What is a Marquette Backcountry ski?
It’s part snowshoe and part ski. The Marquette Backcountry ski gives you unprecedented winter access and fun. Climb up and slide down snow covered terrain.
It’s a short, wide ski with a macro fish-scale base that allows you to shuffle across, climb up and ski down deep snow covered terrain.
A simple backcountry system that excels in deep powder over undulating terrain
A short and wide ski, with an early rising tip, zero camber and a dash of sidecut
A fun and cost effective way to explore the backcountry or your backyard
A unique result of blending modern design, materials and manufacturing techniques
An innovative base of 59 macro fish-scales creating about 60" of anti-slip contact with minimal effect on glide
Part snowshoe and part ski, The marquette backcountry ski gives you unprecedented winter access and fun. Climb up and slide down snow covered terrain.
What kind of boots or bindings do I need?
Threaded inserts allow for no-drill mounting of common bindings: works with standard three pin bindings, NNN, SNS and Brewins
For maximum skiing control our preference is a 2 or 3 buckle plastic telemark/touring boot and the Voile HD binding (sans cable)
If you are seeking a less aggressive cruise, lighter weight touring boots work well with a cable style binding.
Certainly the cleanest looking set up is an NNN backcountry binding and a rugged touring boot.
If cruising for timber or running a trap-line is your thing, consider the Berwin Backcountry Binding, while you won't be catching sick air on this set up, you can use just about any boot to scoot.
Will I need poles?
Poles help in balance and propulsion, you need a pair to get the most out of the skis
the best set up is a telescoping or adjustable pole. you make them longer for cross country and climbing and shorter for the descent
If you have a set of alpine poles lying around they will do the trick
How does the Marquette Backcountry ski work?
It has a unique scale design that grabs the snow and holds the skis from sliding backwards while climbing. It has an early rising tip and zero-camber base that produce fantastic deep snow flotation, while the short length and sidecut radius create confident steering. The macro fish-scales are about the size of a quarter, they have a long run, in ratio to rise, allowing for good bite and good glide.
The ski is hollow creating less mass from material but still rigid from the internal "girder" structure
The center biased binding location, combined with the size and shape of the ski provide a well balanced feel
the early rising tip, flat bottom and vertical "v" tail all contribute to efficient movement and maximum fun
The unique scale design grabs the snow and holds the skis from sliding backwards while climbing
The early rising tip and zero-camber base produce fantastic deep snow flotation, while the short length and sidecut radius create confident steering
The macro fish-scales are about the size of a quarter, they have a long run, in ratio to rise, allowing for good bite and good glide
How is the Marquette Backcountry ski made?
The marquette backcountry ski is made out of polypropylene, glass, silicone and brass meaning it is 100% recyclable
A two-piece mold of the ski is attached to the blow molding machine
The raw materials are placed in a hopper mixed and melted
The brass inserts are placed on posts inside the mold
The material is then extruded in a molten tube from a nozzle (like a hollow flow of toothpaste) and clamped between the two mold halves
Air is then forced into the cavity to compress the mixture into the mold
the ski is removed and the flash (excess plastic at mold seem) cut away
The flash is then re-ground and added back to the original mixture- meaning zero material waste
the ski is flamed to clean up the edges
Skis are tested and scrutinized; (cut, measured, weighed and flexed) throughout the mfg process to ensure consistent quality
The ski is cooled and then boxed up for delivery
Where can I rent a pair of skis
As of now you can’t, but that’s a great idea. Where do you think they should be available for rent?
Do you offer skis in different sizes or colors?
Not yet, it’s atypical for a ski to be one size fits all but, the marquette backcountry ski covers a wide range of user types and will surprise even the heartiest of clydesdales. In regard to color, you can have any color you want as long as it black.
Do the skis have metal edges?
No, the skis have plastic edges that work very well in soft snow. If the edges get nicked you can clean them up with a razor blade.
