Boot alignment is a key ingredient for skiers who want to get the most out of their skiing. Adjustments can be made to the footbed, cuff, and/or boot sole (also known as canting) to better align bow-legged or knock-kneed stances. From a beginner’s first straight run to an expert’s simultaneous edge change, better alignment provides easier actions and less stress for muscles and joints. To learn more, talk to a qualified bootfitter (your ski school colleagues can likely offer great recommendations). “Walk mode” refers to a cuff-release mechanism that allows the skier to stand upright and flex forward in an easy walking motion. While initially designed for hiking and ski touring, walk mode is popular for walking from the parking lot to lifts, walking up and down stairs in the lodge, and for relaxing the legs in the lift line. Many companies offer heat-moldable liners to customize the boot fit. Tese are an option if you or your students have difficulty finding a good fit. A few manufacturers offer boots with a heat-moldable outer shell that accommodate your foot shape, forward lean, and canting needs.
BINDINGS
Bindings began as leather thongs that loosely held the boots on the skis. Tey have evolved to become a pivotal inter- face, transferring skiers’ movements to the skis. Tey also serve as a safety mech- anism designed to release as necessary in falling and certain twisting motions. Te most prevalent binding-to-ski interface is the integrated binding, which is built into the design of the ski. Integrated bindings are found on ski models that have a relatively narrow waist (under 90mm) and are designed primarily for groomed terrain. Te interface is usually raised slightly higher off the ski, allowing it to tip farther on edge without the boot hitting the snow (known as “booting out”). It is designed in conjunction with the ski construction to allow the ski to optimally flex.
FIGURE 5.10: Integrated binding compared with a binding that is mounted directly on the ski.
INTEGRATED DIRECT MOUNT
On wider skis, bindings are typically mounted without additional lift so the boot sole is as close to the ski’s top as possible. Te wider the ski, the longer it takes to roll it from edge to edge. By raising the binding, the action takes even longer with slower edge engagement. As a result, the additional height that the integrated system offers isn’t considered an advantage.
TheSnowPros.org
CHAPTER 5: SKI EQUIPMENT 79
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154