Piuma Freerando Skis

I am in the market for a new pair of AT skis. I have a fairly solid
downhill skiing background (ie- alpine resort skiing) and have spent the
past few seasons touring on an old pair of Hagans (an all yellow pair- not
sure of the model name). I have a new pair of Garmont Dynamite boots (which
I may stiffen up a bit- see different post on that topic), so I am looking
for a new set of skis as well. I mostly go out to cover ground, rather than
for serious descents. But at the same time, I am a comptent skier, and
don't want to sacrifice too much in the performance department.

The guys at the MEC were steering me towards the Piuma freerandos (is that
freeride in Italian?). They are definetly super light, but I'm wondering if
anyone who has used them has an opinion on their performance. I'm not
looking for something that has to stand up to serious drops, but if I can
get some performance, and some stability at speed (ok, ok, maybe some little
drops, too), then that would be great.

-s-

Simon Isbister schrieb:

The guys at the MEC were steering me towards the Piuma freerandos (is that
freeride in Italian?).

No, it's an artificial creation of the (english) term free and the
italian ending ndo (more or less the same of the english -ing.

They are definetly super light, but I'm wondering if
anyone who has used them has an opinion on their performance. I'm not
looking for something that has to stand up to serious drops, but if I can
get some performance, and some stability at speed (ok, ok, maybe some little
drops, too), then that would be great.

I know the Freerando pretty well: mounted as telemark touring ski (with
easy go adapter) it's nice. Mounted with Fritschi bindings for Alpine
Randonee it's good as long as the snow isn't hard, icey or otherwise
heavvy and difficult. You have to pay a price for the lightweight of
this ski. If you're aware of that and you can live with, fine. Otherwise:

The best lightweight touring ski i ever skied is the Stormrider Pit:

http://www.stoeckli.ch/english/mainSki.asp?param=41

It's "biting" the ice (assumed you're skiing correctly) and at the same
time it's very light. A limit of all lightweight skis is speed: they're
more nervous than pist skis.

I guess, it might be difficult (and also expensive) to get to the
Stoeckli skis in Usa (although in Switzerland the Stoecklis are the most
economic skis available - because they only do direct marketing). So, my
suggest would be to get a good midfat ski like Head Monster im75 or
im85, length = body ...

Greetings,

Ulrich