Topic
Skins for Rossi BC 70 skis
Forum Posting
A Membership is required to post in the forums. Login or become a member to post in the member forums!
Home › Forums › General Forums › Winter Hiking › Skins for Rossi BC 70 skis
- This topic is empty.
-
AuthorPosts
-
Nov 19, 2010 at 11:56 am #1265672
What climbing skins should I get for my Rossi BC 70 xc skis? They're 189 cm, waxless, fish scale kick zone, metal edges. Should I just get whatever full-length Black Diamond skin fits them? Can I just leave the skin on the entire time?
Right now, I can barely make it up gradual slopes without needing to herringbone. For constant uphills, it's easier for me to just remove the skis, but that wouldn't work in deep mountain snows.
Nov 19, 2010 at 3:50 pm #1666184Odd. My wife's BC65s climb quite well.
Odd.cheers
Nov 19, 2010 at 4:43 pm #1666200Roger:
In that case, it is odd! I'm quite a newbie at skiing, so I shouldn't dismiss lack of proper technique so quickly. Even with significant weight on one ski, it doesn't seem to grip very well. (Edit: I can kick and glide decently on flat sections though.) I'm pretty sure the skis are matched to my weight (240 lbs/109.1 kg with daypack). I encountered two other skiers on the way back, and their tracks indicate they skied up sections I herringboned (and walked before donning skis). I'm pretty sure they didn't have skins.Uh oh. I was just thinking and reading about what I may have done wrong. I waxed the entire ski with Swix universal rub-on wax, including the scaled area (but with the scales, not against). I guess I was thinking that the grip was purely mechanical from the scales, but one website says not to wax this area.
Nov 19, 2010 at 6:53 pm #1666236You've ventured into a complex subject, Andy. I'll go over a few points in order of complexity.
It may well be technique. When your skis start to slip it's natural to lean forward at the waist. Unfortunately this moves your weight even further forward, lessening the weight on the skis and thus their grip. Keep your spine upright, and bend at the knees when going uphill. Practice, practice. Do not look at your skis, a sure sign you're leaning forward.
Rossi fishscales are not the most aggressive out there. Alpina and Karhu skis have more aggressive patterns that will climb a little bit better.
Fishscales work best in dense, moist snow. Early season snow tends to be light and dry.
I use iron-in glide wax on the fishscale areas of my skis, because it stops sticky snow from icing up on the bottoms. This is only a problem in certain conditions. I iron the wax into the fishscales as usual, then pass over 10" areas with the iron on high heat, using paper towels to soak up the excess wax, then a razor blade to clean the final bits of excess wax out while it's still warm. This is a pain, but worth it, and doesn't have to be done too often. Spray on waxes are, IMO, worthless.
You might consider kick skins, rather than full length skins. In either case, you'll want skins the full width of the ski underfoot, with the metal edges just exposed.
Aside from kick waxing (which is very effective in light, dry snow), kicker skins might be your best option.
Nov 19, 2010 at 6:59 pm #1666240> I waxed the entire ski with Swix universal rub-on wax, including the scaled area
Um – that's not my recommendation!
I wax the tip and tail (the non-fishscale) sections. I put a small amount of 'anti-freeze' on the fishscale section to prevent snow from sticking and freezing up there, but not much.Clean the skis down as best you can and try again?
Cheers
Nov 19, 2010 at 7:12 pm #1666248David and Roger: Thank you for the instruction!
Nov 22, 2010 at 6:47 pm #1667108Either Black diamond or (my favorite) G3 skins. G3 makes the longest skins and I got them to fit my 210 cm. Asnes Combi Combat Norwegian army skis. NOW I have grip!
I'd recommend trim cutting any skins to the exact profile of your skis to get the max grip. No sense going narrower sinc you've already paid the for grip. Be sure to use a good spray-on ice preventer.
Also, wrap the stored skins around your waist under your coat to keep them warm and easy to peel apart. Failing that keep the factory package backing and stick one strip between them. (Not alaways easy to do in the wind.)
Nov 22, 2010 at 7:12 pm #1667110Thanks for the tips, Eric!
-
AuthorPosts
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
Forum Posting
A Membership is required to post in the forums. Login or become a member to post in the member forums!
Our Community Posts are Moderated
Backpacking Light community posts are moderated and here to foster helpful and positive discussions about lightweight backpacking. Please be mindful of our values and boundaries and review our Community Guidelines prior to posting.
Get the Newsletter
Gear Research & Discovery Tools
- Browse our curated Gear Shop
- See the latest Gear Deals and Sales
- Our Recommendations
- Search for Gear on Sale with the Gear Finder
- Used Gear Swap
- Member Gear Reviews and BPL Gear Review Articles
- Browse by Gear Type or Brand.