Opinions on Salomon Combi Pilot boots for skating?

My bumblebee skate boots are due for replacement. Feels like they've
gotten laterally flexy from usage on snow and roller-skiing. The
newer RS and S-Lab skate boots look very cool, but the cost is giving
me pause.

I've come across some good prices on Salomon S-Lab Skiathlon boots,
and am looking for thoughts / experiences on how well they'll work as
dedicated skate boots. From what I've read, the "only" difference
between the new combis and a dedicated skate boot is the flex in the
sole. Cuff, etc. is said to be the same. Is that really true?
Should I just bite the bullet a true skate boot?

I considered the skiathlons for awhile but never tried them. They are
high class combis and have not caught on widely, which is probably why
the sales. Sole flex stiffness helps in skate push off, softness in
classic ski push off. Have you considered the RS Carbon version? Other
than a much lower price, and they can be found on steep discount
frequently, especially if you can wait a bit longer. The difference is
a two-piece sole vs one for the S-Lab, while the ankle position is much
improved over the bumblebee. Where are you looking? Some good places
to check are joessportinggoods.com, gearwest.com and skiguys.com.

Gene

On Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:10:42 -0800 (PST)
" wrote:

My bumblebee skate boots are due for replacement. Feels like they've
gotten laterally flexy from usage on snow and roller-skiing. The
newer RS and S-Lab skate boots look very cool, but the cost is giving
me pause.

I've come across some good prices on Salomon S-Lab Skiathlon boots,
and am looking for thoughts / experiences on how well they'll work as
dedicated skate boots. From what I've read, the "only" difference
between the new combis and a dedicated skate boot is the flex in the
sole. Cuff, etc. is said to be the same. Is that really true?
Should I just bite the bullet a true skate boot?

I am like a girl when it comes to ski boots. I have one pair of casual non-sports shoes, but ski boots...

Just snagged 2 deals in my 13US size, both are underway to me in the mail:
- EUR125 RC Carbon Skates, not the very latest version. I mis-placed the pair I had or have, and LOVE (paid EUR180 then). Rollerskiing on it, for me, which is likely all about me and/or the rollerski, not the boots.
- EUR50 (really, 1/4 of retail) Adidas Skate "Carbon" ProII boots. Found them hours after I paid the above. Couldn't find a proper review, so I just took the gamble. They come with free overbooties even. Too good to be true, usually is. I am going to find out... Other sizes were available, eBay.co.uk.

I really want the top Fishers (but, NNN). And the new top Salomons, rrrrrr.
The top Atomics are discounted if you look around, made by Salomon. They bought the company, or the other way around. Anyway, Atomic stuff is often nice-price compared to Fischer and Salomon, it seems.

On Dec 31 2009, 4:21*pm, Jan Gerrit Klok Jan.Gerrit.Klok.
wrote:
I am like a girl when it comes to ski boots. I have one pair of casual
non-sports shoes, but ski boots...

Just snagged 2 deals in my 13US size, both are underway to me in the
mail:
- EUR125 RC Carbon Skates, not the very latest version. I mis-placed
the pair I had or have, and LOVE (paid EUR180 then). Rollerskiing on
it, for me, which is likely all about me and/or the rollerski, not the
boots.
- EUR50 (really, 1/4 of retail) Adidas Skate "Carbon" ProII boots.
Found them hours after I paid the above. Couldn't find a proper review,
so I just took the gamble. They come with free overbooties even. Too
good to be true, usually is. I am going to find out... Other sizes were
available, eBay.co.uk.

I really want the top Fishers (but, NNN). And the new top Salomons,
rrrrrr.
The top Atomics are discounted if you look around, made by Salomon.
They bought the company, or the other way around. Anyway, Atomic stuff
is often nice-price compared to Fischer and Salomon, it seems.

--
Jan Gerrit Klok

Many thanks for the replies. Yes, I understanding "being like a girl"
when it come to various bits of technical clothing/gear! I think I'm
going to try and find a pair of RS Carbons at a good price. I have
the RC Carbons, and the fit is really good although they're a bit of a
pain to get on and off.

Thanks again and Happy Trails

A little detail the RC's probably also feature, but really makes a difference over a long day of skiing.
Less snow gets stuck under the RS's Pilot pins than most other Pilot boots of people around me. Despite me being a big guy, I was usually faster back into my skis than my ski teacher, already on my first ever snow day, he used Fishers. My Atomics definately pack up more.
It's the texture of the sole, I think, if I'm not imagining this.

I don't think price of the boot should be the determining factor in
the selection of boot. Go to a ski area with a good delection of
demos and try the boot. Combi boots are not the best for skating or
classic, just good enough to do both adeqautley. A dedicated skate
boot is best for skating and, likewise, a dedicated classic boot is
best for classic.

Oh (and OT), Jan did you qualify for that Olympic spot at the
Vancouver games as you I recall you stated was your goal about three
years ago? Nordic isn't as easy as it looked? (;

Jim

Originally Posted by JH

Oh (and OT), Jan did you qualify for that Olympic spot at the
Vancouver games as you I recall you stated was your goal about three
years ago? Nordic isn't as easy as it looked? (;

Jim

Hi Jim,
Thanks for remembering and asking!

I always knew Nordic would be hard, for the geographics (although supposed global warming has given me a week of skiing here in coastal Netherlands recently). Other regions are into their 3rd week.
I'm clumsy in my muscle-control (really tall and lanky), that surely doesn't help me. Also, I'm scared for downhills. This can pass with experience, as I know from MTB racing. I was not holding up anyone when I peaked in the early 2000's.

I got injured (ankles, now sorted) and demotivated and intimidated by the task at hand (nothing new, as I'm like a long distance swimmer from Greenland).
I did win the first XC race I entered, though. I could comment on the level of the competition, but that would be unfair to good skiing friends. End of this month I intend to be a finisher at the Dutch Nationals.

Olympic Games are not even jokingly on my plans list anymore. Not even 2014. Although... :-)

Qualification criteria are too stringent anyway. Biathlon world cups are much less densely competed at the top than XC, but a guy who got 50th at the Worlds is still having a hard time qualifying (National OC rules at work).
I'm looking into winter triathlon. A long path there, still very much a novice skier, still out of shape. Overweight now even. Mind you, a Dutchwoman was world champ in wintertri once.

I'm still at zero, but packed with a bit more knowledge on just how impossible my quest is. Impossible tasks though, fascinate me more than stuff everyone does, even if it's really quite hard. Like running marathons.
I write on blogspot sometimes about my progress, it can be found if you care enough to look it up. English language.

Regards,

J

Jan Gerrit Klok wrote:
I always knew Nordic would be hard, for the geographics (although
supposed global warming has given me a week of skiing here in coastal
Netherlands recently). Other regions are into their 3rd week.
I'm clumsy in my muscle-control (really tall and lanky), that surely
doesn't help me. Also, I'm scared for downhills. This can pass with
experience, as I know from MTB racing. I was not holding up anyone when
I peaked in the early 2000's.

Technically xc skiing, particularly classic, is a _lot_ harder than it
looks! I believe that unless you happen to be extremely well
coordinated, with amazing muscle memory etc., it is pretty much
impossible to become a world class classic skier unless you started
skiing very early, and preferably had a good coach as well.

I do know that even though I'm personally one of those people who can
pick up pretty much any new activity very easily, I'll never be nearly
as good as my brother who skied competitively during our teenage years.

I.e. I taught myself snowboarding by renting a board at the top of the
Lillehammer/Hafjell giant slalom course, then started sliding down the
hill. Half an hour later, on my second trip down, I was carving turns
both ways.

I did take one or two painful spills as well, of course! :-(

I got injured (ankles, now sorted) and demotivated and intimidated by
the task at hand (nothing new, as I'm like a long distance swimmer from
Greenland).
I did win the first XC race I entered, though. I could comment on the
level of the competition, but that would be unfair to good skiing
friends. End of this month I intend to be a finisher at the Dutch
Nationals.

That's great!

Olympic Games are not even jokingly on my plans list anymore. Not even
2014. Although... :-)

Qualification criteria are too stringent anyway. Biathlon world cups
are much less densely competed at the top than XC, but a guy who got
50th at the Worlds is still having a hard time qualifying (National OC
rules at work).

Here in Norway you pretty much have to have at least a recent world cup
win behind you to be sure to qualify for the Oly in any skiing activity. :-(

Eldar Rønning, the guy who won the classic sprints 3 days ago in the
Tour, is still not sure to qualify for a spot in the Oly classic
sprints, since he "only" won a tour stage, not a regular world cup.

I'm looking into winter triathlon. A long path there, still very much a
novice skier, still out of shape. Overweight now even. Mind you, a
Dutchwoman was world champ in wintertri once.

You should try the "easier" option of a regular summer tri here in Norway:

Norseman eXtreme starts in a west coast fjord with a jumping start from
a ferry, then bikes 180 km across ~5 mountains to end up in Tinn
Austbygd on the shore of lake Tinnsjø (the lake where the heavy water
train ferry was sunk during WWII), before the marathon ends up on top of
Mt Gausta, after 1500+ m ascent during the last 17 km.

Almost all competitors walk those last 17k, so it is just 25k of
running/jogging! :-)

http://nxtri.com/

Terje

--
- Terje.Mathisen at tmsw.no
"almost all programming can be viewed as an exercise in caching"

Originally Posted by Terje Mathisen[_2_]

Norseman eXtreme starts in a west coast fjord with a jumping start from
a ferry, then bikes 180 km across ~5 mountains to end up in Tinn
Austbygd on the shore of lake Tinnsjø (the lake where the heavy water
train ferry was sunk during WWII), before the marathon ends up on top of
Mt Gausta, after 1500+ m ascent during the last 17 km.

Almost all competitors walk those last 17k, so it is just 25k of
running/jogging! :-)

http://nxtri.com/

Seems like fun. My muscles are not really set up for extreme endurance that well. Winter tri is a good 2 hours. My cardiovascular system peaks between 5 and 50 minute races, compared to other competitors at least.
I don't see much point in running marathons. Unhealthy, and more about mental strength than training or talent. I have a goal to run a fast 10 miler one day, but plan to not spend much more than an hour. So, no attempt for at least a year.

Jan Gerrit Klok wrote:
'Terje Mathisen[_2_ Wrote:
http://nxtri.com/

Seems like fun. My muscles are not really set up for extreme endurance
that well. Winter tri is a good 2 hours. My cardiovascular system peaks
between 5 and 50 minute races, compared to other competitors at least.

I'm with you all the way, my orienteering competitions generally last
from 40-60 minutes. After about an hour I have to downshift quite a bit. :-(

The reason I mentioned the Norseman was that my sister's son did it last
year, finishing in 20th place after blowing up on the marathon part,
having to sit down for 15-20 minutes to eat and drink before he could go
on (he dropped from 5th place after the bike part to about 30), but he
then recovered and ran the last 7km of scree slopes all the way to the
top gaining back 10 places.

He intends to start again this year, so we'll probably all be part of
his support team. :-)

(Last year my son and another of his cousins ran/walked the entire
marathon part together with Christian, this year they have changed the
rules to make it illegal, except for the last 7k where a companion is
required to be allowed up on the mountain at all.)

Terje

--
- Terje.Mathisen at tmsw.no
"almost all programming can be viewed as an exercise in caching"