Alpina Woody Ski - 2008 BCS

If I'm right, these are what the Alpina Discovery used to be (I have the Discovery 2009 model and they are identical in specs to these - not the current Discovery). So, if the old Discovery are the new "Woody" … here's the scoop: Decent basic XC ski. Not raggin' on them, but they try to be all things to folks and we know what that usually means.

In this case it means decent (not awesome) groomed track performance. That's where these do best. In groomed, you'd do better with a longer & narrower ski, but they do well here. You gotta step firmly to engage the double camber for sure. They're a very fast glide. Very fast. That's super for easy, groomed tracks.

But then get off the groomed and into other snow: compromise is apparent. Note that the scales (on mine) are relatively sparse compared to double or triple crown type scales on other skis. That means that on uphills you REALLY have to stomp in the scales to get grip. Even then, if your buddy has a pair of nearly any other ski… you'll be wanting to put skins on and he/she will be over the hill already. I cannot tell you how many times I had to herringbone up a hill my friend glided up. These are not great climbers. Sure, you can put on and take off skins six times a day… but the rest of the group will be two miles ahead by then.

In deepish snow, they just don't float well. They're relatively short (and thus not really floaty skis). If the snow is deep and fluffy … you're hosed. You'll have virtually no forward momentum. I've stood on a five degree slope and just slid backwards into deeper snow while commenting vigorously on the holding power of the sparse scales underneath. You were warned.

As to turning… yeah, you can do "kind of" a tele turn with it -- if you muscle it enough (and if the thinnish front doesn't plow under first). Think turning as easy with a 1980 ski … and only a toe binding. Right. Not super graceful. The full metal edges DO help a lot if the snow's crunchy or the trail well-worn (but not grooved). You CAN lean in and get it to bite a little … but just look at the measurements and the profile of the ski… this is not for S turns. Yes, you CAN turn with it, but don't fancy this as a tele ski.

So if I dumped on it like that, why four stars? Because it really is about as close to an "all in one" ski as I could find. It CAN do groomed tracks easily. It can go backcountry and do fairly nicely on a trail. You can go off trail if you're willing to do some sliding and put skins on when it gets beyond mildly hilly. And if you're daring, you can go for a few turns. It's a great basic all-in-one … but with the compromises that such a beast requires.

Think about your application. If you want an "everything" ski, this might be it. If you do just groomed track… go thinner and longer. Just backcountry off trails… go wider and more aggressive on the waxless scales. Turns? Look for some profile in the shape and a lot wider. But now you have to have more than one pair, eh?

I've only had them for a few weeks and have only gone downhill tele style on them a couple times but so far they are a great all around cross country ski. They fit in groomed tracks just fine and have good climbing grip. They're a little slower than a skinnier ski would be in tracks but I'm going to try some glide wax next time and I'm sure this will help. Even so them being a little slower, they are awesome because of the versatility of being able to go off trail or down slopes and get some bite with the metal edges. Once I ground the edges in it was a very welcome thing I missed from other x-country skis that just slide out when you want to turn.

They still aren't that wide so they won't float too well in the deepy deep but they're good enough for 4-8 inches and the fact that you can hop right back into a track is what I wanted for most of the trails I'm on in southern Wisconsin. I suppose if you're doing anything more serious than casual groomed trails and basic descents these are not the best skis and you'd be better off with a more full on tele or AT setup. But for in the city and just outside skiing in track and out of track when I want they are great!

This is a great ski for just tromping around in, they're a little bit wider than a typical cross country ski so you can cruise off trail and have a little more stability and float if the snow is deep, and you can go with a shorter total length and get the same surface area. Truth be told, I use them to walk my dog around after a storm. They have full metal edges so they feel pretty solid whether going up or down.