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Rave About Your Rack Please do not post retail SPAM.

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O.T Cross Country Skis 17-Dec-2010 At 2:42:42 PM Tommo

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The skis you mention have more like a 'camber and a half', because they are trying to match the gliding ability of a touring ski, with the turning ability of a, well, turning ski. Double camber is more your old-school nordic ski. Metal edge - YES, YES, YES! Pretty much essential for a variety of reasons, but particularly for control on the typically icy Australian alpine conditions. Apparently a recessed (negative) pattern will glide better, for obvious reasons, but a positive pattern will give you better grip for climbing (again, nice when it's firm or a touch icy). In my opinion, a pair of good, made to fit climbing skins are pretty essential for multi-day trips, as time and time again I have seen pattern base skis turn useless and getting home turning into an exhausting epic. They will safe you so, so much energy when it gets icy, or even when certain soft conditions (like very dry powder, tho less common in Oz) when the pattern just won't stick, allowing you a direct path of travel instead of countless zig-zags or side stepping (the same applies if you want to go get to/ski some steeper lines without the pack). The 10th Mtn would be a sweet ski, and have buddies very happy with them, and you could even go the infamous Karhu Guide if you really want fun/control when doing some turns in the crud, though the won't track as well as a narrower ski. 185 would be a good length, easier to turn etc. but if you are heavier, or you mentioned heavy packs, then a touch longer would give you more float - less of an issue in Oz really.

Seems like a free-pivot tour-mode binding is the way to go these days, especially if using a plastic boot, though I'm still trudging along with the resistance of the older 7TM releasable bindings (I value my knees, having tweaked an MCL before up on Twynam West Ridge, and having pain-induced hallucinations by the time I had dragged (literally) myself back to Guthega). I like the idea of the the 22 Designs Axl (performance like their legendary Hammerhead), though may be a touch heavy if you cover some miles. The make one called the LiteDog, which is a step-in binding with brakes - looks awesome. Cables are fine (underfoot or on the side, the latter more common for touring bindings) and allow some release of bellow pressure if you back them off when touring.

Have fun shopping! I'm an expat living in the US, and we have had a phenomenal start to the season (think Australian record annual snowfalls, before the resorts were even open). A big storm this weekend should bring several feet, looking forward to getting out soon.

T.