Pro Guiding Service - The Binding Solution

They knew I was unfamiliar with their mountain when they told me to follow them into West Bowl. They told me they had been mining powder there all day. And they had. I carved beautiful turns with them. But at the bottom of the run, they laid the scorpion's tale on me.

"Getting out of here will be a bit harder for you."

They popped off their skis and that was the first I'd noticed that their boards were mounted with alpine touring bindings (a.k.a. randonnee bindings). They pulled climbing skins out of their coat pockets and attached them to their skis. They flicked their bindings into touring mode. Only two minutes had elapsed before the skis were back on their feet and they were climbing uphill. Before disappearing, one of the scorpions yelled back, "Just follow the tracks; you'll be fine."

I sidestepped up the hill. Occasionally I popped the bindings and postholed up through steep stands of trees. By the time I reached the groomed slopes, I promised I'd get even--even with their choice of equipment, that is. Two weeks later, Silvretta 404 bindings were mounted on my boards and I was mining the West Bowls of other ski areas without paying the penalty at run's end.

OLD FAITHFUL

Why the Silvretta 404? Because several years ago when I was tooling up, the 404s were, arguably, the best binding for the combination of resort and backcountry skiing I had in mind.

Though the 404s lack the step-in convenience of downhill bindings, it takes mere seconds to lock-in the boot by manually pulling the heel-piece up into place. Switching the binding between downhill and touring modes, meanwhile, simply means flipping a lever on the heel-end of the binding--it's easily done with a ski pole (if the skis are on) or by hand (if the skis are off).

In Europe, the 404 is a favorite among the ski-touring crowd because its reliability never leaves ski tourers up a peak without that proverbial paddle.

And although it's bombproof, it's no bear trap--its release characteristics for twisting or over-the-tip falls takes good care of tendons, ligaments and bones you'd just as leave not break.

Of course, if you want the bindings to grab your boots like epoxy, you can crank 'em down. Then, even Sasquatch flying over a twenty foot cliff needn't worry that a prerelease will trigger a tumble.

Other perks of the binding: they adjust to a wide array of boot sizes in seconds and you can outfit the binding with Silvretta's ski brake (sold as an accessory). Call 802-985-5056 for information.

NEW AND IMPROVED?

The Diamir binding made by Fritschi is new and it's hot. It's a full-fledged touring binding with step-in convenience--something you're accustomed to with downhill bindings, but which few touring bindings afford.

The release characteristics of the Diamir is also in a class by itself. It's the only touring binding that, when put on an electronic torque tester, really matches the DIN values used by downhill bindings. Unlike most touring bindings, the toe piece of the Diamir has a recenter force that actually works. Meanwhile, the heel piece has enough elasticity to keep bumps and jumps from unexpectedly ejecting you.

This binding positions the boot higher off the ski than most touring bindings and aggressive skiers will find this has the same effect as a riser--you'll be able to transfer more force to the edges.

Whether the skis are on or off your feet, switching the binding back and forth between touring and downhill modes is child's play. And it's one of the lightest touring bindings made--after bagging your backcountry bounty, the burden of touring back to civilization will be more tolerable.

So what's wrong with this binding? Mainly that which is not yet known. Being the new kid on the block (this is the second year the binding has been sold in the U.S.), no one knows how well it will weather the wear and tear of time. Because the binding cuts weight by employing a moderate amount of plastic, heavy-metal types question its long-term durability.

Call 801-278-0233 for information.

CENTAURS

They're neither fish (a downhill binding) nor fowl (a touring binding), but missing links converting one into the other. I'm talking about touring adaptors. The bottom part of an adaptor snaps into (and is held firmly by) your downhill binding. The top part of the adaptor is a plate that clips to your ski boot but whose hinge allows you to lift your heel. The result? A make-shift touring binding. Touring adaptors will get you to (or out of) a resort's deep backcountry for half the price of a dedicated touring binding. And when you're downhill skiing--flying over cliffs, negotiating dangerous steeps, skiing with gimpy joints you don't want damaged--adaptors arm you with whatever downhill binding you're comfortable using.

The flip side of the coin? Plugging the adaptors into a downhill binding creates a touring rig that is considerably heavier than a touring binding. These adaptors also elevate you off the ski, which hampers stability when you traverse steep, firm slopes. Then, too, when switching between downhill and touring modes, it takes a few minutes to install (or remove) the adaptors--you don't just flip a lever. Finally you'll need a pack to carry your adaptors when you're in downhill mode.

There are three brands of adaptors but the Alpine Trekker made by Backcountry Access is the big seller. Says extreme skier, Eric DesLaurier, "They're the lightest and easiest to adjust. They're also as strong, if not stronger, than the others."

As a result, an impressive coterie of extreme skiers--Shane McConkey, Scot Schmidt, Tommy Moe, Doug Coombs, Seth Morrison, Kent Kreitler, Dean Cummings, Chris Davenport, and Kristen Ulmer, to name a few--rely on the Trekker to ski where no lift has gone before.

Call 800-670-8735 for info and local dealers.