Help with my ski selection please

Hello, I am looking for some touring skis but I would like some advice to what I should get.

I am looking to ski 100% off piste. I have a few years experience in the lift assisted BC at Alpental on alpine gear.
Looking to ski areas around the MT Loop Hwy...

I have never skied tele. I have tried out fritischi freerides once with some icelantic shamans which I liked


I am on a tight budget.. trying to get into the BC as inexpensively as possible.

seattle.craigslist.org/see/spo/2639923500.html

I am really tempted to go pick these up and look for some used AT boots to go with.

I am wondering if I should wait for a deal on a Dynafit setup, though *(lighter... $) Not sure how I would come up with the money other than waiting another year of not skiing at all.


Is 181CM too long?




I was going to pick up some tele skis, but some people convinced me not to with the learning curve associated with them....
yes?

Thank you,

Chris

Is 181CM too long?

How much do you weigh? and how long are your usual alpine skis?

Mt.Bakers aren't exactly the latest and greatest, but for an all-conditions set up, it'll work fine.

Don't get a tele rig unless you want to learn to tele.... if you're just wanting to get into the backcountry, you'll likely be much happier sticking with a turn you already know.

Getting a good deal on a dynafit set up is tougher to come by as, at least from personal experience, when I've worn out a pair of skis, I usually just move my dynafits over to the next ski rather than selling the whole setup... Enough folks eventually ditch Fritschis for Dynafits that Fritschi setups seem more common to find used.

Dynafits obviously have some advantages, but if you're on a tight budget, you could even start monkeying around with backcountry skiing using your current alpine boots in the Fritschis. When you do get boots though, I would highly recommend getting ones with Dynafits hardware...eventually you'll probbaly convert to a dynafit rig and having boots that already work will be an advantage.

And finally, don't skimp on the other important stuff...beacon, probe, shovel, avy class, etc (if you haven't already invested in that).

Have fun!

PS- if you look at getting that Mt.Baker rig, make sure to confirm that your current alpine boots and future AT boots sole lengths are a compatible size to those Fritschis bindings.

thanks for the help. I weigh 150lb... ski a 173 now. I am worried about chutes... long skis = scary/no turns.

A lot of chutes at alpental are above cliffs so you have to be able to get down them and traverse away from the cliffs. I would imagine a lot of terrain I will encounter will be like that.

I will make sure to get dynafit compatible boots, thanks.

I have avy/probe/beacon/shovel/ham radio/GPS

If you put on another 30 lbs these would be perfect for you:
www.turns-all-year.com/skiing_snowboardi...ex.php?topic=21919.0

So that's an option. Beef up!

thanks for the help. I weigh 150lb... ski a 173 now. I am worried about chutes... long skis = scary/no turns.

A lot of chutes at alpental are above cliffs so you have to be able to get down them and traverse away from the cliffs. I would imagine a lot of terrain I will encounter will be like that.

I will make sure to get dynafit compatible boots, thanks.

I have avy/probe/beacon/shovel/ham radio/GPS

I also weigh 150# and ski on 173 Icelantic Shamans (for trees in deep snow).  Otherwise I alpine ski on 171 Head Monster 78s.  I like the Heads so much I mounted a pair of Dynafit FT12s on some 165 Head Monster 78s and use them with BD Prime boots for summer volcano skiing.  The setup is fabulous for quick turns in steep narrow chutes.  For me, 181 would be too long for this application.

I recommend that craiglist set up if it is not bs as the gear should be almost new condition.
the skis are not too long for you in fact 7cm's is not that much of a change from what you are now skiing
the mt. baker is made from the same mold of the old K2 ak launcher and is a softer flex ski that is very easy to turn
glide length is important do not shy away from it
my experience with both those skis was always a positive thing
the bindings come in sizes  sm-fits up to shoe size 9
med fits 9-12  lrg fits 12 and up
they are a good dependable binding
I used to hike in my Lang's on freerides until I ponyed up for at boots
I also have an old pair of scarpa denali xt's 28's if they are your size for 50 bucks.
get your gear and ski this winter upgrade next.