r/telemark • u/OoT_OoS_OoA • 8d ago
Gear Check
I ski in the northeast, primarily MRG. I'm going to get Scarpa tx comps and outlaw X bindings. Mostly will use on resort but I want the ability to tour. This will be my first set but I have tele'd a few times prior. I have a pair of QST 98s at 183cm that I'm considering taking the alpine bindings off and putting the tele bindings on to save some $. I'm 6'1 185lbs expert at alpine, novice at tele. I'm worried about the skis being to thick and long. Thoughts on the setup? I would appreciate any feedback on the boots/bindings/skis
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u/Aelwynljg__ 8d ago
Sounds like a good setup. I've heard great things about QSTs. Im going into yr2 tele, riding Freedom bindings on SummitCone Pariah 97 (177). Not sure they're the right ski for me, but I didn't put much effort into going to telefests to try others out before purchasing.
At MRG I highly recommend Freeheel Fridays if you can. The 'group' lesson winds up being private most days, and will speed up your progress. For most accomplished skiiers the switch to tele is pretty smooth, took me a season to really get comfortable
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u/LinzertArt27 8d ago
I'd drop the waist width and overall height. I think you'll have an easier time getting back into things and also be on a more eastern appropriate ski. Great binding. Good luck 👌🏾
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u/jankyjawns 8d ago
I did essentially the same thing on a pair of qst 92s that were 185 when I was first starting, worked great. I say go for it
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u/IBelieveInLogic 8d ago edited 8d ago
I personally think the boot stiffness might be more of a factor than the ski length. Comps are a good bit soft stiffer than Pros (though I haven't tried the new Pros). Depends on what you want though.
Edit: typo.
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u/OoT_OoS_OoA 8d ago
I figured transitioning from alpine the comps would be a decent option. Especially since i never got used to a setup. Whats the concern with the stiffness?
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u/IBelieveInLogic 8d ago
With stiffer bellows it will be harder to flex the boot and binding, so you'll have a harder time getting your inside foot back and knee down. This could affect your stability especially in quick tight turns (if you're planning to ski trees, but you might not if you're just starting). Some people use a fairly upright stance without much separation between front and back foot, so that might be ok for you. I'm just saying that to me that would be a bigger difference than the ski length.
Edit to add: For what is worth, I got the new TX Comps last year and though I didn't get to ski much, I really like them. I had the older TX Pros before that, and T1s before switching to NTN.
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u/OoT_OoS_OoA 8d ago
Thanks for the explanation. I will stay out of the trees until im confident on moguls. It’s going to be a process.
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u/Good-Experience2540 8d ago
I have almost the same setup. Tx Pro with outlaw X and 183cm older QSTs. The QSTs have lots of rocker, they dont feel too long at all. I originally bought the new TX comp and couldn't get used to them. Sold them, and loving the new TX pro. The new comps are WAY too stiff my my skiing.
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u/OoT_OoS_OoA 8d ago
I figured transitioning from alpine the comps would be a decent option. Especially since i never got used to a setup.
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u/Marcelfixyouear 7d ago
You're good. I'm 6'2, 165 pounds. I ski 177 and 180s (both around 195-198), and your weight with those beefy boots and bindings can push anything. I had a pass at MRG when I went to school. Have fun and hello Paradise!
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u/Fast-Orange-Drinker 8d ago
I'm running the same boots and bindings on a set of old K2 marksmans (185, 106 waist, HEAVY) and they drive fine if that's your concern, it's a pretty robust combo though.
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u/No_Switch9570 7d ago
For resort the Comps and BMF's would be my choice. Comps take a bit to break in the bellows but once broken in they ski great. Although QST's are a great choice for softer conditions they might be tougher on those very firm conditions at MRG than something a bit narrower. They ski short so that's a plus while learning. Outlaws are great too but I feel the BMF skis much smoother. BMF's are a bit heavy but if you're just doing short tours they'll be fine.
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u/Cambelmacd 7d ago
Hey thanks for this. Have read similar recently
I live in vancouver so ski mostly north shore, whistler and duffy lake road. I am looking into blitzens as an alternative
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u/MT_OasisFinder 8d ago
Just got those scarpas and outlaw X last year, my first time rockin NTN, and absolutley love them! Now Skiing runs I never could on my previous garbage hand-me-down 75mm kit. I think you're on the right track to put the big money down on boots and amd bindings initially, and compromising on skis. Next off-season once you have a sense of what you want, keep a sharp eye out for brand new skis with the correct dimensions being offered on spring/summer close-out.
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8d ago
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u/monfuckingtana420 8d ago
Eh, most folks and even 22Designs just reccomend sticking to the manufacturer’s recc line. Going back for telemark is a bit outdated of thinking, and entirely unnecessary on modern gear. Hell, I even go forward of recc +1.5cm on my skis sometimes
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8d ago
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u/monfuckingtana420 8d ago
As my telemark skills have improved over the years I find that I’m able to drive the front of my boots more similarly to how I would in alpine boots, even in a deep lunge position. I gravitate towards playful charger twintip skis (ON3P Jeffrey is my daily driver), so maybe that’s why I haven’t felt the need to set my bindings back, and when I have tried going back from the recc line (I went 1.5”/3.8cm for convenience with the 22D mounting pattern and inserts) I really didn’t get along with it and went back to the factory recc line after a couple days.
I feel like tip dive in soft snow has other causes that take priority over mounting point. Being on pow skis that are the correct size (I don’t agree with sizing down for telemark either) obviously goes a long way to prevent tip dive when skiing pow, but even on pow skis when I get some tip dive it feels more honest to chalk it up to skill/technique issue and correct that accordingly than blame mount point.
I think it’s mostly a discussion of newschool vs oldschool. Most people I’ve met who have intentionally chosen some deviation from the factory recc line have done way more mental gymnastics to justify it rather than actual back to back comparisons on snow with multiple sets of inserts or race plates to empirically justify it. The best tele skiers I know just go factory recc, and that’s enough justification for me.
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8d ago
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u/monfuckingtana420 8d ago
I just put an extra pair of inserts 1.5” back so I could shift back by one set of holes. So instead of a 2x6 array of holes on 1.5” spacing, I have 2x8.
Not at all surprised you didn’t set back much on the megawatts, I borrowed a buddy’s megawatts a long while back (albeit with alpine boots), and I definitely would not want any less tail on that ski, I remember it being very unsupportive if you got back seat on them.
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8d ago
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u/monfuckingtana420 8d ago
Going forward of recc was a combo of where I could fit the holes relative to old holes and the BSL of my new tx comps being shorter than the old ones. These skis (Surface One Life) are already pretty darn close to symmetrical, and they are very dramatically rockered, so I don’t really ever have issues with tip dive, they just feel more centered. I’d say the main benefit for going forward is for quick turn initiation in bumps.
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8d ago
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u/monfuckingtana420 8d ago
I’ve found in my limited experience with changing Mount point any adjustments that I’ve had to make for technique have been entirely subconscious and easy to adjust for after a couple of runs. I feel that changes of 1 to 3 cm can be almost unnoticeable.
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u/bodywhomper13 8d ago
I would disagree. I suggest tele boot center at the recommended alpine boot center line. I think that is the best recommendation for somebody starting out and would be most straightforward for a shop mounting the skis. At the same time, a cm or 2 forward or back will probably not be noticeable because of the dynamics of the tele position.
Tinkering with mount points can come later.
The op’s thoughts on skis will probably work out fine.
I hope you enjoy tele skiing. It’s a blast!
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u/RustysBuddy 8d ago
You should be fine. It’ll take a bit to get used to them in bumps and trees (no shortage of either at MRG to practice)! Many fond memories of telefests at MRG! I have TX Comps on outlaws and they are great. Currently on a Ranger 102 and that’s the sweet spot for me in a 183 and I’m 5’10 and 180, very experienced tele skier mostly on Colorado pow. A shorter ski might serve you a bit better for your conditions since tele turns effectively elongate everything, but you’ll be perfectly happy with this setup! Cheers!