in areas that tend to have a lot of deep snow, and extreme terrain (e.g. Gaspe Mountains, Laurentians).  In recent years (I don’t  get out much- I have 4 young children!); I have only needed my “mountain” XCD gear a few times per season (heck- my wife and I haven’t even made it to QC for two seasons now (our youngest 2 children are under 3 years old)). 

My everyday backyard skiing in central New Brunswick (Stanley) offers endless 100s of kms of backcountry touring through fields, woods roads, trails; over gentle to moderate rolling terrain- with only the occasional steep climb and descent.  So- my everyday skiing has much more of a backcountry-xcountry tour, than a downhill climb/turn focus.  In this context- I am in love with NNNBC manual bindings and boots.  But, until very recently I had never considered using the Annum with NNNBC bindings as an off-trail xcountry ski.  In the past, I have assumed that the only best choice in a backcountry-xcountry ski is a long, relatively narrow, metal-edged, double-cambered ski.  However; I have never been impressed with the xcountry performance of double-cambered skis in deep snow.  

We get a lot of snowfall in central New Brunswick.  And; unlike the more coastal areas of the Maritimes- our snow survives winter warm spells (for example, I skied at least once a day last season (2013-2014) from late November until the second week of May!- and I am well on my way to the same this season!).  The typical snow pattern here starts with a huge dump of fresh, soft snow (sometimes as much as 50cm), which gradually condenses into dense, hard snow (caused by warm spells, wind, and the occasional ice storm); all leading up to the next fresh dump!

For a few years now my everyday choice in fresh snow has been a 205cm Madshus Eon/Karhu XCD GT (83-62-70mm) with NNNBC bindings.  I have always been very pleased with the Eon, especially when I manage to maintain my own backcountry "track."  I have never been thrilled with the Eon when I am breaking trail through deep snow (this happens to be my passion).

At the beginning of the 2013-2014 season, I bought a fresh pair of Annums and mated a NNNBC magnum binding to them.  The result?  Pure, thrilling, efficient, stride, kick, glide, and light, traditional telemark.  I am actually blown away to discover that the Annum is truly a classic off-trail xcountry ski- in disguise as a tele ski.  In deep snow, it has smooth and snappy kick and glide, breaks trail effortlessly, and tracks very well.

The NNNBC binding brings out this stride, kick and glide performance more completely.  The design of this ski is brilliant.  There is just enough progressive sidecut in this ski to be able to turn it when you need to.  But, it has quite a straight tail and tracks beautifully.

Although the Eon has always been marketed as being "more about the tour than the turn," I would argue that the same goes for the Annum; and that suits me just fine.

The performance of this ski is perhaps influenced by the binding/boot system.

75mm-3-pin Nordic/telemark bindings are without a doubt the most versatile and flexible setup- ranging from classic xcountry, to light telemark.

However; in my opinion, NNNBC binding/boot systems offer much more efficient classic xcountry performance (i.e. stride and glide) - allowing the complete extension of the Nordic stride.

For my everyday skiing- rolling terrain with only the occasional steep descent and climb- I much prefer the NNNBC system.  If my backyard skiing had much more vertical to it- I would probably be on 75mm-3-pin.

In the mountains (in deep snow), my touring setup is a 195cm Karhu XCD Guide with 3PC cable bindings and Scarpa T-4 boots.

My current setup for this ski, on gentle to moderate terrain setup (in deep snow) is a 195cm Annum with NNNBC-magnum bindings, and Alpina Alaska boots.  

As a xcountry ski; the only thing I could wish for is an even longer length…say 205 or even 210-215cm…Hear that Madshus?  We need a 200+cm Annum for backcountry-xcountry skiing in the pow!

The length you choose will have a fundamental effect on how this ski performs (as it does with all skis!).  In a long length (for your weight), this ski feels quite snappy in classic kick & glide xcountry skiing.  If you end up choosing a short length for easier downhill turns- you are going to lose the kick & glide performance this ski has to offer.

My advice is that if you wish a shorter Annum for downhill skiing, I would suggest considering a more downhill-oriented ski.

In conclusion- if you want to, or find yourself routinely xcountry skiing in deep pow- consider the Annum!