Another great video, Tom. Anyone who criticizes another person's skiing ability is usually someone who has never skied themselves or afraid to push themselves beyond their own narrow comfort zone. You're a very talented skier but I see skiers all of the time with less ability than you or myself but I just think to myself how great it is they are "out there" and enjoying the day and the snow while we still have it.
Everyone has their own style when it comes to off trail free heel skiing and that is what makes it unique. Some ski slow, some fast, some aggressive other cautious. Big turns, short turns, tight turns, loose turns. Tall poles, short poles. Pole taps, pole drags, no poles at all. It is all good in my book as long as the skier is having fun and it brings them joy. Thanks for tuning in and for posting.
Another great video Tom! I especially love the sunshine! It would sure be great to see the sun here! And while it's been snowing regularly here in Washington's Cascades, the avalanche danger is off the charts! We could use a break for a few days.
This sure has been a crazy winter weather wise. We have had big swings in snow cover and temperature, with a big warm up in the forecast for this week. Thanks for tuning in and posting and I hope you have a great week.
Thanks so much for the kind words and for subscribing. We finally did get some more snow, including a dump of powder last week. Most of the brush is now covered and we are currently sitting at 80% of the normal snowpack for Jan 21. Thanks for tuning in and have a great week.
Happens to all of us. Sometimes the elements arent with our side on the trips. Sometimes snow is hard to ski "well", sometimes weather changes to real bad and its wiser to head back home. Nowdays most of the content on social media show only the sunny days and flashy runs even tho everyone who goes outside enough to do different sports know its not the case everytime. I liked the video, and Im hoping you get more snow. Here in Finland we´ve had a great start this year. We have more snow than most years at this time, but only "downside" is that all powder to the bottom. Its like 60-100cm of powder depending on the spot. Cant really ski anything than really steeps and fast and still might find something underneath. This week we get some warmer days after weeks of -20 to -35'C temperatures and heavy snowfall between them and hoping for some layers to the snow.
I spent many years in Alaska and know how frustrating the bottomless snow conditions can be. Sometimes those conditions would last for months until the sun started to return to the North. I hope you get a warmup to help consolidate the snow. Thanks for posting and have a great ski season.
Nice! Great cinematography by you and the drone, and interesting “making of” commentary. As a Mavic Mini operator I was cringing at the close tree encounters, and impressed with the following and obstacle avoidance. I'm upgrading to a Mini 4 Pro, with 360 degree obstacle avoidance, so maybe I'll eventually try some offset follow shots in conditions like this. But people have suggested that the price of 360 coverage is reduced capability in forward-facing obstacle avoidance. (Another thing is that the Mini 4 Pro has external antennas-better range, but not so good for putting in jacket pocket.) By the way, like you, I would never fly a drone with other people around, and I appreciate that you discussed this in a previous video. I skied the identical route, I think, a few years ago in spring conditions-way more out of control than this. My problem then was icy hard snow, too early in the day. I'm still waiting for the exact conditions that will make me look like a good skier.
It seems like I learn something new every time I fly the drone. The drone footage is probably more meaningful to you than others since you have had the opportunity to ski the area. I appreciate the feedback and thanks for tuning in.
Great video Tom, always something to learn from your videos. I really liked the filming and you also talking a little bit about the behind the scenes, and about your video gear. Happy winter from Norway❄️
Another great video Tom, thanks for sharing and making the effort. Curious what kind of mileage you covered on this trip? Always amazed to hear you say conditions were not that great. They always look beautiful in a video and being in upstate NY where our winter has been awful for skiing I sure am envious.
I log all of my outings with a Garmin GPS watch and the total distance was 3.1 miles (5 km) with 1256 feet of ascent (383 meters). The snow was amazing on the lower section of the hill but was tricky on the upper half. The conditions looked better on camera, but what we had on the top section was about 4 inches of the softest and lightest fluff you could imagine that fell overnight onto old sun crusted and icy snow. The top layer was so light that it was like it wasn't even there. I was blindly skiing the lower crusty layer with sudden stops in combination with instant acceleration. The conditions did improve about halfway down the hill, but they were never as good as the West facing slope that I skied at the start of the video. The video that drops next Friday (1/26) is the yin to this yang, so stay tuned.
Glad to see you're getting out there! I've yet to get out this season, but there's (finally) enough snow to ski here. SNOTEL says you're now getting (close to) what you should have for this time of year, so I can't wait for the next video!
Yes, things have really changed this past week. We are currently at 82% and much of the brush is now covered, but a warmup is on the way bringing a mix of snow and rain which is very unusual for January. Thanks for tuning in and I hope you are able to get out.
Tom: Gear questions/ video idea… What do you think of the “ski shoe” category? Altai Hok, Black Diamond Glidelite, Salomon Outrack and… most interesting OAC SkinBased…. Many thanks Steve
I've not had the opportunity to ski any of these types of skis. I think that they would be a lot of fun. I did meet up with a skier last year who was skiing the Hok / 75 mm Scarpa T4 and posted a video on that subject. ruclips.net/video/y4G_UPxYurk/видео.html
The green poles are K2 lockjaw carbon poles. They are over 10 years old. The straps are badly frayed and the baskets have been replaced. I think they have held up well considering the amount of use. They are an interesting pole as they have a bubble level to check slope angle and can be screwed together to make a probe. I don't think their new poles have this feature. I also have a newer set of adjustable backcountry poles, Dynafit Speed Vario 2.0. They are the blue ones you see me ski every now and again. I have a GoPro mount attached to the lockjaw so if I'm on a ski tour where I don't bring the GoPro, I tend to ski the Dynafit poles as they are lighter. I use adjustable poles in the backcountry because I prefer to use a short pole, around 125 cm when skiing downhill and a longer pole, around 135 cm when skiing in the flats. It only takes a second or two to adjust the length. I also prefer circular baskets, about 4 inchs (100 mm) in diameter, and poles that have a "choke up" sleeve below the main grip for steep uphill side hill traverses. These are commonly called "powder baskets". There are lots of good backcountry poles that have these features, and all perform about the same.
Have you been skiing the hypervectors with alfa frees much this season? Curious how that is working out. I have some stiff leathers with 3 pin bindings on a pair of older wide voile skis and want to give them a try in bottomless powder but we have yet to get that here this season.
We had a big dump of powder last week and I used my Hypervector / Free combo for the first time this season. They worked great. Next Friday's video (1/26) will feature this ski outing so stay tuned. The weather has warmed up, the temp was 40 F today, and the snow has consolidated, so I was out skiing my Objectives with the Frees this morning. They are even predicting a rain / snow mix tomorrow. :( My Hypervectors and my Objectives are about the same length (177 & 178 cm). I'm only 172.5 cm tall and I've really been enjoying the extra float of these skis. This has been the warmest and weirdest ski season that I can remember, but I'm hoping that I will get the opportunity to ski the Hypervectors a few more times this season. For me, the Frees have more than enough support to control these skis in deep powder, especially when using the hard flexor.
Great video! Can you kick and glide on the switchbacks? I'll get a pair of Rossi BC 100 skis for xcD, doing a lot of downhill, skiing them with the T4s. Should I put switchbacks or 3pin/3pin cable?
It is possible to do a modified kick and glide with the switchback but it does take more effort when compared to a soft boot and an XC binding. The equipment is heavy, the boots are stiff, and these skis are downhill skis, they don't track very straight and are lifeless due to the lack of camber. When I'm skiing this setup I mostly just shuffle along, but that's OK as much of my telemark tours are done in areas with short approaches and I'm usually breaking trail as well. It would be easier to kick and glide with the switchback mounted on a wide cross country ski. I skied a switchback on an Sbound 125 with a Scarpa T4 for many years. That was an easier setup for kick and glide, but the foot motion has a very different feel from an XC binding, as the switchback is free pivot with no resistance, and the pivot point is further forward of the toe when compared to the pivot point on an XC binding. The switchback and T4 is a powerful combination on the downhill and if that is the intent of the tour, then it is just a matter of adjusting one's expectation for the kick and glide portion of the tour and works fine if you slow things down just a bit. It will feel very different from the typical XC setup but it is easy to adjust to and you can move right along at a recreational pace. If you ski with traditional XC skiers who ski at an athletic pace, then it probably is best to ski similar gear.
Great video! Request your opinion of a possible S-Bound 125 or maybe 112s with Xplore bindings and ALFA Vista or Free boots for deeper powder kick & glide for a guy 6’1” & 250 pounds loaded up??
@@allenbrookshire9610 The Xplore binding is an off trail cross country binding and I currently have it mounted on 5 different sets of skis (yikes, I hate to admit that!) It would be a good choice for any wide XC ski like the S-Bound 125, 112 or other similar ski. I have both the Vista and the Free and I regularly ski both. The boot and ski that I pick will depend on the purpose of the tour and the snow conditions. Boot fit and comfort are very critical, so if you go the Xplore route, don't limit yourself to those two choices. If the fit doesn't feel right or the toe crease pinches your toes, then it is probably not going to work very well for you. The Free's are a stiffer boot than the Vista's and are more downhill use focused. The Vistas are a great sturdy, more traditional leather off trail cross country boot. I don't think you can go wrong with either boot as the Free's tour pretty well once you get used to their stiffness and the Vista's are sturdy enough for most people for downhill control, especially in soft snow in moderate terrain.
It has been a very unusual ski season this year and this one seems different from other El Nino years. The video scheduled to be released next Friday was recorded on January 15 so stay tuned for an update on our Winter.
@tomm9850 it is indeed different, we are now seeing the effects of Climate Breakdown, unfortunately. But your videos are still a relaxing start or end to a day 😌
Another great video, Tom. Anyone who criticizes another person's skiing ability is usually someone who has never skied themselves or afraid to push themselves beyond their own narrow comfort zone. You're a very talented skier but I see skiers all of the time with less ability than you or myself but I just think to myself how great it is they are "out there" and enjoying the day and the snow while we still have it.
Everyone has their own style when it comes to off trail free heel skiing and that is what makes it unique. Some ski slow, some fast, some aggressive other cautious. Big turns, short turns, tight turns, loose turns. Tall poles, short poles. Pole taps, pole drags, no poles at all. It is all good in my book as long as the skier is having fun and it brings them joy. Thanks for tuning in and for posting.
Another great video Tom! I especially love the sunshine! It would sure be great to see the sun here! And while it's been snowing regularly here in Washington's Cascades, the avalanche danger is off the charts! We could use a break for a few days.
This sure has been a crazy winter weather wise. We have had big swings in snow cover and temperature, with a big warm up in the forecast for this week. Thanks for tuning in and posting and I hope you have a great week.
Tom thank you again for being a warm ambassador for skiing. Love your work and hope you get more snow!
Thanks so much for the kind words and for subscribing. We finally did get some more snow, including a dump of powder last week. Most of the brush is now covered and we are currently sitting at 80% of the normal snowpack for Jan 21. Thanks for tuning in and have a great week.
Happens to all of us. Sometimes the elements arent with our side on the trips. Sometimes snow is hard to ski "well", sometimes weather changes to real bad and its wiser to head back home. Nowdays most of the content on social media show only the sunny days and flashy runs even tho everyone who goes outside enough to do different sports know its not the case everytime.
I liked the video, and Im hoping you get more snow. Here in Finland we´ve had a great start this year. We have more snow than most years at this time, but only "downside" is that all powder to the bottom. Its like 60-100cm of powder depending on the spot. Cant really ski anything than really steeps and fast and still might find something underneath. This week we get some warmer days after weeks of -20 to -35'C temperatures and heavy snowfall between them and hoping for some layers to the snow.
I spent many years in Alaska and know how frustrating the bottomless snow conditions can be. Sometimes those conditions would last for months until the sun started to return to the North. I hope you get a warmup to help consolidate the snow. Thanks for posting and have a great ski season.
Nice! Great cinematography by you and the drone, and interesting “making of” commentary. As a Mavic Mini operator I was cringing at the close tree encounters, and impressed with the following and obstacle avoidance. I'm upgrading to a Mini 4 Pro, with 360 degree obstacle avoidance, so maybe I'll eventually try some offset follow shots in conditions like this. But people have suggested that the price of 360 coverage is reduced capability in forward-facing obstacle avoidance. (Another thing is that the Mini 4 Pro has external antennas-better range, but not so good for putting in jacket pocket.) By the way, like you, I would never fly a drone with other people around, and I appreciate that you discussed this in a previous video.
I skied the identical route, I think, a few years ago in spring conditions-way more out of control than this. My problem then was icy hard snow, too early in the day. I'm still waiting for the exact conditions that will make me look like a good skier.
It seems like I learn something new every time I fly the drone. The drone footage is probably more meaningful to you than others since you have had the opportunity to ski the area. I appreciate the feedback and thanks for tuning in.
Great video Tom, always something to learn from your videos. I really liked the filming and you also talking a little bit about the behind the scenes, and about your video gear. Happy winter from Norway❄️
Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for tuning in.
Another great video Tom, thanks for sharing and making the effort. Curious what kind of mileage you covered on this trip? Always amazed to hear you say conditions were not that great. They always look beautiful in a video and being in upstate NY where our winter has been awful for skiing I sure am envious.
I log all of my outings with a Garmin GPS watch and the total distance was 3.1 miles (5 km) with 1256 feet of ascent (383 meters). The snow was amazing on the lower section of the hill but was tricky on the upper half. The conditions looked better on camera, but what we had on the top section was about 4 inches of the softest and lightest fluff you could imagine that fell overnight onto old sun crusted and icy snow. The top layer was so light that it was like it wasn't even there. I was blindly skiing the lower crusty layer with sudden stops in combination with instant acceleration. The conditions did improve about halfway down the hill, but they were never as good as the West facing slope that I skied at the start of the video. The video that drops next Friday (1/26) is the yin to this yang, so stay tuned.
Glad to see you're getting out there! I've yet to get out this season, but there's (finally) enough snow to ski here. SNOTEL says you're now getting (close to) what you should have for this time of year, so I can't wait for the next video!
Yes, things have really changed this past week. We are currently at 82% and much of the brush is now covered, but a warmup is on the way bringing a mix of snow and rain which is very unusual for January. Thanks for tuning in and I hope you are able to get out.
Tom: Gear questions/ video idea… What do you think of the “ski shoe” category? Altai Hok, Black Diamond Glidelite, Salomon Outrack and… most interesting OAC SkinBased…. Many thanks Steve
I've not had the opportunity to ski any of these types of skis. I think that they would be a lot of fun. I did meet up with a skier last year who was skiing the Hok / 75 mm Scarpa T4 and posted a video on that subject. ruclips.net/video/y4G_UPxYurk/видео.html
Great video! greetings from northern norway
Thanks for tuning in Simon. I hope you are having a great ski season in Norway.
Hi Tom, what Ski Poles do you use? The green ones! John
The green poles are K2 lockjaw carbon poles. They are over 10 years old. The straps are badly frayed and the baskets have been replaced. I think they have held up well considering the amount of use. They are an interesting pole as they have a bubble level to check slope angle and can be screwed together to make a probe. I don't think their new poles have this feature. I also have a newer set of adjustable backcountry poles, Dynafit Speed Vario 2.0. They are the blue ones you see me ski every now and again. I have a GoPro mount attached to the lockjaw so if I'm on a ski tour where I don't bring the GoPro, I tend to ski the Dynafit poles as they are lighter. I use adjustable poles in the backcountry because I prefer to use a short pole, around 125 cm when skiing downhill and a longer pole, around 135 cm when skiing in the flats. It only takes a second or two to adjust the length. I also prefer circular baskets, about 4 inchs (100 mm) in diameter, and poles that have a "choke up" sleeve below the main grip for steep uphill side hill traverses. These are commonly called "powder baskets". There are lots of good backcountry poles that have these features, and all perform about the same.
Have you been skiing the hypervectors with alfa frees much this season? Curious how that is working out. I have some stiff leathers with 3 pin bindings on a pair of older wide voile skis and want to give them a try in bottomless powder but we have yet to get that here this season.
We had a big dump of powder last week and I used my Hypervector / Free combo for the first time this season. They worked great. Next Friday's video (1/26) will feature this ski outing so stay tuned. The weather has warmed up, the temp was 40 F today, and the snow has consolidated, so I was out skiing my Objectives with the Frees this morning. They are even predicting a rain / snow mix tomorrow. :( My Hypervectors and my Objectives are about the same length (177 & 178 cm). I'm only 172.5 cm tall and I've really been enjoying the extra float of these skis. This has been the warmest and weirdest ski season that I can remember, but I'm hoping that I will get the opportunity to ski the Hypervectors a few more times this season. For me, the Frees have more than enough support to control these skis in deep powder, especially when using the hard flexor.
Great video! Can you kick and glide on the switchbacks? I'll get a pair of Rossi BC 100 skis for xcD, doing a lot of downhill, skiing them with the T4s. Should I put switchbacks or 3pin/3pin cable?
It is possible to do a modified kick and glide with the switchback but it does take more effort when compared to a soft boot and an XC binding. The equipment is heavy, the boots are stiff, and these skis are downhill skis, they don't track very straight and are lifeless due to the lack of camber. When I'm skiing this setup I mostly just shuffle along, but that's OK as much of my telemark tours are done in areas with short approaches and I'm usually breaking trail as well. It would be easier to kick and glide with the switchback mounted on a wide cross country ski. I skied a switchback on an Sbound 125 with a Scarpa T4 for many years. That was an easier setup for kick and glide, but the foot motion has a very different feel from an XC binding, as the switchback is free pivot with no resistance, and the pivot point is further forward of the toe when compared to the pivot point on an XC binding. The switchback and T4 is a powerful combination on the downhill and if that is the intent of the tour, then it is just a matter of adjusting one's expectation for the kick and glide portion of the tour and works fine if you slow things down just a bit. It will feel very different from the typical XC setup but it is easy to adjust to and you can move right along at a recreational pace. If you ski with traditional XC skiers who ski at an athletic pace, then it probably is best to ski similar gear.
Great video! Request your opinion of a possible S-Bound 125 or maybe 112s with Xplore bindings and ALFA Vista or Free boots for deeper powder kick & glide for a guy 6’1” & 250 pounds loaded up??
@@tomm9850 Thank you sir, my tours will mostly be ups and downs with occasional flat traversals, so this might work. Turns are the goal.
@@allenbrookshire9610 The Xplore binding is an off trail cross country binding and I currently have it mounted on 5 different sets of skis (yikes, I hate to admit that!) It would be a good choice for any wide XC ski like the S-Bound 125, 112 or other similar ski. I have both the Vista and the Free and I regularly ski both. The boot and ski that I pick will depend on the purpose of the tour and the snow conditions. Boot fit and comfort are very critical, so if you go the Xplore route, don't limit yourself to those two choices. If the fit doesn't feel right or the toe crease pinches your toes, then it is probably not going to work very well for you. The Free's are a stiffer boot than the Vista's and are more downhill use focused. The Vistas are a great sturdy, more traditional leather off trail cross country boot. I don't think you can go wrong with either boot as the Free's tour pretty well once you get used to their stiffness and the Vista's are sturdy enough for most people for downhill control, especially in soft snow in moderate terrain.
Interesting title 🤔
It has been a very unusual ski season this year and this one seems different from other El Nino years. The video scheduled to be released next Friday was recorded on January 15 so stay tuned for an update on our Winter.
@tomm9850 it is indeed different, we are now seeing the effects of Climate Breakdown, unfortunately. But your videos are still a relaxing start or end to a day 😌