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March, 2024

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New to backcountry

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Tsams
Posts: 16 - Karma: 76
I'm looking to get a backcountry setup this year or next and I'm trying to fiqure out what is good for me. I own a pair of Line Sir Francis Bacons and love the way they ski and feel. I was wondering if I could use the Line Mr. Pollard Opus as a backcountry ski with either a duke or a baron. Is this a good setup? Or is it to heavy? And is the duke worth the extra money vs. the baron? Thanks
Feb 7 2013 4:34PM
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saskskier
Posts: 4772 - Karma: 9,984
What's your height/weight/skier ability. Are you going to be dropping big cliffs and backcountry jumps or skiing mellower terrain?

It sound like a pretty decent set up though.
Feb 7 2013 5:37PM
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chuckmarty
Posts: 344 - Karma: 446
step 1: take an avalanche safety course and learn how to use your beacon/shovel/probe

Here's my setup:

2012 183cm Atomic Bent Chetlers
2011 Marker Baron Bindings
2012 Full Tilt Hot Dogger boots
BD Adjustable ski poles
Dakine backpack
K2 Rescue Shovel
Poc Receptor Bug helmet
BD climbing skins

I rent the beacon + probe when I go out.
Feb 7 2013 6:09PM
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Lord.Quasimoto
Posts: 958 - Karma: 33
.
Feb 7 2013 6:11PM
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K-Dot.
Posts: 3703 - Karma: 7,375
Get a set up that is realistic. If you aren't gonna be skiing pow everyday, then you are going to hate yourself for lugging fat pow skis around. If its just slackcountry then its not a big deal but if its dedicated backcountry, I'd think about a pair of lighter skis with maybe 100 underfoot. Unless of course its tallywacker deep pow all the time. Also, listen to the guy up there. Go to learn at avalanche safety classes
Feb 7 2013 6:21PM
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Tsams
Posts: 16 - Karma: 76
I'm 5'10" and weigh 160. I'm an expert skier and love to send cliffs and do pillows and all the goods.
Feb 7 2013 8:51PM
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bigbromskier
Posts: 1175 - Karma: 330
it depends on what you're intending to do and how often you plan to go.

as for bindings, it seems that nowadays there are several options--do you want a totally dedicated setup like a dynafit style, or more of a resort/bc setup with a duke/guardian/mfd style? Keep in mind that Hoji absolutely destroys all the time on his dynafits; I'm considering that as a fulltime setup seeing the way he skis them, it's totally worth it for weight reduction.

for skis, it depends on what you're planning to do with it. do you want to get out a ton just for some exercise and to make some turns no matter the snow conditions? or just for some fresh once the resort's skied out? I have blogs now at 110 under foot and am considering something a little narrower for the future cause a lot of the time I'm out it's not deep pow and, for the weight and ease of hiking up something closer to 100 might be more reasonable.

check out surface's walk series for some ideas on skis.
Feb 7 2013 9:03PM
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bigbromskier
Posts: 1175 - Karma: 330
sorry, the free series. Also, go out to a backcountry store or something similar, you'll see all the stuff and have your questions answered
Feb 7 2013 9:04PM
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Evangelista
Posts: 481 - Karma: 1,583
Get a fatter ski. I would say around 110mm underfoot. The weight difference is so minimal you won't notice and you'll be having way more fun...Dynafit stuff is super spendy. Look for a cheap pair of Dukes online, see how you like them and BC skiing as a whole then decide if you want to invest in the dynafits...
Feb 7 2013 9:28PM
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Tsams
Posts: 16 - Karma: 76
I will probably to a mix of both resort and BC with this ski. And for the binding, I'm leaning more towards a duke or baron. What's the deal with the F12's or F10's? Thanks for all the comments
Feb 8 2013 12:36AM
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chuckmarty
Posts: 344 - Karma: 446
the reviews I've seen for F12 and F10 indicate that they have poor durability
Feb 8 2013 12:45AM
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K-Dot.
Posts: 3703 - Karma: 7,375
Pollard opus is 118 underfoot and yes if you tour a lot you'll notice when you're the last guy up the mountain every time.
Feb 8 2013 9:15AM
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SamtheEagle
Posts: 1658 - Karma: 713
weight weight weight. get a ski thats good for the conditions you are going to be skiing but make sure it is as light as possible. If you are just doing short tours then dukes or guardians are fine but also check out marker tour f12, fritschie freerides, or other lighter bindings
Feb 8 2013 3:41PM
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Kreech
Posts: 4178 - Karma: 3,024
Unless you see yourself skiing switch all the time, get something with full camber all the way through the tail, preferably with a flat tail or half twin. Dynafit/plum/g3 setups are light and tour much better/more efficiently but are expensive an you'll need new boots to be compatible with the tech platform. I would say for this setup: 80% bc=tech setup, 50% bc and inbounds=duke or guardian, 20% bc=mfd alltime plate or Trekkers.
Feb 8 2013 7:18PM
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Banane.
Posts: 3102 - Karma: 414
Ahah man, no way, I have opus and baron's at first I was behing all my friend because it was new for me , but now i follow them without any problem. Yes a lighter setup will be good, but for what i'm doing , 3 days in resort and 2 days of slack and one day at roger's pass each week is good.
Feb 9 2013 2:23AM
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K-Dot.
Posts: 3703 - Karma: 7,375
Read my first post up higher.
Feb 9 2013 6:29PM
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