As far as I know, they want a binding toe to go to unlocked position by default (on step in), period. Also, remember, that lots of this gear will last you for many years and will take you to place no expensive carbon bike can ever do. You could use your backcountry skis and boots, but it would be like trying to run a marathon in hiking boots. To pass the new regs, Plum changed to a metal striker plate with two slits that allowed for a little hump. Best dressed gets a prize, of course! I’m not sure what function this dynafit “autolock” binding has; does it really put the toe piece in locked (uphill) mode upon stepping in like the old race bindings use to? Most skimo-specific gear is designed to prevent time-eating malfunctions and allows racers to make adjustments from one section of the mountain to the next. All rights reserved. First, it’s race illegal, and second it could pose a safety issue. Ski Poles. Shorter, darker, and a better-than-last-place-finish means improvement, right? Here is my take on it: Hi Werner, thank you for stopping by. You will pay around $600-700 USD ($800-950 CAD, 570-670 Euro)  for all of the above new models. When I was mounting a pair, the current 2.0 “Auto” toe lever seemed to have the same retention as the older “1.0” “Auto” toe lever (which was metal, and also had a nifty little adjustment screw). If you opt for something with a short handle but strong blade of decent size then you will be way more equiped. COVID-19; Race / Event Calendar; Points; National Cup Series; National Championships ; USSMA Race Info & Sanctioning; US Teams. See page 9 – http://ismf-ski.org/www/sites/ismf-ski.org.www/files/2016_2017_ISMF_Sporting_and_Ranking_Rules_updated_04.10.2016.pdf More information can be found in the relevant links but as a general rule of thumb, they follow our normal Skimo Scotland format - just without the Skimo Scotland support. The LiWood core is a light wood and ash wood .. The updated version of the X-Race ski features ABS sidewalls for improved strength, edge hold, and rock resistance. That’s what I am doing (and have done in the past with all other gear.) Once shopping, expect to pay around $500-600 USD (470-570 Euro, $650-800 CAD) for the models mentioned above. Gear reviews, interviews, adventures, contests, skills, skimo training, race reports – we connect you to all things related to self-propelled skiing. Ultimate Direction SkiMo 28 Pack Ultimate Direction, a brand known for making ultra-running vests for super-athletes, makes a line of packs catered to SkiMo racers that incorporate a number of features well-designed for general backcountry missions in addition to being effective race packs. Whether you’re a beginning backcountry skier, die-hard skimo racer, accomplished ski mountaineer, or anything in between, we’re here to make the experience of exploring on skis easier and more efficient. Having reached practical limits, they’re now focused on making it slay the toughest of conditions. Strong athletes from around the globe are flocking to skimo racing as a winter pursuit, which means that the specialized gear can become even more specialized. Ski Trab left no detai.. If you’re spending a few days a week on your skimo gear, imagine how nice it will be to switch back to the fatter skis. Photo: Luke Nelson. For example, the Dynafit DNA skis feature notches in the front tip of the skis that help keep your touring skins in … Over the years, it has become one of the most popular ski mountaineering blogs in North America. Ski Trab left no detai.. Sports Page Race Room is the place to go for the highest quality ski racing gear, competitive online pricing and top notch customer service. Prices will range from $50 to $150 USD. I introduce you to my Uncle Mark and learn some hard truths about #gear. Have a nice Christmas! Jonathan, I don’t think Michael is disputing how exactly Dynafit works but perhaps he is challenging your earlier statement “Both generations of Dynafit Auto toes allow for multiple positions and also release so they must conform with ISMF rules.” Light ski touring poles will do. Using the patented North TPT wrapping process, the Swiss engineers introduced a carbon fiber weave around the core to improve power transfer and edging on icy skin tracks. Crystal Skimo Race Results and Photos Partners ... Part of the tradition of Vertfest is racing in ridiculous costumes, so let your inner fruit flow and dress in a banana suit, neon onesie, or anything else crazy! The Gara Aero Sprint ski is designed for the increasingly popular and increasingly competitive sprint and vertical racing formats. The middle ground between a full-on one piece race suit and just slim fitting touring clothing are some double-piece “suit” options. Racing Formats; Training Resources; Skimo Resources; Resort Uphill Policies; USSMA Gear; About. How to choose the right length (and kind) of skimo racing poles for you, http://www.dynafit.com/us/low-tech-race-2-0-automatic-binding.html, http://ismf-ski.org/www/sites/ismf-ski.org.www/files/2016_2017_ISMF_Sporting_and_Ranking_Rules_updated_04.10.2016.pdf, http://www.camp-usa.com/products/contour-skins/, Kilian Jornet Interview: About His New Foundation, His Own Environmental Impact, and How He Wants To Help Athletes and The Outdoor Industry To Protect Nature, How Fast Are Glaciers Really Melting? – And that spring-loaded position is NOT locked! 8 talking about this. 2) As it stands right now, the current ISMF rule is confusing about the autolock feature (but has not been before – go figure). To get you on race skis without paying the top price you should check out Hagan Ascent, Dynafit PDG, Atomic Backland UL 65, Voile WSP, Movement Gold Fish-X, or older models of race skis from these brands that can be still found on sale. Tahoe SkiMo brings ski mountaineering events and culture to the Tahoe Area. After reading the whole article it may seem that skimo racing is a super expensive sport but it is possible to be strategic with your spending. Thanks, Hi Andrew, thank you for the additional tips. If you haven't heard of Aramid, you haven't worked in the .. Swenson counsels ski-mo newbies to go all-in and buy gear intended specifically for racing. Here are the models we recommend: Hagan ZR (optional mounting plates allow heel to move), Plum Race 150, Plum Race 170 (possible to adjust heel for 2-3 different boot sizes! They’ve tweaked the shape, profile, and length to maximize power transmission and cont.. Only Merelli could one-up Merelli. If you enjoy the levelling-up aspect of skimo racing, then the Ski Trab Powercup is just what you need. Beyond that, even more than with boots and packs, the fit is very important! Skimo racing is hands down the hardest aerobic work I’ve done in my endurance career.… SkiMo-Racing. “…The lateral release (front part) has to be lockable manually without tool. Prices will range from $50 to $100 USD. Race skis are all roughly the same size, on account of the minimum dimensions mandated by the International Ski Mountaineering Federation. August 14, 2018 0. Since this event is NOT an official Utah Skimo event, all participants will be attending at their own risk. If you would like to know more about race gear and even skimo training then check out our Manual For Ski Mountaineering Racing where we discuss specific how-to tricks. In addition to a warm, fitted hood, it has huge front chest pockets for stashing your skins on descents, to both keep them warm for re-attachment, and for speed when putting away. Avalanche probe – for racing you only need a 240cm probe but if you are going to buy only one then we recommend 280cm or 320cm length. So many times even bike helmets are allowed. The extra length is beneficial should you find yourself in a real rescue. The Le Roc D'Enfer ski .. A common nugget of life-wisdom is that the journey is truly the reward. Snow shovel – just like with a probe, to meet skimo racing regulations you only need a “kid’s toy” shovel like CAMP Crest but we recommend buying a more robust shovel that is actually usable in a rescue scenario. 1) When you go to Dynafit’s website (http://www.dynafit.com/us/low-tech-race-2-0-automatic-binding.html) then you can see in a select drop-down you can choose from Auto and Manu options. This is a key piece and very custom for skimo training. Michael, great to hear from you on this! 222 SE Reed Market Road BEND, OR 97702 1-800-814-7223. No transitions, no skiing. The Scramble: Skimo Racing Done Wrong. We've simply called this The Cairngorm 4000er's. So since the ATK and Plum race bindings pass ISMF muster, then the “Auto” versions of the Dynafit race bindings would also seem to be okay by any reasonable interpretation. I paired race boots with a ~1150g ski for my first season of racing with good success. The AlpAttack Carbon is an exciting new race ski from the Austrians. – What that differential (i.e., spring-loaded “Auto” toe levers up to nearly 2x the retention of manual toe levers) translates into is higher effective lateral release values for skiing, but definitely still releasable (as can be demonstrated either with my own testing results, or just twisting out on snow while in the setup). ), all of those models mentioned here offer an additional position by manually pulling up the toe lever even further, which for all practical purposes truly is “Locked”! The TLT8 is a solid choice for skimo racing and backcountry tours or expeditions: It’s the answer for athletes seeking a single boot that can tackle all of their off-piste goals. Only slightly heavier but more suitable for regular touring with bigger skis are the new Dynafit TLT7 Performance and Atomic Backland Carbon Light, both weighing just over 1kg/boot in size 27MP. A Hibox 3k carbon fiber filament encases several layers of secret sauce wrapped around an Aramid honeycomb core. We even propose a few races where you can also run with trail shoes or snowshoes. It’s only an unfortunate way of wording that rule that does not make it clear enough, otherwise, I didn’t think they would be going backwards on this. > if you are at all savvy with basic tools, buy skins off the roll and make your own bungee tip attachments. Ski Racing Media is the leading international media company in alpine skiing, providing industry expertise, storytelling, and education. Note we said softer, not soft, as this ski is designed to hold an edge in the nastiest of conditions. The Trofeo Mezzalama is the last of the three Grand Course races, following four days in France for the Pierra Menta and a very long night-and-then-day in Switzerland for the Patrouille des Glacier, and.. A Vertical skimo race is very simple: first one to the top wins. Early season turns on Mt Hood . “As far as I know, they want a binding toe to go to unlocked position by default (on step in), period.” When you decide to take the plunge, invest in your success, and buy light gear, SkiMo.co has got you covered. Higher levels of competition necessitate higher levels of performance. The best idea is to try some on first or buy the one that lets you adjust the sizing. La Sportiva Syborg, Dynafit PDG, Scarpa Alien On top of that, you should also take at least some basic avalanche courses to educate yourself how to use this gear the most effectively as well as to how to avoid avalanches altogether. The motion for ascending is very similar to running, so similar in fact that in Europe it is commonly referred to as ski running. Comparing the lightest: Skis | Boots | Bindings. With few exceptions, all models can be mounted only for one boot size as the heels have no adjust-ability! To me that reads like an auto-lock is fine as long as you don’t need an additional tool in use (so the binding is self-contained/self-sufficient). You can buy a lot of used gear (don’t do this with avalanche beacon) or using online sales and package deals from specialized shops like Skimo.co or Cripple Creek BC. Since weights cannot get any lower, durability and downhill performance are the focus now. But more likely, Trab knew what they were doing when designing this ski with Lady Flex 60. There is also a decent gear swap on the Utah Skimo website, the only really active one Ive seen for skimo gear. Prices will range from $80 to $180 USD. Exterior straps can carry two … From cirque to summit, to finding new routes on the Aiguille, the SkiMo Adventure Vest makes it easier. Contact us: [email protected] By continuing to … Crested Butte’s Gothic Mountain Tour schools a newbie in the skimo game. In fact, even top racers use pretty much just shorter xc … As.. Stealth describes both this race ski and the way that Aski snuck up on the skimo world. All three are similar weight (800-850g/boot in size 27MP) and are priced around $750 USD (700 Euro, $1000 CAD) depending on the deal you find. Therefore, your decision should come down mostly to already mentioned fit and availability. A lot o.. Not all skimo races are sub-2-hour, anaerobic affairs. Perhaps buying just a jacket will give you most of what a one-piece suit can offer. Das Aufsteigen mit Fellen an den Skiern und die nachfolgende Abfahrt. I haven’t been able to find anything yet in the rule books that says otherwise. Find out about where, what, when and why it's a sport everyone should try! For skimo skis and boots, we recommend Dynafit’s PDG ski and PDG 2 boot. Still sporting a selectively milled paulownia wood core, Fischer was able to reduce the core weight over previous race models and was even nice enough to throw in a Titanal plate in the mounting area for extra du.. Hagan has been working diligently for years on shaving weight off of its race ski. Although not many of such races are held stateside, it’s commonly featured for one day at World Cup events in Europe. home / Skimo Racing. Also, all the race bindings from ATK and Plum (well, except maybe the new 99?) Racing & Events. The mounting template has been.. When it comes to shopping for your first-ever skimo racing setup there is no “fit-for-all” advice as each person’s goals, budget and athletic background are different. Higher-priced skis tend to have more advanced constructions. Overall, it’s difficult to recommend specific skis for a specific skier because it depends on your weight, height and style of skiing – aggressive, careful, expert skier, intermediate skier, etc. In any case, I haven’t worked a world cup in 2 years, but can’t imagine the ISMF allowing the old autolock system again, considering all that they are doing in terms of safety. The good news is that Skimo Alberta has 4 pairs of skimo racing skis that you can rent to try them out on a training or on race day. Nice article. And spandex, have you tried it? About Skimo Co We’re a dedicated crew of backcountry skiers who test our products in the mountains every day. As the only dedicated skimo store around, they have the inventory and the advice to get you set up right. Higher levels of competition necessitate higher levels of performance. Some folks want the lightest while others look for an edge on the down. As far as the ski and its performance characteristics are concerned, however, this is a very different ski than the original in all the best ways. Known for producing some of the highest-performing skis atop the surface-area-to-weight charts, Movement has endeared themselves to skiers who demand premium gear. The resulting ski by the same name is as unique as the namesake mountains that rise above Salt Lake City, Utah, where the skis are made. The Gara Aero Sprint ski is designed for the increasingly popular and increasingly competitive sprint and vertical racing formats. Michael, the Dynafit Auto toe pieces for the last few years (i.e. Imagine if you applied the solid lightweight construction and easy skiing rockered tips of Voile skis to an ultralight size geared for skimo racing and speed touring. This is the only part in there that refers to (auto)locking and frankly, it’s confusing: Lightest SKIS for Skimo Racing and Ski Mountaineering – comparison: This page compares: ... Durability could be questionable with lots of the race gear, however, Dynastar skis always hold up for me for 2-3 seasons, and I am definitely not only racing on them. 4) From my experience, Canadian and US federations do not “enforce” the auto/manual lock (yet) because the main aim is to attract as many people as possible. Ditto for ATK and Plum toes. Because the pockets are multi-purpose, … You should be looking for skis weighing less then 900-1000g/ski and not wider than about 68mm (ideally 64-66mm) since all racing skins are manufactured for those widths. $175.00. Every aspect of the SkiMo 28’s fit can be customized for more body shapes than I could test. If companies keep “turning down” Skintrack then I will mostly keep talking about gear I know at least somewhat. “You’ll be much happier with the proper gear,” he says. Adventure. > highly recommend 2 pairs of skins (due to high likelihood of glue failure in cold/fresh snow conditions) The most suitable entry level racing boots are the La Sportiva Syborg, Dynafit PDG and Scarpa Alien. That’s because they’ve been making race skis since skimo racing was barely a thing.. You’ll dial in your systems like never before because you are moving quickly with little, but the best, gear. Carbon probes are lighter than aluminum but are also more expensive – we leave it up to you to choose. Thankfully, there is not much to contemplate about “entry level” skins. Skimo equipment is very specialized nowadays, and expect somewhere around $1500 to $2000 for skis, bindings and skins. Please call or text Hitomi by Monday 1/13 if you need gear! In fact, even top racers use pretty much just shorter xc skiing poles as they work quite well. Usually we have the best after party and gear raffle this side of the Mississippi, but unfortunately not in 2021. But in general all of them will ski somewhat similarly – the first couple of times, it will feel like you need to learn to ski again . Prices will range from $300 to $500 USD. (Although the toe lever can be manually raised up even more for a position that is truly locked.) So since ATK and Plum bindings are obviously okay for ISMF regs, then I don’t why Dynafit toes should be suspect? Both of them borrow some features from their famous running vests that we seamlessly merged with the necessary skimo functionality. – For skinning, that means most skintracks are okay upon entry. That was my perception as well that ISMF would not allow such bindings. skimo, is a high-altitude, lung-busting challenge imported from Europe, and it has become one of the hottest winter sports in North America. US Skimo High Performance Group; 2020-21 National Team Info; 2019-20 National Team; Resources. – Dynafit “Auto” toes (both 1.0 and 2.0) go to a spring-loaded position by default on entry. Just to be safe. How Will This Affect Your Mountain Adventures? Then the very top level boots, even more expensive, are the Pierre Gignoux Race 400, Dynafit DNA, La Sportiva Stratos (Cube and Hi-Cube), and Scarpa Alien 3.0. Skimo makes you fit, fast, and efficient. having recently gone through this process personally, i would add a few things: The PDG ski weighs in at 790 g. It’s crazy light but still stable so you can charge downhill. Search; About Us; Returns; Free Shipping! $250.00. There are three important things when shopping for race bindings (even “entry level”): The good news is that all bindings listed will likely last you for many seasons. And a lot of rec divisions in skimo races even let you use a splitboard. Interview with Pascal Egli, Book Review – Art of Freedom: The Life and Climbs of Voytek Kurtyka, Forest Skis: Innovative, Custom Build, For Backcountry Skiing and Freeride, Lighter and Completely Redesigned: New CAMP Ultralight Ski Mountaineering Ice Axes. But also, the front pockets can serve as pockets for your soft water bottles and Trail Butter packs. Now successully distributed in th North Americy by CAMP http://www.camp-usa.com/products/contour-skins/ and much praised by Lou Dawson of http://www.wildsnow.com. We have also taken this opportunity to introduce the first ever Team event and more information can be found in the link. For anyone needing gear, let’s meet at the Skimo.co shop: 2477 E Fort Union Blvd Salt Lake City, UT 84121 at 4:30pm. Wider than most rac.. This is the final episode of my #skimo vlog! Ski Mountaineering, or SkiMo as it is generally known, is a growing competitive discipline in which lycra clad superfit fell-running types don very light specially designed skimo racing skis, “skin” up the mountain as fast as they can and then hurtle back to the bottom in a loop race. 48 were here. he calls them “the Tesla of ski skins”, mostly because of the unique hybrid glue technology. Buy a model without the auto-lock feature – it’s forbidden by the sport’s rules. Your email address will not be published. With a 68.5mm waist that many skimo racers would consider a powder ski, the Roc is a strange hybrid of race ski technology and mountaineering performance. You’re wondering what is Skimo? The width should be about 3-6mm narrower than the middle of your skis – in general, race skins are pre-cut to 58-62mm and are the same width in their full length. The good news is that the “entry level” skimo skis are generally only about 100-150g heavier that the top line yet costing about 20-30% less. For those that are ambitious right from the start or can spend more money, you can try jumping straight into the Dynafit DyNA (basically a lighter PDG) or Scarpa Alien 1.0. The Verticalp ski is designed to win such races. This is a racing classification designed to figure out who is the fittest alpine athlete that knows how to skin uphill. Why? Light, sturdy, and not terribly painful on the wallet, the Powercup features a LiWood core as opposed to the Aramid honeycomb core found on the top end Gara Aero. > you are much more likely to find great deals and clearance prices in the late spring and summer than in the late fall and winter Pierre Gignoux Race 400 (Dynafit DNA is vitually the same), La Sportiva Stratos Hi-Cube, Scarpa Alien 3.0, There are many skimo race skis on the market so I won’t list them all but I will give you a couple of pointers and will mention only those with the best price-to-weight ratio. https://skimo.co is North America's first and only ski mountaineering specialty store. The high modul.. If you need a high-speed race helmet that is FIS approved, look no further than the POC Skull Orbic X Spin. Ian, good question as sometimes things are confusing between ISMF rules, national rules and actual products. Required fields are marked *. Mon - Sat: 9:30am - 5:30pm Closed Sundays The mountain which these skis are named after, Le Roc D'Enfer, is a steep and committing peak in the French Alps. The US Team skis as the 2011 Ski Mountaineering World Championships. ), Dynafit Superlight 2.0, Kreuzspitze SCTT, ATK Race SLR World Cup. Check them out: UD Skimo 8 vest and UD Skimo 18 vest. October 24, 2018 0. The Race Pro is Movement’s podium contender that combines the race-pedigree of the former Rise-X Pro ski with the performance and handling capabilities of the trusted Fish-X series. To figure out the correct length for your ski poles see this article on how to do it – How to choose the right length (and kind) of skimo racing poles for you. 3) If you plan on racing in Europe then I would advise using a binding with manual lock option. The Dynafit DNA (we are dubbing it the 3.0 as it’s the third iteration of the high-performance podium-topper with the same name) has been revamped entirely fr.. For veteran manufacturers like Fischer, it’s becoming pretty easy to build a race ski that’s below the minimum weight allowed by the ISMF. Bei SKIMO geht es um das Skibergsteigen in Österreich. Plus, you’ll be able to impress your non-skimo friends with 15 second … Majority of the below mentioned gear can be purchased online or in person from our two favourite skimo specialized stores – Skimo.co in Salt Lake City and Cripple Creek Backcountry in Vail or Carbondale. A classic skimo racing ski. From the top: Hagan Ascent, Dynafit PDG, Atomic Backland UL 65, Movement Gold Fish-X When I’ve worked on world cups, we did check to make sure the toe piece had the manual lock option and was not like the old style race auto lock. But that position upon entry, although skinnable for almost all skintracks, sure isn’t “locked” even with the heel pins engaged for skiing. Ski Trab has introduced a women’s version of the Gara Aero World Cup. I would be happy to include them in such a gear guide or other articles in the future. SkiMo shirt – Dynafit PDG skimo shirt. Training Outside the Box: The Power of Creativity. Thus the “liability” of locking-out is on the user who was educated about the risks. The Stealth features the unique flex-pattern and performance of the Aski platform t.. Naming note: according to Atomic’s ski-naming department, this ski is still the Backland UL 65. What gear do you need? Many of the lines off of her summit contain just the conditions that this ski is built for. For anything tricky though (kick turns, etc. Skibergsteigen, Tourengehen oder Skitouren – alle diese Begriffe bezeichnen mit unterschiedlichen Worten eine wunderschöne Sportart. Skimo Racing. Some are new to skimo racing or even ski touring altogether while others have already achieved some athletic success in other endurance sports and want to give skimo a serious try from the start. nice to read. The Gara Aero World Cup race ski is the pinnacle of Ski Trab research and development. Ski mountaineering (also skimo, ski running, or rando racing) is a sport which encompasses timed races, skiing uphill for fitness, and summiting challenging peaks with lightweight ski gear. Don’t make the mistake focusing only on weight and price. “I’m not sure what function this dynafit “autolock” binding has; does it really put the toe piece in locked (uphill) mode upon stepping in like the old race bindings use to?” Ski-mountaineering racing, a.k.a. Thrashing your way downhill on ultralight gear teaches you to be a better skier. We want to spread the word about ski mountaineering and provide opportunities for people participate in this amazing sport. The arms race in the race category is heating up, and once again Fischer has found a way to solidify their position as a top contender with the new Transalp RC Carbon ski. Before that was available, I jerryrigged the same effect just by placing some tape underneath the stock smooth plate such that the toe lever would go up all the way upon entry (i.e., the initial position still allowed for release, and than manually I could pull up the toe lever more so that the butt end of the lever was forced over the hump). As the name would suggest, the Race Pro 71 is 71mm wide underfoot and represents the middlest ski within Movement’s Race Pro lineup, right between the 66 and 77. After years of research and development, the CarbonShell racing ski has arrived. Just like with the race suit, you don’t need specific skimo race poles for your first couple of events and most of your training. For racing, there is a rule that men’s skis have to be at least 160cm long while women’s can be 10cm shorter. have spring-loaded toe levers that are very similar to the Dynafit “Auto” toes, i.e., the default position upon entry has enough retention for almost all skinning, but still allows for release. The MLimited ski is built with the same platform as the MZero, only this time with the highest quality carbon fiber available. The Sport of SkiMo: Uphill Race Gear For All. Start SkiMo Racing: 8 Tips You Need to Know. With the heel pins disengaged (i.e., skinning mode), lateral release values in my testing (with the big caveat that results also depend on the boot used by testing) have averaged around 60Nm for ATK rebranded as Hagan ZR (formerly the SL-R WC, with the toe still available as the SLR Lightweight), about 65Nm for the Dynafit 1.0 (haven’t tested the 2.0 plastic toe lever, but tension seemed similar when I mounted a pair), and Plum 135/145 ranged from 50 to 55 depending on the toe lever spring (as Plum has shipped two different versions over the years.