I picked up a pair of KARHU xcd skis from a friend and would like to set them up as a cross country setup. I presently alpine ski, have a AT setup but would like to have these for cruising days and maybe play with the Telemark turn. any suggestion on what boots and bindings would be appropriate for these skis. Thanks

NNN BC boots and bindings usually go on those skis. You can't tele with that gear though for many reasons, you more just bend your knees and wait to slow down when going downhill.

If you go leather 3 pin boots or low plastic tele boots, you might still like the system for ski touring with a feeling of control you are used to from AT and Alpine. Plus you'll be a little warmer, drier, and able to walk around on a steep slope better. But you can't make tele turns on narrow fish scale skis.

That will be your 4th ski setup. telemark backcountry gear. For now I'd just spend less money and get NNN BC boots and bindings. Although if a lightweight 3pin boot fits well, get those and standard 3 pin bindings. whatever boot fits best is what you'll be most happy with.

_________________
Mike Schwartz
www.thebackcountry.net
mike@thebackcountry.net

Just thought I'd jump in, here, with a sanity check. Of course telemark technique actually BEGAN with the gear that Mike is saying you can't do it on. But he has a point, he just didn't spell it all the way out. It's just that there is so much better, easier gear to make tele turns on, that most people who own long skinny skis now don't really use them in ways that require much turning. Sure, they do turn so their tours aren't just long straight lines. But they don't exactly go out on those skis for the purpose of making lots of tight S-curves. There are a few enthusiasts still doing it for historical and hobbyist reasons, sure. It IS kind of fun. It's not "impossible" as Mike may have implied. But it's rather difficult.

I too own a pair of long (210cm) waxless-base (fish-scale pattern) skinny cross country skis with metal edges, which the world used to (70s-80s-early-90s) think of as backcountry or telemark skis. I use them for just getting around, going on snow hikes through the woods. I use them like snowshoes, only way better/faster because they have good glide. I can crank a turn or two on them but there is no reason I would force my ankles (etc.) to do that on a regular basis, when I could go out on more solid, easy-turning gear for that purpose.

Know what I mean? I just didn't want to let Mike call it impossible. But he's right, it's pretty much out of the picture for most people these days.