Bindings Made Simple
Originally published in the 2020-21 Masterfit Buyer’s Guide and realskiers.com
Bindings are rugged little devices, but like any mechanical unit they can wear out quickly if not kept clean and lubricated.
At the beginning of the season, do a binding check. Annual shop inspections of the ski/boot/binding system will reveal any deviations in the release system that may require a binding to be re-set or retired if it won’t release within a standardized range.
After a given binding model has been off the market for several seasons, the binding company’s liability insurer can decline indemnity coverage for a model it deems obsolete due to its age and likely condition. If shop personnel inform you they “can’t work on this binding,” they’re acting within established guidelines over which they have no control. No matter how much you once loved them, if your bindings are no longer indemnified, it’s time for them to go.
DO:
→ Determine your binding setting. It’s based on height, weight, age, boot sole length and skiing style. Any shop tech can help you do this in about 10 seconds
→ Pick a binding with your setting number (often called a “DIN” number) near the middle of the binding range. If your setting is “6,” a binding with a 3 – 10 scale should be fine.
→ Ask a salesperson about any special features that may make one binding more suitable for you than another.
DON’T
→ Continue to use a binding the manufacturer no longer indemnifies.
→ Use a boot with a touring sole or walking sole that’s incompatible with your Alpine bindings.
→ Use a boot with worn-out soles.
→ Mix a child’s normal boot sole with an adult binding.
This Issue
From the book, Ski-Fibel by Hubert Mumelter. 1935
Ever since Vail Resorts and Alterra started gobbling up ski areas, there’s been industry chatter about corporate vs. independent resorts. Among other topics, this issue’s Short Swings! weighs in on the issue.
Ski instructor and contributor, John Gelb, reports on Alta’s Intermediate Breakthrough instruction program and suggests ways to replicate it at other areas. One suggestion: take lessons on Sunday, when ski school activity tends to taper off.
Don Burch is back with another skiing video. No flips and hucks here, simply shots from a variety of New England mountains presented in a gentle and artistic mix.
British author Bob Trueman offers practical (and at times, counterintuitive) advice for when you select ski gear. Jackson Hogen of realskiers.com provides excellent guidance on keeping that gear in good shape.
The innovative Dahu ski boot is profiled. Jon refers to its breakthrough design as the Tesla of ski boots.
X-C editor Roger Lohr advises shopping for X-C equipment early this season. Supplies are low, and inventory probably will not be restocked.
And Herb Stevens, The Skiing Weatherman, gets us up to date on what to expect in mountain weather around the country. Spoiler alert: It’s snowing in the West and more areas are spinning their lifts.
If you enjoy SeniorsSkiing.com, forward it to a friend. The next issue will be distributed Friday, November 12.
Short Swings!
Every industry benefits from a mix of offerings. The ski area industry is no exception. I find it enjoyable to ski big corporate resorts as well as independently-owned areas. Some, like Alta, Big Sky, and Jackson Hole offer both big terrain and an attractive level of smaller resort intimacy.
SUN VALLEY in the old days
It may surprise you that, according to the National Ski Areas Association, of the 37 states with ski areas, New York State has the most with 51…almost 11% of the country’s 470 areas. Next is Michigan with 40 areas, then Colorado and Wisconsin (31 each); California and New Hampshire (30 each), followed by Pennsylvania (26), Vermont (23) and Minnesota (20).
The majority of these are smaller and either independent or part of small group ownership.
Many smaller areas make it because they’re close enough to population centers and/or they’re the only game around. They get a large enough following to sustain them season-after-season.
Skiers in Norway: 1907
I like to mix up my skiing experience with visits to big and small. A few seasons ago I spent a delightful day exploring Pomerelle, a smallish area in southern Idaho. The terrain wasn’t challenging but it was interesting. And the base lodge was like going back in time…including the price of lunch.
Skiing big resorts is a different kind of experience. Vail is endless. Aspen, Breckenridge, Jackson Hole and others are challenging. Ditto with my home resorts Alta and Snowbird. I know them and their hidden stashes well. Alta, especially, combines great skiing with local friendliness and warmth. There’s a reason it’s a magnet for skiers from around the globe.
Teton Gravity Research recently produced “In Pursuit of Soul,” a short film celebrating smaller ski areas. To view the trailer click here. It builds the case for independently owned areas and was sponsored, in part, by Indy Pass, the reasonably priced pass that offers skiing privileges at 80 independently owned areas in North America and Japan.
Two skiers. Two skis. One turn.
If I had a few long weekends each season to ski and deep-enough pockets, I’d book at one of the big places in a region with reliable snow. For a family ski holiday with young grandkids, I’d choose a smaller resort with trails that funnel into one or two bases. That way there’s less chance for them to get separated or lost.
I like big mountains with a variety of terrain, and, frankly, it doesn’t matter much who owns them. They just need to be well-covered in snow.
Newly Found: 1300 Year-Old Ski
Archaeologists in Norway recently dislodged a 1300 year-old ski from the Digervarden Ice Patch. They believe it matches another ski found nearby in 2014. The newly found ski has an intact binding of twisted birch and leather. Click on the video (above) to witness the discovery in real time. A more detailed account appears in the Secrets of the Ice website which documents glacial archaeology.
The Superior Rx Goggle
SnowVision Rx goggles integrate prescription with inner lens
If you wear prescription goggles you owe it to yourself to learn about SnowVision‘s unique prescription lens. Unlike other Rx goggles, SnowVision integrates the prescription lens onto the inner lens of the goggle (see middle lens in picture above). Among its numerous advantages is the total lack of fogging. Another is remarkable visual clarity and full range of vision, including around the periphery of the lens. This is virtually unheard of in conventional prescription ski goggles and results from the curvature in SnowVision’s prescription and outer lenses. The lens – fully photochromic so it gets dark or light depending on conditions — is available as unifocal, progressive or bifocal. SnowVision’s components are made by high-quality vendors in Germany, Italy and Japan. Every senior skier who wears glasses should take special care when it comes to prescription goggles. There are some unsatisfactory products on the market, as I, unfortunately, have encountered. SnowVision is a breakthrough.
Please Help with This SeniorsSkiing Crowd-Sourcing Project
Numerous readers have asked about groups for older skiers. Some, like the Wild Old Bunch (Alta) and the Over The Hill Gang (multiple areas) are fairly well-known. SeniorsSkiing.com wants to compile a list of groups. If you know of any, please email name, location(s), a contact name and email and/or phone number to jon@seniorsskiing.com. The info will be posted on the site and updated as new info is received.
Special Discounts
EZ•Fit Auto Adaptable Insoles
Masterfit is offering 20% off any of its EZFit insoles (Snow and Universal models), Tongue Eliminators, Boot Horn and SkiSkootys. To learn more about these products, and/or make a purchase, visit https://masterfitinc.com. The Tongue Eliminators, Boot Horn and SkiSkootys can be found under “Fit Aids.” The 20% discount is good at any time. Simply enter the code SS21 during check out.
Use code SENIORSSKI to receive a 30% discount on online orders for any of Arcadia Publishing’s 27 ski titles. The offer is valid through November 7.
Holiday Shopping for Older Skiers
The Bootster ski boot shoehorn: ideal gift for older skiers
It’s really quite easy…and reasonably priced. The Bootster is an ingenious ski boot shoehorn so compact that it easily fits in a parka pocket. The little device unrolls to reveal a slippery surface that helps the foot slide easily into the ski boot…even when the boot is cold. Each Bootster is hand assembled and very well made. The price is $25 plus shipping. I can’t think of a better or more appropriate gift for older skiers on your list.
FeedSpot Now Delivering SeniorsSkiing.com Content
FeedSpot is an online service that consolidates and delivers news based on the user’s preferences. Happy to report that for FeedSpot subscribers seeking ski-related news, SeniorsSkiing.com articles are now part of their package.
Skiing in Taiwan?
Before global warming had taken it’s toll on so many places with snow, skiers in Taiwan frequented the island nation’s Hehuanshan ski resort. Alas, like so many other locations around the globe, there no longer is enough snow to ski there.
RIP: The Farmer
Dave Van Dame, The Farmer, was an Alta ski legend, skiing deep powder there for 48 years. He recently passed away. Those of you who were privileged to witness his technique are fortunate. Alta recently issued this short video tribute.
The Best Car Commercials
A thing of beauty: my Willys 1/2 Ton Pick Up
I recently sold my (unrestored) 1950 Willys half-ton truck. It was love at first sight several years ago when I saw it on a side street in Ouray, Colorado…a foolish purchase requiring far more skill than I had and more money than I wanted to spend. I concluded that, like many things, old cars can be enjoyed without ownership. During my infatuation I started to follow Hagerty, which insures vintage vehicles and publishes online and print content about them. This article about 10 “unforgettable” car commercials contains links to some funny and moving examples. Not skiing but a lot of fun. Click here to access
Glowing Down the Mountain
This is what happens when you don your glow-in-the-dark one-piece and go night skiing.
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