I would pick a softer pair of 812 plus. It sounds like the 812's you have
seem a bit on the stiff side, given those flex numbers and your experience
with them. It sounds like they are good in hard track conditions and for
klister.

My softest 812's that I find great in powder are 34kg (I weigh 71) -
48%. My klister skis are in the 41-42 range (~58%) with a camber height
greater than 1.1.

I think a good "universal" powder ski would be something in the
neighborhood of 50-52% body weight with a camber height of 0.8-0.9mm. But
then again, I don't ski on Minnesota conditions that often. What exactly
are "Minnesota conditions"?

Nathan

"Marsh Jones" wrote in message
...
Nathan Schultz wrote:
What did your 812's flex at? How much do you weigh? What conditions do
you ski/race in mostly? If you don't know flex numbers, what flex are
the skis (soft, med, stiff) and what length?

Hi Nathan,
46.7, 195 dropping to 190, turn 50 this summer. Minnesota conditions...
Med flex, 207 Cold.

The hardest part to figure out is your technical proficiency. This
can alter the ski selection significantly. It sounds like you're a
strong classical skier, but how long have you skied, what kind of
coaching have you had, etc?
Hard to say. The only two serious races last year were Mora, MN
(20s,orange klister, 812s) and the Birkie (3:16 watch time!) (single
digits, VR40, ARCs).
OK, the rest of the dirt. I've been skiing since the mid-70s, off&on. I
started trying to classic seriously again 2 years ago, race canoes in the
summertime, and have had minimal formal coaching - a couple of sessions at
local clinics with club level coaches and a fair amount of critique from
my highschool team coaching partner. If time works out this year, I'll
participate in Finn-Sisu's program. If not, whatever seminars I can fit
in. Technically, I'm so-so. I slap badly at times, don't get enough
drive out of my arms, don't explode off the ski when I get tired, but I
mostly can keep my back curved and keep my head down.

Thanks,

Marsh

-Nathan
www.nsavage.com

"Marsh Jones" wrote in message
...

Zach, Nathan, Eli, et al:

Over the past two years, I've fallen back in love with classic technique,
and made pretty serious improvements in my technique. I bought a new
pair of Fischer 812s last year hoping that they would become my 'A' skis
(supplementing my 8 yo ARCs). Both pair were flexed by Tom Novak and
Ahvo to make sure they did fit.
So... The 812s seem to work very well, most of the time, on manmade and
firm natural tracks. They do require pretty significant kick to get them
to bite - I found I was often one wax warmer than others to get reliable
kick. The kick zone was very well defined, removing any kickwax outside
the pocket in about 5K. But they are rockets on glide, so I felt pretty
good about getting them.
The Atomics have been Buicks -no flash, not extremely fast, but pretty
reliable (but getting to where I doubt Tom can grind them more than once
more). When it came time to pick skis for the Birkie, Ahvo suggested
them instead of the 'faster' 812s, suggesting that the softer kick would
get me to the finish line better. He was right. I had kick all the way,
getting out of the tracks only a couple of very short segments - and
mostly for traffic. And skied a PR, in spite of having my skis disappear
at the start and missing my wave by 10+ min.

So the question of the day is: In general, what would you add to a
classic quiver for next season? A pair of 'wet' skis, or a pair of
hardpack skis with a little softer pocket that the 812s' WC one?

TIA,

Marsh Jones