Alpina has a few models in the Control 64 range, and this is the version with a waxless base and no metal edge. Built with an ultra-light wood core, a multigrip base, and a cap construction, these touring skis are built for easy skiing and longer distance touring within the Nordic center. At 64 mm wide in the tip, they’re great for both in and out of track skiing, and our testers really enjoyed the versatility and ease of use of the Control 64.
Owen Hall-Kocho skied the 185 and gave it 4’s out of 5 for maneuverability and versatility. These are definitely two key features of the Control 64, and Owen picks up on them pretty quickly. His lower scores for speed and glide aren’t terribly surprising, as these are much more recreation-oriented than a race ski. Owen notes that these are “great skis if you want to ski all snow conditions. They’re not that fast or the best climbers, but they’re really fun for bushwacking your own trails. Light weight, wider base gives good balance and stability, but at the cost of speed.” Owen also recommends these skis for beginner and intermediate skiers that stay mostly in the track.
Marcus Shakun is a taller skier, and he was on the 195. His highest score was a 4 out of 5 for stability, with the rest of his scores falling in the 3-3.5 range for all other categories. This type of consistent scoring is indicative of a well-rounded and versatile ski, so it’s nice that our testers are able to express these abilities. Marcus says that the “stability comes from the stiffness of the ski. It climbs very well but you lose some glide with that. They’re a bit heavy but it helped with the stability. A beginner to intermediate skier would really appreciate this ski in track and kicking around the yard and whatnot. The weight and glide may be a weakness for a better skier, but the kick and grip are better for less-experienced skiers.”
On the 175, Shelby Parenteau loved the stability and glide of the skis. She calls the Control 64 a “touring ski that would be good for a beginner who is trying to get around a range of places like the xc trail, rec path, etc. A little on the slower side on the downhill but a very stable ski that likes to track straight.” Sounds like Shelby’s picking up on the intended use of the Control 64 pretty well.
Mackenzie Rizio skied the 185 and had high marks to give for stability, maneuverability, weight, and versatility. All of those characteristics earned 4’s out of 5 while the rest of her scores were all 3’s. This hints to a versatile ski and a wide range of audiences and ability levels. She notes that “this ski would be perfect for someone who wants to walk the dog in their backyard but also hit the groomed trails every once in a while. These are lighter than their metal-edged counterparts so there would be more emphasis on groomed trail skiing. They’re pretty wide so they feel very stable, although they do have a bit of weight to them.”
Skiers looking for that great gateway ski to the Nordic world could do a lot worse than the Alpina Control 64. This ski comes with metal edges as well as a skin tech base, so there are some additional options if you’re in this shape. But for most beginner or fitness-oriented skiers, the Control 64 with the waxless base and no metal edge will work just fine.
