What is a 50-50 ski? Do you need one? What should you look for in choosing a 50-50 ski?
Ski manufacturers are taking a serious interest in the covid driven upsurge in backcountry skiing. No longer is the market just the crusty local crew, tight with their cash and granola. Nor is it just about the SkiMo setting uphill records each outing.
Now it seems that the backcountry is another component of the mainstream ski marketplace. Well, at least the idea of backcountry skiing is.
There is a lot more talk of 50/50 skis - those that you could happily take for a day in the resort performance -wise but light enough to do some uphill grunt.
This is not a new concept. Let's go back to Nordica's Sidecountry Series from circa 2012 which included the Hell and Back at 100mm underfoot, the Steadfast (90mm) and the Burner (84mm). There was also an Unleashed Hell at 113mm underfoot : the Unleashed name has returned in a different iteration this year.
Before the Sidecountry Series people were choosing strong all mountain skis to put a heavier touring binding on, others were skiing heavier "backcountry" skis like G3 , Black Diamond and Viole in the resort. However, these Nordicas were maybe the first heavily marketed skis to suit the skier delving into the occasional near resort backcountry (aka sidecountry or slackcountry) . They had a lighter core weight featuring a combination of wood and synthetic in Nordica's i-core construction. They also had a bit of tip rocker for float but enough stiffness to hold an edge on groomers .
I am a big fan of a utilitarian ski for both in and out of bounds- the so-called 50-50 ski. It may be because I'm cheap and don't want to spend too much on multiple set ups. I'd like to think it's because I have found what works best for me after a few decades exploring the near and far backcountry.
Now I'm no modern freerider - I enjoy a variety of turn radiuses, some simple airs, but really my skiing is directional and I like to "carve" everything I can including soft snow. I enjoy a consistent rhythmic flow on any terrain and will choose my line , turn shape and style to achieve this. This discussion needs to be read in that light.
My move to a 50/50 ski had a number of criteria.
I wanted first and foremost to feel secure loading the ski up with a bit of edge angle.
I wanted boots, bindings and ski that were solid as I bashed through crud, and bounced over sastrugi.
I was happy to do more work on the uphill so that on the on the downhill in challenging conditions I could have that feeling of security. I wasn't after the full titanal jacket and rigidity of the top of the line all mountain resort skis yet something that could perform fairly closely.
I didn't want too wide a ski as the wider waist widths were tricky on touring traverses and tight terrain on firm snow.
I also like bump and tree skiing so wanted something that could tip quickly edge to edge .
Yet I also wanted something that wouldn't dive in deep snow .
Too much to ask?
As far as I can remember one of my first in that category were the original Scott Mission. Wow, another ski that is making a comeback this year in name. These were light but not noodly and served me well.
The Nordica Steadfast of the above mentioned Sidecountry Series was next. It could carve, was a solid all mountain ski and yet wasn't too heavy. It wasn't a great powder ski but it did manage ok for me lapping the Hokkaido backcountry.
I read recently where someone had labelled these as forgettable skis- not great at anything in particular. Although another author has put the Nordica Sidecountry series in their best of the last decade choice!
I guess it all depends on how you view things it highlights a very important point:
No 50-50 ski is going to be master of any one thing other than being a good 50-50 ski! You could substitute the term "one ski quiver" for 50-50 on this point also.
My next 50-50 ski was also the subject of some derision- the Nordica NRGY. A light weight ski with limited titanal reinforcement with early rise tip , good camber and some tail rocker. This ski sure was not a Mantra M6 or Enforcer 94 on groomers but it was significantly lighter, could still hold an edge and floated well for it's narrow waist width.
There is no doubt the lightest ski is the best for the up but you have to decide what you want in performance on the downhill and in resort. What are you willing to sacrifice for weight? The ideal answer is nothing: a ski that is light yet strong and stable on descent.
Which brings me back to this evolution of 50-50 skis. Carbon is being used more successfully in intelligent ways to lighten skis, yet keep them relatively stiff and responsive. This is becoming a go to for many manufacturers to stiffen skis without the weight of metal. Have they replaced metal with carbon for their most high performance in area skis? Most companies have not as yet. Although there are interesting combinations of light weight metal and carbon together such as in the Scott Pure Mission 98Ti, I am yet to be convinced that the carbon versions of existing models such as the Nordica Enforcer Unlimited and the Blizzard Hustle are the way I want to go .
So my formula stands relatively unchanged for the moment. Depending on the predominance of the type of snow you get, a mid 90's ski is going to provide the most all-mountain versatility as a one ski quiver.
With the right amount of rocker and taper it will perform well in pow , bumps and trees . With just enough titanium it will feel secure enough underfoot on frozen crud or solid backcountry refreeze and carve a bit on the groomers when you have to. I ski extremes of snow conditions from Southern Hemisphere boiler plate, too dense wind affected new snow , to dry bottomless Japow . When you travel from home you can't easily take a quiver and you want something that will work in most conditions.
Could the higher 90s, lower 100s work? For sure.
Especially if your usual ski day is a soft snow one both on piste and off and if you prefer longer radius turns and charging lines. Generally as a ski gets bigger the weight goes up but keep in mind that companies are now reducing the relative amount of metal as their skis widen within a range, and also that potentially you can drop a size in length with the wider ski if you are not focussed on super G turns or stomping massive drops .
Here are six things to consider when looking at your ideal 50-50 ski as a one ski quiver :
1. Where do you ski mostly?
This is really asking what is the predominant snow type and terrain that this ski will be used for- see below.
It's great to have a 102 mm waist for soft snow, but if you rarely get to ski soft snow where you ski mostly, then a narrower waist would be more appropriate.
For those living in the Southern Hemisphere, and skiing resorts and just out of resorts, I would recommend in the mid 90mm range .
This would apply to those living in Europe and touring mainly in spring conditions.
If you live on the East Coast of the US , mid 90s might also be your ideal .
On the other hand , if you live in Utah or the Pacific North West, you might want to look at more around that 100mm range.
2. What terrain do you usually ski in the resort?
When in bounds are you mostly on groomers , carving ? Are you mostly in tracked bowl conditions? Or is it bumps and trees? Is it an even mix of all. Or do you just hang out in the Park?
Be honest here.
If you will be skiing mainly groomed trails when the backcountry is no good , and then ski mostly spring corn or firn conditions off piste then a narrower waisted ski with some solid edging ability may be worthy.
If you rarely ski groomers, are prone to launching off hits and head to the sidecountry when it's powder turns , then a more rockered ski with less metal would be your first choice.
3. How often are you going outside the resort and what distances are your uphill approaches?
If your backcountry skiing is predominantly short lift access approaches then ski weight is less of a consideration.
On the other hand if you occasionally do lots of vertical ascent to earn your turns you might want to put more emphasis on weight and look at skis without metal such as the Nordica Enforcer UNlimited or Blizzard Hustle series.
4. Ski Construction
Metal, often titianium, stiffens the ski to create a solid edge grip and usually better response in crud or chopped up conditions. Of course, the more metal usually means more weight. A lot of 50-50 skis have metal only under the active edging part of the ski to allow for more forgiving, playful and lighter tips and tails. This then helps with float and manoeuvrability in bumps and tight spaces. Atomic's Maverick series gets 2 sheets of metal but manages to keep weight down.
Carbon is used to keep a stiff light yet stiff. It does have different characteristics to metal, being more springy and less damp or quiet. Some, particularly lighter skiers will appreciate this feel. Others may find an all carbon ski too springy and reactive.
Skis like the Atomic Bent have no metal and rely on stiffer wood cores - again they are going to be less carving oriented and more playful but they are a very popular ski choice for modern freeride approaches and are light enough for utilising on the uphill.
Consider a compromise for a 50-50 ski. Some metal underfoot and then some playfulness in tip and tail.
5. Ski Weight
Heavier skis are more stable at speed, at high edge angles and through crud and chopped up snow generally.
Why would you want lighter?
Obviously the lighter , the better for the uphill but there is a limit to downhill performance as the ski gets very light.
Generally lighter skis float better and are less tiring to ski on for a full day unless they are so light they are constantly being deflected by the snow conditions and you are having to adapt your technique to manage.
There is no absolute rule for weight but something in the 1800-1900gm per ski range is reasonable for downhill performance - it does of course depend on construction.
You may not want to tour on something over 2000gm per ski but might consider using something in the 1950 gm range. Remember that your boots and bindings are also part of the equation when it comes to the weight you are dragging uphill on your feet.
6. Ski Waist Width
Generally narrower waisted skis are quicker edge to edge and offer better bite on firmer conditions and are more nimble for bumps or trees.
Wider waisted skis offer more support for floating in soft snow, and landing drops.
Of course other variables come in to play but generally all mountain skis sit somewhere in the 90-100mm zone. The narrower end of the spectrum if you are in a region with firmer snow conditions, or you spend more of your in bounds time on groomers.
The 100mm category is generally for softer snow dominant areas.
The mid 90s are generally thought to be an ideal one ski quiver waist width.
The type of construction does affect : softer tips and tails and the way the sidecut operates for the ski can make some 102mm skis like the Fischer Ranger 102 more agile than their numbers would appear.
So which skis are out there for you to check out as 50-50 skis for the 2022/23 ski season?
Here is a list to consider.
Armada Declivity 92 and 102
Blizzard Rustler 9 and 10
Fischer Ranger 96
Fischer Ranger 102
Liberty Origin 96
Scott Pure Mission 98Ti
For more frontside focus the Atomic Maverick 95Ti is a very light ski considering it has 2 layers of metal.
For those with more freestyle urges , the Nordica Unleashed 98 looks a great balance of features also.
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