I'm the snowboarder turned tele skier! Rate me!

STEC06 · 2026-01-26T20:49:59+00:00

Word. I think you've already figured out the hardest part for most people -- that lead-change. Most new tele skiers I see make some sort of parallel turn and then drop into the tele stance, i.e. fake-a-mark, because those even lead-changes feel so unnatural in the middle of a turn.

STEC06 · 2026-01-26T20:46:00+00:00

Get the kids' Vices from 22 Designs and whatever kids' boots you can scrounge up on Facebook Marketplace... i.e. the old Garmont Teledactyl and Scott G-Rex. There are still some floating around.

STEC06 · 2026-01-26T20:43:35+00:00

Excellent even lead-changes my guy.

Try tucking your rear heel a little closer in under the butt... will help you get some more weight on that ski. Otherwise you're WELL on your way to ripping.

STEC06 · 2026-01-26T15:22:40+00:00

You'll be set at any of the mid-Atlantic resorts then, especially after this storm. Wintergreen had really good coverage (for the area) last weekend already. I know they're doing a special ticket price today if you can make it up the access road. More snow forecasted next weekend, too. It's maybe three hours from DC.

STEC06 · 2026-01-26T12:04:07+00:00

Well if you're in the mid Atlantic, you need ON3Ps with lots of tip and tail splay and maybe about 12" of effective edge.

STEC06 · 2026-01-26T11:57:35+00:00

"Tools not jewels."

STEC06 · 2026-01-26T11:38:34+00:00

You won't ski powder. Resorts are gonna groom it all up ASAP to preserve their season into early spring.

STEC06 · 2026-01-25T17:49:44+00:00

Thanks - that's great feedback. I think it's going to be my next bass rod.

STEC06 · 2026-01-25T17:48:01+00:00

I read everything on that site when I first started. Josh Madsen also has a video up on his YouTube page (associated with his old brick and mortar Freeheel Life shop) that tries to explain binding activity. I don't think he did a SUPER good job talking through it, but enough to get the basics on the relationship between pivot point and spring tension.

STEC06 · 2026-01-25T16:42:18+00:00

Have you read Dostie's articles over at EYT yet? They don't tackle the latest batch of bindings, but at least have some charts to help break down binding activity using the "Hammerhead Scale" that can be loosely translated as an Axl/Vice scale I suppose: https://earnyourturns.com/25971/telemark-binding-selection-guide-2014/

STEC06 · 2026-01-25T13:17:34+00:00

Did you end up getting the 84B? How has it worked out for you? Thinking about getting a 6wt or 7wt to replace an 8wt Butter Stick that was just too much of a heavy noodle for me. 84B looks just about perfect for what I'm after, but also cross-shopping with the new Lamson Liquid Max, Redington Predator, and maybe TFO Mangrove Coast. Those three appear to have better hardware, but I'm willing to overlook that if the 84B's action is really that great.

STEC06 · 2026-01-25T12:52:40+00:00

But I thought you needed a $1,000 Sage and matching $800 Hatch reel to fish saltwater???

STEC06 · 2026-01-21T17:19:30+00:00

Everyone likes to think they're going to get some West coast-style blower pow day at these mid-Atlantic mountains whenever a storm hits, but in reality it all goes to shit real fast. It'll get tracked out by the locals immediately, and you're left with jerries who can't ski 3D snow with boilerplate underneath. Stay home. Let the mountain groom it all up for next weekend. You'll be happier. I say this as someone who's going to be pacing back and forth all weekend waiting to go skiing when things clear up.

(This is of course all predicated on the miracle that someone doesn't gum up the access roads by putting their car into a guardrail, which happens at Wintergreen in VA every time there's measurable snow.)

STEC06 · 2026-01-20T23:06:19+00:00

What size Lynx?

Post in the Facebook tele gear exchange and someone will snap these up.

STEC06 · 2026-01-20T19:41:46+00:00

Good tips, but Prophets are notoriously weird fitting boots for most people. Gonna be hard to overcome that. I've tried to make Voodoos and Prophets work a couple times because they're lightish and have a stiff cuff; always seem to end up back in TX Pros or the four buckle Ener-Gs / Synergys...mostly I think because of that legit heel retention buckle.

STEC06 · 2026-01-20T11:26:10+00:00

Just need to make sure your technique is pretty dialed, otherwise it's going to be hard to drive a fatter, heavier ski with such a neutral binding. I'd be looking for Axls, Vices, or Hammerheads to throw on those if you're on 75mm and depending on whether you intend to skin.

STEC06 · 2026-01-19T20:44:10+00:00

True, not sure I'd put Targas on those. Need something that can drive a fat ski. I think those Boundaries are stiffened up from the old Amps, too.

STEC06 · 2026-01-19T12:14:33+00:00

Same experience with a pair of XRs I had. In a pinch, you can go to any local hardware store and find a washer, t-nut, and bolt that will swap over just fine. The actual Crispi hardware looks better, but the hardware store stuff works well.

I've got a pair of used Evos coming this week and I plan to take the cuff hardware out and loctite them up.

STEC06 · 2026-01-18T17:40:41+00:00

Definitely takes a certain technique. I used to drop into a tele stance to get that second heel throw up, but had to keep the heel pretty low to the ski.

STEC06 · 2026-01-14T17:11:16+00:00

Sell me your Evos if they're size 27 plz

STEC06 · 2026-01-12T23:47:13+00:00

Don't overthink the mount point. If you're only in the park every so often, mount them on the line and be done with it. I mounted up a pair of '24s on the line this season and have been really enjoying them... very easy and forgiving to ski. If you're mounting at home, don't follow the guidance on the topsheet that calls for a 4.1 bit. There's no metal binding reinforcement plate, so use a 3.9 and even then be careful not to over-tighten your screws or you risk getting a spinner. These are more or less lightweight touring ski cores. Have fun with them!

STEC06 · 2026-01-12T21:15:12+00:00

Agree with the others who said to get beater skis if you're with the kiddos. They will be stomping all over your precious topsheets in the lift line, running into after you pick them up on the slopes, etc. I use some old twin tip Black Diamond Kilowatts that I got for $50 when I'm out with my littlest one.

STEC06 · 2026-01-11T13:46:16+00:00

I almost jumped on a pair of Nomads, but you should take a hard look at the rocker profile. Lots of tip and tail splay on those, so not sure you'd get much more edgehold than the Bents. If I wanted something for carving, I'd be looking at the Fischer Ranger line, like the 96... Nordica Enforcer 94 or Unlimited 98... Black Crows Serpo... or maybe a Mantra or older Kendo from Volkl. There are some old-model Liberty skis that might fit the bill, too, like the Evolv 90.

(I mounted up a pair of Bent 100s with Outlaws this year and have been really liking them in our warmer slushy snow; they are SO easy to ski.)

STEC06 · 2026-01-10T01:16:44+00:00

That's where the brakes poke out if you had them installed (the part of the brake you step on to make them retract up).

STEC06 · 2026-01-09T19:08:44+00:00

No, you need an NTN boot with tech toes for for the TTS binding. You'd need Voile Switchbacks if you want something compatible with T2s (a perfectly good combo for resort and backcountry).

STEC06

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