Here are a couple of close-up photos of the newly redesigned Scarpa Alien 1.0, now using a carbon infused Grilamid shell just like the Alien RS.
The new 1.0 really seems to be a blend of features of the old 1.0, the new RS, and the racing specialist boot 3.0.
We will add more details soon so check back to this page.
>> Visit our ski boots comparison page for more details on these boots.
From mountains to pubs to bedrooms, currently, no other question dominates the skimo racing boots debate more than “How does DyNA Evo compare to Scarpa Alien carbon one-O?”
The big problem with answering it is that very few people actually used both boots, used them extensively, are not sponsored by either company, and have a detective-like obsession for gear testing.
The comparison follows our standard review format but otherwise it’s all Jonathan Shefftz evaluating his long term experience with these boots!
Note: Do not compare cuff heights, other dimensions, forward-lean or angles based on the above images. As two separate photos they might not be the same scale and were likely taken from slightly different angles.
Even if you are coming from a prior generation race boot like the Dynafit DyNA or Scarpa F1, or the race-derived Dynafit TLT5, you will still be amazed at both the uphill and downhill capabilities of these boots.
Despite the similar bottom lines, their names accurately highlight the differences.
The Evo is an exquisitely slimmed-down rendition of the original DyNA boot (which is very similar to the Dynafit TLT5/6 design). To quote Antoine de Saint-Exupery: âA designer knows he has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.â Dynafit has perfectly stripped out every possible bit of superfluous weight while still preserving an amazing amount of skiing performance.
By contrast, the Alien 1.0 really does live up to Scarpaâs alien technology marketing theme, with an impressively crafted design incorporating many innovative parts and exotic materials. Plus if you like the feeling of getting your moneyâs worth in terms of carbon fiber, then this is definitely your choice.
The two boots do deviate from each other in two areas:
The Evo sole is simply incapable of sustained off-snow travel, as merely a few cumulative hours of off-snow travel will shear off or significantly damage most of the lugs; and, the Alien 1.0 might feel overly stiff in forward flex for very lightweight skiers without significantly loosening up the cord.
I bought the Dynafit DyNA Evo toward the beginning of the 2013 season and loved it so much that I have used it for over 247,000â vertical, so almost half my earned vertical for the 2013 season. But toward the end of the season I bought the Scarpa Alien 1.0 for any tours with off-snow travel, so only a relatively modest 77,600′ vertical thus far.
Evo ski/binding setups have been a mix of Movement Fish-X + Plum 165, Hagan X-Race + Dynafit Low Tech Race, Hagan X-Ultra + La Sportiva RT, and Hagan Cirrus + Plum 165. I did not try any wider setups only because I did not have enough binding length adjustability for any of them last season.
Alien 1.0 setups have been mainly the Hagan Cirrus on spring and summer snow, except for one surprise late-season âwinterâ powder outing on the Movement Logic-X (remounted with the greater adjustability of the Plum Guide so as to try the Alien 1.0 in powder), plus a couple times on the Fish-X.
I havenât used either boot for extended periods in extremely cold temperatures, plus I always keep moving anyways and find all thermo liners to be warm, so I canât comment on their insulating properties.
Actual weight for both boots is very close but not quite at spec, since my size 26 is pretty much spot-on for the 27 spec. Both boots have Dynafitâs âQuick-Step-inâ toe inserts. Scarpa includes a fairly substantive user manual with actual useful information (e.g., the BOA adjustment can be disassembled for cleaning).
The fit is accurate on both boots for the interior length of my size 26, as I can just barely accommodate (sort of) the toes of my 26.5cm foot, which is therefore only slightly shorter than the 279 mm exterior BSL (base sole length). Note that the Evo’s 279 is about 1.5 mm longer than the Alienâs 279 for binding fit, although about 1.5 mm shorter for crampon fit.
For the Alien, the BSL changes in 8 and 9 mm increments, so the interior lengthâs relationship to stated mondo size might become skewed a bit the further away you go from my size 26. For the Evo, if you are coming from a TLT5/6, note the different shell break:Â my 25.5/26.0 Evo feels a bit shorter than my 26.0/26.5 TLT5, but not the full 5 mm as would be implied by the stated sizing difference.
The fit modification potential is limited for both boots. For the Evo, my favorite boot guy was able to remove of bit of excess foam (relatively speaking) from the top of the liner toe box, thereby providing my big toes with a few critical extra mm. He successfully heat molded the liner, although given its thin profile, I didnât notice any differences after molding. The Grilamid nylon lower shell has a good record for punching/stretching in the TLT5/6 boots.
The current Evo liner is essentially a more minimal version of the already minimal TLT5 Performance TF liner (now continuing on as the European-only âCLâ Custom Light, as opposed to North Americaâs only option of the “CR” Custom Ready).
For the Alien, the stiff foam bootboard is easily removed, and by playing with the heel height I was able to alleviate some pinching/banging of the lateral side of the back of my heel. The current liner is neither overlap nor tongued, and instead is essentially a pull-on sock with (minimal) padding in key areas.
I have not yet tried to heat the liner, and given its thin profile, its moldability is probably modest at best. And after my modest usage so far, my boot guy thought I had already essentially molded them through use. He is also fairly confident in his ability to stretch the problem area in the back of my heel.
The Evoâs partial-carbon upper cuff is shared with the TLT5/6 Performance, with the same swap-able plate for adjusting the forward lean. (Evo and TLT5 boots before the 2013 season lacked the swap-able plate, yet can be easily retrofitted with the new part.) But no optional outer tongue, no plastic fixed inner tongue, and no power strap.
The cuff provides complete coverage in back, yet leaves a large gap in front. The lower shell has a fabric cover, but if you tighten up the lower buckle, the fabric tends to sag open a bit, acting as a scoop. Plan either on wearing a race suit with an integrated gaiter, buying the Dynafit Racing Soft Shell Pant (or its Movement pant predecessor), or bringing some of the snowpack along with you.
The Alienâs forward lean is adjustable by changing a bolt position. The cuff height matches the Dynafit TLT5/6. In front, the cuff is taller than the TLT5/6 shell, but lower than the TLT5/6 optional external tongue. (The cuff of my 26 boot is shared with the 25; I donât know if the size 27/28 cuff is even taller.)
The cuff leaves a large gap in the back between the lower shell, and a cavernous opening in the front. (The lower shell is sealed up better, although the thick fabric tongue unfortunately overlaps inside the lower shell, i.e., the reverse of the ideal overlap arrangement for sealing out water and snow.) Plan either on using the very nicely designed (and nearly weightless, yet unfortunately not costless) Alien lycra gaiter, wearing a race suit with an integrated gaiter, or bringing even more of the snowpack along with you than with the EVO.
For both boots, in walk/tour mode, youâre in for a shock, as the upper cuff pretty much just disappears. Flip down the Alien lever (which instantly self-aligns) or throw the Evo side lever (which sometimes requires a second of fiddling to engage), and youâre in for another shock: rearward and lateral support are both outstanding, identical to the TLT5/6 Performance.
Evo’s forward stiffness is fine for narrow skis on consolidated snow. I havenât skied the Evo on bigger skis in unconsolidated snow, but only because I wasnât able to adjust any of my bigger setups for the shorter BSL. Obviously this isnât the boot for high-speed lift-served skiing on cut-up chowder, but Iâm thinking it should be sufficient for use this season with a new setup somewhere in the high 80s waist width.
Alien 1.0 forward stiffness is … maybe too stiff, if that is possible for a three-pound/pair boot? Unlike Dynafitâs carbon boots, the carbon on the Alien 1.0 upper cuff wraps all the way around, while the inside of the lower shell also wraps your foot in carbon from the cuff rivets out to the heel and forefoot. And the mode switch vertical-throw lever has less than a millimeter of slop. (By contrast, Dynafit has about half a centimeter with its lateral-throw buckle.) That kind of rigidity is outstanding for lateral and rearward support, but is it too much for forward flex? I know one racer who admits to keeping the cord a bit loose to allow a little more give before the cuff locks up on him.
In the field, the Evo provided cord has a sheath that can be a bit slippery, so I advise setting up the cord first with a double fishermen. Although the lower shell buckle has only two micro positions on the lever and two macro positions on the medial side, after I had the length dialed in just right, I found the adjustability to be sufficient even with those limited options.
The fit seems a bit more generous than the notoriously slim TLT5, although hard for me to tell for sure, since I had to go from a very thin sock to an essentially negligibly thin sock to buy a bit more room for my toes. The cord on the upper cuff is attached to a very long velcro strap with a consequently wide range of adjustability.
In the field, the Alien’s  BOA system quickly tightens up the lower shell in increments as small or large as you want. However, when Iâve overcompensated for my low-height foot (although my C-width matches up well with the shell), the placement of the BOA on the tongue (as opposed to off on the side like on my mountain bike shoes) can create pressure. Backing off the tension inevitably entails overshooting and having to dial it back it in â but still very quick, and also very easy even with numb fingers.
The upper cuff is all or nothing, so you have to set up your knot length just right by experimenting inside (or in warm weather). With some extra 3 mm accessory cord, you could try setting up a system with multiple knot positions if you really wanted different upper cuff tightness options.
The Evo rivets/pivots connecting the upper and lower shells prior to the 2013 season notoriously loosened up over time (requiring annual or so repressing). For the 2013 season, Dynafit added a sort of spacer (âgussetâ?) to address this issue, with unknown efficacy.
By contrast, the Alien rivets/pivots connecting the upper and lower shells look very industrial.
I finally snapped one of the cords on my original DyNA boots after about 485,000â vertical. Back-up replacement cord is trivial to carry and retie, plus the warnings signs in retrospect were obvious. The Alienâs lower shell tongue and BOA system are replaceable, as is the standard 3 mm accessory cord for the upper shell.
The Evo lower buckle is fairly low profile, although also all plastic. The upper buckle protrudes significantly when open, which has made for nervous moments when rock scrambling in my original DyNA and TLT5 with the identical buckle â no casualties so far, although for your next mountaineering expedition bring along McMaster replacement parts #s 90596A005, 91785A092, 96659A101 in case the buckleâs attachment rivets are damaged. Even if the upper buckle suffers irreparable damage, ski mode can be improvised by connecting the two cuff parts with a simple screw rivet and tightening up the cuff with a Voile strap.
The BOA placement on the tongue means the lower shell has no buckles on the side to be caught up in boulders, and the mode switch lever in the rear flips up out of harmâs way. But I have read of two failures over time from normal use (as opposed to collisions). This is not very surprising, given the leverâs slender proportions combined with the rigidity of the all-carbon upper cuff, the rigidity of the partial-carbon lower shell, and the very tight tolerances of the connection between the upper and lower. But as long as the horizontal bar of the lower shell is still intact, a couple Voile straps should suffice for a field repair.
My Evo boots have about five cumulative hours of off-snow travel, roughly split between casual grass/dirt/mud hiking versus more demanding rock scrambling. Despite such limited off-snow travel, 11 perimeter lugs have sheared off entirely and 8 are severely compromised, meaning that 2/3 of the lugs are simply gone or about to go. This fails the ISMF gear reg and is obviously unsafe for any off-snow travel other than casual walking/hiking.
For comparing these two boots to other ones on the market see our Lightest ski mountaineering boots pages.
Dynafit DyNA Evo:
Scarpa Alien 1.0:
Each boot has a more economy-minded version: the Dynafit PDG and the Alien sans numerical appendage. I briefly tried on each of them inside. Both of them lack any carbon fiber, resulting in a bit more weight, a bit more ski mode flex, and a lot less cost.
The PDG is the closest to its more expensive sibling, as the only differences are the substitution of fiber-reinforced plastic for the Evoâs partial-carbon upper cuff (along with a pre-drilled hole for an aftermarket velcro strap) and a slightly beefed-up liner.
By contrast, the all-plastic Alien â0.0â is more of a contrast to the 1.0âs full carbon upper cuff and carbon-reinforced lower shell. The â0.0â liner is a traditional contrast to the 1.0 sock-like liner. The â0.0â upper cuff closure system includes a velcro strap and a buckle that allows adjustment of the tension.
Dynafit DyNA Evo:
Scarpa Alien 1.0:
Dynafit PDG:
Scarpa Alien:
Since I am currently shopping for new light skimo boots I am developing a severe case of PSC (price sensitivity condition) so today I set out to evaluate how bad it really is.
It’s only about five years since there was only one ski mountaineering boot on the market weighing under 900 grams. Pierre Gignoux’s XP500 was about 600g with a liner and almost a pound lighter than its nearest competitor.
By 2010, the big three – La Sportiva, Scarpa and Dynafit – had couple of the top world’s racers testing their prototypes with the hopes of closing the market share gap Pierre Gignoux created.
However, what majority of the racing field hoped for at the time was that this competition would bring prices for the lightest skimo boots down.
Today, on the verge of a new ski season, we have 9 boots from 4 brands that are under 900 grams yet the prices for the 700g models never went down.
The lightest boot 4 years ago, the PG XP500, was about 1200 Euros which was about $1650 US then (and is also now) and you had to order it a couple of months in advance. Today, we can have the boots at our door steps in 2-3 weeks in most cases but the prices are the same or even higher.
Here are the usual price tags for four super lightweight models right now:
» For all models, see this comparison table with a complete list of lightest skimo boots currently on the market.
With only few in North America willing to cough up top buck for the lightest boot couple of years ago most of us dreamed of affordability. While that didn’t come something did change – quality and performance.
Seeing the performance evolution of these boots over the years made me realize that ski mountaineers got it better than climbers, mountaineers or cross-country skiers. These things are literally feather weight, climb by themselves thanks to amazing ankle articulation and rockered soles, and can drive much bigger skis than just the specialized skimo race tooth picks.
Durability also improved as well as did the quality of closing mechanisms. And what I see as the greatest benefit is that you can now choose from the different models the one that fits your foot and preferences the most.
Another benefit brought to the skimo community as a side effect of more innovation and competition are cheaper models from Dynafit and Scarpa.
Both, the PDG (795g) and Alien (850g) boots weigh still under 850g yet you can buy them at around $800, which is lighter and way cheaper than top models from the two brands 3-4 years back – Dynafit Dyna and Scarpa F1 Carbon boots.
Their walk-ability is on par with the top models if we omit the 100g or so “penalty”. They are softer in downhills than their carbon versions but something has to give if they are to be half-price.
In line with our human habit of looking for ever cheaper options I am not inspired with prices of most of the light boots. But I have to admit that things aren’t as dark as they may seem.
What do you think, are these light boots too expensive or their prices are justified?
There must have been very few people in the skimo racing community that would have picked Max Taam and John Gaston to dominate last seasonâs (2012/13) American racing circuit the way they did.
On top of their domination in the US they also achieved a historic finish for North American men at World Championships (not including relay race results). They finished 10th in teams race at the 2013 Worlds in France! Previous NA best was a 16th place by Canadianâs Reiner Thoni and Andrew McNab in teams race in 2011.
So thatâs who we are talking to today đ
Q: Letâs start from the beginning: When did you start racing ski mountaineering?
Max: My first race was the Aspen Highlands Inferno in 2006. The race goes up the boot-pack on Highlands ridge and down the center of the bowl. A year or two after this I started doing a few of the Colorado Ski Mountaineering Cup races (COSMIC).
John: 2008 Aspen Highlands Inferno was my first uphill/downhill ski race. At the time I couldnât believe how fast Mike Kloser was compared to everyone else, so I kind of made that my goal to win, which happened in 2010.
I was still very much a downhill-focused skier though at that point, and it wasnât until 2012 that I finally started racing skimo. I skied myself of course and DNFâd my first race at Winter Park, then got a serious ass kicking a couple weeks later at the Teva Games in Vail. And then I was hooked.
Max: I have done all sorts of endurance racing and skimo is definitely my favourite. I started with crew in high school and college, and since then have competed road biking, mountain biking, and trail running.
John: I grew up mountain biking, dirt biking, and skiing in New England. But I think like most kids I wasnât really into the endurance side of these sports; I liked going downhill but hated climbing so much. It really wasnât until right after graduating college that I started doing endurance sports for more than an hour at a time.
Q: What gear did you do your first skimo races on? Did you have very light gear right away?
Max: For my first Highlands inferno I was on Garmont Adrenaline boots and Stockli Stormrider DP alpine skis.
By the time I did my first real skimo races I had Scarpa F1 boots, Volkl Snowwolf skis, Dynafit Comfort bindings, and full length and width BD synthetic skins.
John: My first Highlands Inferno races were all done on full alpine gear â Full Tilt boots and 4FRNT EHPâs mounted with Salomon STH 16âs.
But for skimo I definitely had very light gear right off the bat. It wasnât really a question for me whether it was worth the investment or if I was even going to like the sport. Having sat out nearly all of the 10/11 winter with a back injury and watched Max and my brother Pete getting more into skimo racing, I knew right away that that was going to be my sport. It just made sense, even though Iâd never done it, and I wanted to be competitive right away.
Q: Max, I know you from previous racing seasons and World Champs in 2010 and 2011. You have been always fast but obviously you turned some switch to really dig into skimo. When did that happen?
Then having John around Aspen last winter definitely pushed me to get faster. The experience I have gained over my years of racing, have made me a smarted racer. I dramatically decreased the amount of meat in my diet at the start of last summer, which pretty quickly made me a few pounds lighter.
Q: When did you guys started to train together for ski mountaineering races?
John: Max and my brother Pete were training partners way before I came into the mix. He was over in Cham the 11/12 winter when I started racing, so it wasnât until last season that we ever trained together.
Still, we do most of our training alone just due to schedules and what not. But itâs definitely really fun to have someone to motivate you if youâre not feeling it that day. But we didnât really need to train a lot together to be good racing together â we knew we were very compatible for team racing.
Q: Where do you live and train?
John: I live in Aspen, and Strafeâs office is right in the Highlands base village, so most of my training is done around Ajax and Highlands.
Q: Do you have any sponsors or do you work to support your racing?
Max: I work as a ski patroller on Aspen Mountain. I also have a number of sponsors that make a big difference in my success: Strafe Outerwear, SCARPA, Ski Trab, Oakley, Aspen/Snowmass, Honey Stinger, and POC.
John: I work for STRAFE Outerwear designing and developing some sweet outerwear, but Iâm lucky to have a pretty flexible schedule, which means as long as I am efficient I get to ski almost every day.
This sport ainât cheap and none of the racing would be possible without great support from STRAFE, Oakley, Scarpa, Ski Trab, Honey Stinger, POC, Aspen/Snowmass, and the Aspen Brewing Company. Thanks guys!
Q: You guys are both great skiers. What gear did you race on last season (skis, bindings, boots)? Any changes for this year?
Max: Last year I raced on Dynafit boots, Dynafit bindings, and Atomic skis. This year I will be racing on SCARPA Alien 1.0 boots, Ski Trab TR Race binding, and the Ski Trab Gara Aero World Cup ski.
I love equipment that I donât have to hold back on, on the descents. I have been skiing in the SCARPA Alien 1.0 since March and have been very impressed.
The first pair of race skis I had were made by Ski Trab and I was amazed at how durable they were and how well they skied, so I am really excited to go back to them. I am also really looking forward to touring and training on the Ski Trab Magico ski.
» Check out the comparison pages for what Max will be racing on this year – lightest boots, skis, bindings.
John: Last year I was on Dynafit boots and binders, and Atomic skis, but Iâm really stoked to try out Scarpa Aliens 1.0 this year. They weigh the same as the Evoâs but the walk mode is ridiculous. I weigh a bit more than a lot of racers too so Iâm definitely excited for the stiffer support they offer on the downhill.
Iâll also be on Ski Trab Gara Aero World Cup skis and TR Race bindings. Itâs pretty cool to be on the same equipment used by the majority of top world cup racers over in Europe.
Q: John, you won all three US qualifying races for the 2013 World Champs, including the Nationals at Jackson. Were you surprised? What did it change or confirm for you?
John: I was a little surprised. I knew I had an outside shot, but there are so many variables in skimo that can and do go wrong all the time.
I didnât have a lot of racing experience under my belt but what I did have was very helpful. I mean the 2012 Power of Four was one of the most brutal races anyone had ever experienced, so that alone gave me confidence that if I kept my cool I could get a good result.
But to follow up Nationals with 3 more race wins in a week (there was a Highlands town series race on Thursday before Sunlight), that was really cool. In the past it didnât seem like there were consistent winners, so to train and prepare and work out the details to try and minimize all those variable factors, and then see it really work, and work well, was great.
Max: I typically struggle to find my speed for the first month of the season. I was really excited to find it by the end of January and maintain it through the end of the season. Worlds were definitely my biggest goal, and finishing 10th in the teams race with John was the highlight.
Q: So letâs talk about the 10th place at 2013 Worlds then. I label it as a superb result! How was that day? What were your hardest moments?
Max: We were pretty slow on the first climb, because I usually struggle early on, especially at lower altitudes. We were probably in 25th or so at the top of the first climb. From the first descent to the finish we continuously made up ground both skiing and climbing.
John and I are usually some of the faster skiers, which always makes things more fun.
John: That day was hard! I felt great from the gun, but kind of over did it on the first climb and felt pretty bad the rest of the race. It was just slow and steady after that I really just had to follow Maxâs heels for the middle climbs. Not my best feelings on the up, but we were cruising on the descents, passing a lot of teams and having a blast.
I also really liked the downhill ridge running section and the crampon section. That was my first time racing with crampons and it definitely made it way more interesting. But I was totally blown by the final skate and really happy to see the finishing chute!
» Here’s a short report from that day.
Max: I really like the individual race, even though itâs usually a bit short for me. As with the teams race I fell back early on, but made up ground during the second half of the race. I didnât have a great sprint race, but itâs something I would like to do some specific training for in the future.
John: The individual race was definitely my favourite, mainly because the course was still really cool, and I just felt and raced a lot better. It started off just crazy fast, and the intensity stayed so high the whole time. I know the 31st place isnât nearly as impressive sounding as the 10th from teams, but I was really proud of that.
And the relay was way more exciting than I was expecting. I didnât think too much of it beforehand since it was a ten-minute effort, but that was some of the most pain I have ever experienced in my life.
Everything about the Worlds is really incredible if youâre coming from the grassroots American scene. The courses, the fans, the atmosphere â all of it is next level!
Q: Do you plan on racing team races together in the future?
Max: Yes, I feel like our skills complement each other really well.
John: For sure. I think we work very well together, and itâs especially nice to be the same speed on the descents. Climbs are one thing â if someoneâs going faster you can tow and vice versa, but thatâs not possible on descents and it would suck to have to hold back.
Max: I raced the Pierra Menta in 2012 with Pete Gaston, Johnâs brother. I would love to go back and race it again.
John: I would love to race the Pierra Menta.
Max: I spent September in France guiding road bike trips for Cycle the Alps. My friends Liz and Miles Smart, who are mountain guides in Chamonix, France, started the company, and I am excited to be apart of it. This years trips brought me to some incredible places and were a great few weeks of high volume training.
John: I actually wasnât over there this summer â my brother Pete was guiding mountain bike trips over there so maybe you were thinking of him! đ
I did take a trip over in the Fall though to go to Oktoberfest! I love Europe though and definitely plan on spending more time over there in the future.
Q: How do you train in the summer? Do you also race?
Max: I used to do a lot of bike racing. Since I started focusing more on skimo a few years ago, I reduced my summer racing to a select few mountain biking and trail running races.
John: Summer is all about mtb racing. I end up racing the same amount summer and winter.
Q: What does your racing calendar looks like for this season, only US races or will you visit foreign countries as well?
Max: I am excited about our growing US schedule, in particular the 3 ISMF sanctioned races in the US. I would love to race in Europe again this winter, if the opportunity arises. I would really like to make it up to Canada sometime to race as well.
John: Not totally sure yet. Iâm not going to start racing until January, when itâs Jackson/Targhee/Sunlight time. Iâd love to go to Europe and race some World Cups after that, but I think Pierra Menta may take priority. And I guess itâs about time Max and I give the Grand Traverse a go, even though the race itself doesnât really appeal to me from a skiing standpoint.
Q: Do you have any goals in the backcountry? Descents, traverses�
Max: I would like to do some big traverses in Colorado. Itâs a pretty new thing for Colorado. We donât always have the right conditions, but when we do, I think some epic days are possible.
John: I want to get more comfortable in bigger, more technical mountains. Thatâs always been a weak point of mine, as I have zero climbing background. That pretty much means following Pete and Max around on their objectives and trying not to kill myself.
Max: I really like to preview courses. This allows me to know exactly what I have coming up on every climb and to ski the descents faster with more confidence.
John: I think eating and drinking is really important in any race over an hour. Maybe itâs because a lot of racers come from running backgrounds, where apparently starving yourself is the norm, but most skimo racers donât eat or drink nearly enough to sustain their level of intensity.
For downhill, I think people who spend most of their time in the backcountry should vary it up and ski the resort once in awhile. Ski Areas allow you to ski much harder, steeper terrain in a wider variety of conditions, at faster speeds, more often.
Q: How would you advise an absolute skimo racing novice to start besides just jumping into a race? Give me three most important things in order of priority.
Max:
John:
» For more skimo tips check out this article – 10 Quick Tips to Improve Your Skimo Racing
Q: A bit off topic now: What did you wanted to be when you were 15? And what do you want to be now?
Max: When I was 15, I knew that I loved skiing. Now, I get to spend most of my day on skis!
John: I wanted to be pro big mountain skier. I think that was the year MSPâs Ski Movie 3 came out. Seth Morrison was the coolest skier in the world (still is), and Hugo Harrison had just come onto the scene, skiing faster and harder than anyone. I wanted to do what they did. I guess I still do, but now I have this endurance itch that needs scratching, and sometimes gets in the way of the more fun aspects of the sport!