Åsnes kongsvold vs breidablikk

All of these skis are too wide for groomed tracks, thrive out in the mountain and are usually used in combination with frequent use of short skins.

• Nansen BC
• Cecilie BC
• Ingstad BC
• Tonje BC
• Breidablikk Hunter BC (no steel edge)
• Combat Nato

Waxless Allround BC skis:

• Nansen Waxless
• Ingstad Waxless
• Breidablikk Waxless (uten stålkant)

Dog-skis/mountain skis without steel edge:

Skis made specifically for those who own dogs.

So I decided to invest in a pair of Norwegian style “dog skis,” lacking steel edges but otherwise built to perform out-of-track and off-piste, in unbroken snow. In general, really versatile skis for falt and moderate terrain. These skis also have a softer flex and less camber than the narrower skis, mainly to give better downhill capabilities. The table below is only a guide, however – experience, skill, terrain and individual needs can all influence your choice of length.

Generally speaking, moving through rugged terrain calls for shorter skis than the open mountain plateau.

Furthermore, we have made the Breidablikk as maybe the most versatile dog-friendly ski on the market, and the Kongsvold as a wider ski for deeper snow and hunting.

• Finnmark 54 BC (no steel edge)
• Breidablikk Hunter BC (no steel edge)
• Breidablikk Waxless (no steel edge)
• Kongsvold Hunter BC (no steel edge)

Wide mountain-skis:

Wide skis, often called “hybrid skis” as they are made as wide mountain or BC skis, but is borderline to alpine touring skis.

Jakt means “hunt,” one intended purpose of this kind of ski, for on-snow hunting with dogs (Harley would probably love to hunt, but he’d need a lot of training first). Intended for hunters and dog owners that want to avoid injuring their dogs, it also works well for backcountry skiers that stick to soft snow conditions. If the person is lighter than average, the user should consider shorter skis, and vice versa.

If you’re mainly skiing along tracks, length isn’t the most crucial factor. I don’t see any other skis with as much sidecut as these in the Åsnes backcountry ski lineup. But the Kongsvold has a thoroughly modern flex and profile and handles surprisingly well on the downhills in soft snow conditions where steel edges aren’t really needed, and so also works well for backcountry skiers with rambunctious dogs.

A little bit about Åsnes (OH-sness)

Way back in the mid '70s, when almost all xc skis were still made of wood, I worked in the main warehouse at Eastern Mountain Sports in Boston.

These skis are easier ski downhill turns with, more playful and in general have better downhill abilities. They are directional, relatively stiff, has a high camber profile.

• Amundsen Fram BC
• Liv BC
• Gamme 54 BC
• Finnmark 54 BC (No steel edge)

WAXLESS BC skis for long outings and expeditions:

Allround BC and Telemark skis:

A bit wider mountain skis.

Last year my wife bought a pair of Cecilies, too skinny for my taste (the skis, not their namesake), but the short skin option seemed smart, and that was a factor in my deciding to try it for myself. There’s not a whole lot of choices in that category, and most of them come with a waxless “fishscale” base, which I have tried on and off over the years but generally find to be too slow and noisy—they make a buzzing or zipping sound on hard snow.

This makes for an ski extremely versatile, whatever the terrain or conditions.

An excellent choice for long winter hikes in moderate terrain – a faithful companion in the mountain.

Choosing the right length

Ski length is determined according to body weight and height.

So the Åsnes Kongsvold Jakt, with its smooth base and Easy Skin option, was a clear first choice.

Kongsvold (“King’s Hill”) is a stopover in the Dovrefjell Mountains on the old king’s road between Oslo and Trondheim, also used by pilgrims on their way to Europe’s northernmost cathedral, its centuries-old buildings now converted to a rustic mountain hotel.

All of these models have a high cambered profile and in general, a stiffer flex which allows for a good wax pocket.

• Mountain Race 46 (3/4 steel edge)
• Mountain Race 48 (3/4 steel edge)
• Mountain Race Junior (3/4 steel edge)
• Mountain Touring 51 (3/4 steel edge)
• Sondre BC

WAXLESS Touring and Cross-Country skis:

• Mountain Race 48 SKIN (3/4 steel edge) and with integrated skin
• Mountain Touring 51 Waxless (3/4 steel edge)