After a few weeks I take time to reflect and see what I have learned.
It was a gamble with the Atomic Redster Skintec skis - one of the most expensive skis in the range. I had the waxed skis to fall back on. When I bought them, I had no idea what the conditions would be on this year's RR, but after last year's warm one, I wanted a better option for warmer conditions. Last year people had success with "zero" skis and similar types, but these were not so good when the temperature reached +10C.
This year there were a number of people with the Skintecs, and equivalents from other manufacturers. My own experience was that apart from the problem with icing - I will make sure that I get some good anti-icing spray for next time, they turned out to be everything I expected them to be, and I have to thank the guys at Sport Beitostolen in Norway for introducing me to them. More than that, every single piece of equipment I bought from Sport Beitostolen did exactly what they said it would do. It is very rare that you find a shop where the people are experts and use the equipment they sell themselves so that they know precisely what it will do and its limitations.
The Norwegian boots made by Alfa were the most comfortable ones I have ever had, and were good at keeping the slush and meltwater out when we had warmer conditions. I was also surprised at how much more comfortable the lighter Swix ski poles were, and the narrow small rucksack was definitely and improvement over the belt bag, and I managed to avoid carrying too much more - the main additional weight was the alternate Skintec inserts, which proved to be a good idea on a couple of occasions.
I contemplated the possibility of using a handwarmer to help clear ice off the skis - yesterday in a shop in Brussels I discovered a small rechargeable battery powered one about the width of the skis, so I went back and bought it. It reaches a temperature of 40C and lasts for a couple of hours and charges from USB. So if I tape some bubble wrap together to make an insulating pouch, I can thaw a pair of inserts in my backpack whilst skiing on a spare set. Of course, de-icer in the first place to prevent icing is the best idea.
And a simple switch on/off handwarmer is a handy thing to have in extreme cold. It can even be charged from my solar charger. This leads to some interesting possibilities - cross country skis with solar cells on the top to heat the grip area to prevent icing (call it a non-iSki!!).
Looking forward to next year, I can cut my skis down to just two pairs - the Atomic Redster Skintecs and a pair of waxed skis as a standby; poles will now be just two pairs of 150cm poles - the 145cm may have improved my technique at one point, but I am now better back on 150cm. Boots will be the Alfas, with one spare pair. I will stick to my normal habit of using the professional waxing service - obviously just glide wax on the Skintecs.
With all this, I have now reached as far as I can get in improving equipment and matching it to my capabilities, so I really have to up my capabilities, which means finding ways and means of strengthening certain muscles. Revisiting roller skis is something I will look at again.
So for now, it is a question of keeping as much fitness as I can until late summer when I start my campaign for next year's RR and hope to avoid injury.
