Did I fuck up?
Context: 1. New to backcountry, primarily downhill and dabbled in XC (as a kid, a few fresh years as an adult) 2. Intermediate with risk aversion. Can ski about anything on the mountain but maybe not confidently or gracefully 3. Endurance athlete, skiing is not my primary sport (running, biking, backpacking, climbing, yoga) I seek out and enjoy the physical part which is one reason for backcountry investment. Don’t need the thrill of double digit laps to have a great day.
So I impulsively tried to build myself a setup during Evo’s Labor Day deals. Here’s what I got:
- Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 95 W CT GW Alpine Touring Ski Boots
- Line Skis Pandora 104 Skis - Women's 2024 165 cm
- Atomic Shift MNC 13 Alpine Touring Ski Bindings 2024 110 mm
I hear all the time, don’t build a hybrid setup, it’s the worst of both. I can’t afford two setups, I understand there isn’t a unicorn Hybrid setup without downsides. I want to ski safely, am ok with extra weight or inconvenience.
So - did I mess up? Is this a bad build? What would you do in my (maybe very dumb) shoes?
*edit: obligatory note on boots, I did spend time in store with a bootfitter and an atomic rep/boot designer. I plan to get these mounted and molded at Evo locally, acknowledging the fit is just as important as the equipment itself.