Quote:
Originally Posted by jyl
"some vintage ski gear, "
Like what?
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Don't want to lose site of this neat surf thread but yes, I've taken to vintage snow skis. I know it seems absurd, whacked, whatever but I could care less what others think. (I'm in my 50's and I still play with an all terrain skateboard too. Scare myself and probably others thinking whats wrong with him?? ha) Anyhow, I do have and keep up with fairly recent downhill equipment but there's times when just slowing down and taking it all in, simple thinking, reminiscing of what prior generations did or used... stuff like that. Maybe its like comparing to those who cherish and ride vintage surf longboards, cruise and take it for what it was and still is.
The vintage ski gear I'm talking of is telemark but could suffice poorly or borderline backcountry.
Metal edged woody's. Old Head, Lund, JC Higgins, Kandahar pre-plastics, useable and not so much as wall hangers. A current use set-up is late 1950's Rossignol with late Voile (2000?) CRB cable with release telemark binding. Play safe. They stopped making them but a great tele 3 pin sole binding that safety releases... sort of a convertible, look classic vintage and most important, work. I woudn't think of using old bindings. The technology of the Voile release tele's work fairly good. For boots, I have a few pairs of the no longer made Asolo Extreme last generation leather with higher ankle support, buckles (1990's). Beautiful Italian craftsman made and quality. Fit and wear-in like no other. Need to stock up as its getting hard to find really nice ones.
Also have a fetish for traditional wood X-country skis. Mostly Nordic like Asnes. Break out the Swix, pop a cold one and take the time to wax.
None of this old gear is anything practicle or worth risk of pushing ones self but it is interesting to be out in it and soaking it in, seeing the evolution. Dragging a pair of old skis and gear as extra with the new stuff to a resort is not everyones ideal either. The looks from others and comments are sometimes worth the chuckle. Fun for a few hours then when you switch to the new stuff - charged!
Back to our regular tuned surf station...