Solid Touring Binding with narrows stoppers...
Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2016 10:28 am
Hey all,
I have an uncommon project.
I have a task to complete: I need to ride a giant slalom in less than 24% slower than the GS Nr. 1 would in order to get my Level 3 skiing instructor diploma. Last time I missed it by 0.05 seconds.
2 years have passed since (getting a baby takes a lot of time) and I changed my gear. I found that the La Sportiva Spectre boot is THE ski boot for me. Nothing else I tried even comes close to the feeling I have in these, they just fit my strange feet perfectly.
As its about time to prepare for that race crap again I tried my old alpine boots (and some others for testing) and - gosh! No wonder I didn't make the race in time. These boots just suck sooo badly compared to the La Sportivas. And I tried at least 20 different models before buying the alpine ones, they were the best (My feet and legs are so slim I always have to add stuff inside the upper part of the ski boot in order to make them fit, the La Sportivas are the first which close enough).
Ok, so my thought is: Instead of torturing myself with my old boots or trying to get new ones only to find out they are much worse than my Spectres, why not find a way to ride the race skis with the La Sportivas? I "only" need to find a binding to fit both boot and ski.
To fit the boot isn't so hard: Almost any touring binding works. But as its for a race, it needs to be a solid binding, so preferably a frame binding like the Marker Duke.
To fit the ski shouldn't be a problem, but yes it is! The ski is only 66mm wide underfoot, and the stoppers need to close properly, otherwise they will drag in the snow when on the edge.
Ok, there isn't a touring binding with stoppers so narrow on the market. So it needs some kind of workaround. Does one of you have a proper idea how to get this done?
Lightning just struck me :) What could work is to take the toe piece of a marker squire or lord, and just take the heel piece of the racing binding with the narrow stoppers. Could work :)
I have an uncommon project.
I have a task to complete: I need to ride a giant slalom in less than 24% slower than the GS Nr. 1 would in order to get my Level 3 skiing instructor diploma. Last time I missed it by 0.05 seconds.
2 years have passed since (getting a baby takes a lot of time) and I changed my gear. I found that the La Sportiva Spectre boot is THE ski boot for me. Nothing else I tried even comes close to the feeling I have in these, they just fit my strange feet perfectly.
As its about time to prepare for that race crap again I tried my old alpine boots (and some others for testing) and - gosh! No wonder I didn't make the race in time. These boots just suck sooo badly compared to the La Sportivas. And I tried at least 20 different models before buying the alpine ones, they were the best (My feet and legs are so slim I always have to add stuff inside the upper part of the ski boot in order to make them fit, the La Sportivas are the first which close enough).
Ok, so my thought is: Instead of torturing myself with my old boots or trying to get new ones only to find out they are much worse than my Spectres, why not find a way to ride the race skis with the La Sportivas? I "only" need to find a binding to fit both boot and ski.
To fit the boot isn't so hard: Almost any touring binding works. But as its for a race, it needs to be a solid binding, so preferably a frame binding like the Marker Duke.
To fit the ski shouldn't be a problem, but yes it is! The ski is only 66mm wide underfoot, and the stoppers need to close properly, otherwise they will drag in the snow when on the edge.
Ok, there isn't a touring binding with stoppers so narrow on the market. So it needs some kind of workaround. Does one of you have a proper idea how to get this done?
Lightning just struck me :) What could work is to take the toe piece of a marker squire or lord, and just take the heel piece of the racing binding with the narrow stoppers. Could work :)