1 - The BC500, a compromise between skiing and snowshoeing!
The BC 500 is a short, wide ski with good manoeuvrability and float on snow that means you can move around easily in powder.
Thanks to its mohair skins and permanent free heel, the BC500 ski means you can use the same equipment, without changing position, to: walk, climb and slide.
It combines the manoeuvrability of a snowshoe to move easily on powder snow and the pleasure of sliding on skis down gentle slopes less than 15%.
2 - Where to practise BC500 ski-snowshoeing?
The BC500 ski lets you explore the Nordic regions in a different way, mainly by getting off the cross-country ski trails. Be careful, however, not to head off just anywhere.
Ski-snowshoeing is ideally practised on plateaux or in forests, in snow-covered valleys with slopes less than 15%.
Snow should be fresh and not transformed (hard or frozen).
It’s not suited to alpine skiing slopes or ski touring, because the slopes are too steep.
3 - Which boots to use with this ski-snowshoe?
Thanks to its universal bindings (adjustable from 4 to 12) with its two tightening buckles, the BC500 means you can use waterproof boots with soft soles such as: hiking or snow boots.
Mountaineering boots with overly rigid soles are not suitable for this practice.
A Back country ROTTEFELA binding can be used, extra inserts provided
SAFETY RULES :
1 - Do not practise on slopes of more than 15%
2 - Do not use on transformed snow (hard or frozen)
3 - Do not use with boots whose sole is too rigid
4 - Do not venture off just anywhere
5 - Choose equipment suitable for what you’re doing (trousers, jacket, waterproof boots...)
PREPARATION:
Before using the skis, apply pressure to the sealskins so that they are firmly attached.
The skins are fixed (keep them down) but like the glue used (PSA: pressure sensitive adhesion) is identical to ski touring, the skins could come off...
With this precaution, you will make sure that the skins stick well
ATTENTION: the edges of the ski are sharp
Care instructions:
If disbonding is too frequent or after wintering, then follow the recommendations based on reactivating the adhesive + pressure
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