Bindings - a different choice for my daughter

[ScarletArrow]

So my daughter is progressing very well - just qualified for Regionals yesterday. Right now she's running a first generation Radar "Source" binding w/ a RTP which works well enough, but she's going to outgrow it's performance pretty soon if she hasn't already. I would like to get her a new binding heading into next year, but I'm not sure which direction to go. I know there is a 101 threads on "which binding is best", but it's just... different... when I'm thinking about injury prevention and performance for my daughter. I watched my ski buddy's son break his ankle and I want to avoid that if at all possible. I know nothing is 100% safe. I've narrowed it down to a number of choices - and I can think of pro's and con's to each, but I would like to know what you think.

[Ilivetoski]

Stradas release and you can get them at a good price. I will never ski on rubber bindings, and refelx is a bit overpriced for a young girl who will outgrow it in a year. Stradas are the most comfortable too which will go a long way.

[pgmoore]

Appropriate boots of your choice on OB4. After a lot of research and discussion, as soon as my broken ankle is healed, that's what I'm going to do.

 

I know that @mmosley899‌, the owner/designer of OB4, has a ton of experience working with kids. Send him an email or give him a call. Based on my interactions with him so far, his customer service is outstanding.

[Chef23]

I put my son in a Reflex when he was about 10 and never regretted it. You usually get a couple of years out of a shell/liner and you can use the same boot on a trick f your daughter tricks also.

[bbruzzese]

Ditto on the Reflex. Just put my 10 yr old in one from a Radar. He's loving it...upped his PB on 2nd set as well

[Chuck_Dickey]

Reflex, especially if she is a trick skier. Then she can have two releases and one boot.

[MattP]

I agree with @pgmoore‌ 'a comments

[MrJones]

Depends on weight. If 80-90 lbs. Reflex will be fine. You can get different thickness liners as well. My son has a Strada liner in his trick to fill space. Next year, or the year after, we will switch to a regular Reflex liner.

 

Or just stay on rubber. Nate does quite well with it and this weekend's BD winner swears that rubber is better. I just like to be comfortable and hate working on rubber bindings.

[Skoot1123]

Radar RS-1's if you can find them. Great boot. One thing you can be sure of - the young ones will adapt very well at whatever you give them.

[wtrskior]

I think you want something comfortable and reliable first and foremost. You did not mention the level of skiing, but I suspect it is long line and slower speeds, in which case she needs an entry level binding. A heavy reflex boot is complete overkill for a young developing skier, and really so is a closed toe comp binding like the Strada/rs1. My 2cents

[chris_logan]

Find whatever she thinks most comfortable & supportive and mount it to an OB4 System.

[Its_Fun]

I agree with Chris Logan. I am still recovering from August 2012 fall in non-releaseable bindings. On OB4 now and love the confidence it has given me back.

[BraceMaker]

Are there smaller sizes of the OB4 plate? I would think on a really small binding might be a lot of plate extending past the boot in front.

[mmosley899]

All the OB4 plates are the same size so that they are all interchangable. This does leave some plate extending past the smaller boots. Making a smaller boot plate would require additional inventory expense and an additional set of holes to change the position of the spring housing. If demand is there...

[BraceMaker]

@mmosley899 - I'm w/ you there. Not just that but it gets you back into some of the problems w/ other binding systems, like having inappropriate pin gaps that can create prereleases/nonreleases.