Everything you ever needed to know about
SKI BINDINGS
The System Requires Maintenance
Like everything else bindings have evolved over the past 25 years. One critical area was the toe. Twenty years ago the toe only allowed left and right release. Today’s bindings give you a full 180 degree release in the toe.
DIAGONAL TOE
Full Diagonal Toes feature 180° release action from horizontal to vertical. Maximum safety in backward
twisting-fall situations.
Race Diagonal Toes are tuned for racing purposes. Due to higher release force vertically than horizontally, it holds up to the high backward lean
forces occurring in racing.ABS SYSTEM SAFETY (AFD)
Release without any friction significantly reduces strain on ligaments in forward twisting falls. Perfect release regardless of temperature, boot-wear, icing-up, or dirt on the binding.
The heel still releases upwards, and some bindings have some rotation release like LOOK or ELAN.
Major Improvements by Robert Lusser were:
- AFD A Teflon (c) anti-friction pad under the boot toe
- A heel release system based on a heel cup
- a cam and a fixed-tension spring
History of Ski Bindings
Binding Anatomy Great article with vids and photos.
A binding does not last forever, even without use eventually it will drop from the Indemnity List and at that point most shops will not longer work on the binding. Recalls can and do happen.
Plastic can crack over time with extreme temeperatures.
The DIN setting (release setting) It is a value determined by the skier’s weight, height, Age, type of skier, and boot sole.
This value can actually be different from what is displayed on the heel and toe of the binding.
For instance; A 5 DIN for front and a 4.75 for the heel. Yet both really release for 5 DIN.
SKI TECHNICIAN:
Each manufacturer every year requires the technician to review material regarding the mounting, maintenance, and testing procedures. The technician must pass a test. The material can be found in the tuning section under manuals.TECHNICAL DOCUMENTS:
The material can be found in the tuning section under manuals.
The ELAN manual is very comprehensive.
TESTING:
The only way to know for sure when the binding releases is a Torque Test. Shops have the tools and the Techs.
Another test is the toe height adjustment.
As a boot wears or if a new boot is purchased a binding test should be performed.MAINTENANCE:
Manufacturers recommend service every 15 days of use, and Once a year.
If your bindings release or do not release as needed have a technician service them.
