running a dual R-style setup? stupid? smart? any (useful) thoughts

[aupatking]

One of my ski partners is more into shelling out dollars on equipment, or thinking he's trying something new that will revolutionize the world, than dropping a $50 bill on a lesson. He's talking about trying a dual R-style setup.

I'm going to see Jack Travers Wednesday to work on my faulty equipment, between my ears and from the toes to scalp. I'm thinking my equipment adjustment is going to yield way better results.

But there's some, only some, sound thinking: zero restriction in forward flexion, guaranteed release. Lateral stability is an obvious loser, without the cuff and he's moving the release buckle up to the molded placement (standard boot setup placement). He's tested the strap placement before, and I believe him if he says it works, He spends considerable time OTF. For an event that takes tenths of a second, he's logged hours.

So, what are you're (constructive or destructive) thoughts? Any good safety why-nots would be helpful

[Horton]

Get video

[aupatking]

Will do sir. Looking forward to seeing it myself

[Nando]

Well, it looks like it will be comfortable, at least until the surprise ejection. It will definitely give him the freedom to continue his OTFs. Unless that front buckle relocation is just a little too restrictive...

[Than_Bogan]

@Nando nailed it: #1 concern would be unwanted release, which I claim is overall more dangerous than not releasing.

 

But I'm also skeptical about the performance. That front foot is driving. It needs a pretty good connection to the ski relative to just about every direction.

 

But please don't let my skepticism slow down anybody. Try it out and report!

[mwetskier]

and get video -always get video

[gregy]

Took me a few weeks to get used to the r-style on the rear due to the loose feeling coming of the wakes. I would think with both r-style you wouldn't feel connected with the ski and it would be a little scary coming of the wake.

[Horton]

@aupatking joking aside I don't think it's a terrible idea. I seriously doubt it will work but the idea of so much more forward freedom is interesting. You don't actually need the binding to hold your foot down or at least in my opinion you shouldn't. I say 95% chance total disaster 5% chance stroke of amazing genius.

[aupatking]

disaster makes way cooler video

[thager]

Story has it that Lucky L. could run the course on a ski without any bindings on it. Point is you don't need all that much support. A taller stiff liner would give more than enough lateral support if this person is a medium serious slalomer. I have built some bindings without the upper cuff and the lateral is comparable to my Strada boots. Tongue support matters to some skiers, others not.

[MrJones]

For rec skiing they would probably be fine. I remember some old rubber bindings that surely didn't give any more support than that. You ever look at what people jumped in "back in the day"?

[Horton]

@MrJones is thinking if more people use those bindings he will get more business in his Physical Therapy Clinic

[Jordan]

AS different as that idea appears at first blush...it might not be that bad....I find on my vapor binding that it has a ton of fwd flex available....like others have said...VIDEO!!!!

[Horton]

Please do not forget to get a high frame rate on the video. Slow motion replay is going to be critical

[eleeski]

If you really want it to work, get a nice high Intuition liner. Rubber band the high part of the liner to get some stiffness out of the liner. The sides look pretty high and should give reasonable support with the rubber band around them.

 

If that isn't stiff enough, find a tongue from a snow ski boot and clip it on top of the liner on the foot inside the shell and rubber band wrap above the ankle.

 

I've actually tried something close to that and it worked reasonably well as my first string trick binding for a couple years. The release was really good but the support wasn't as solid as a full boot. I used a road bike innertube with clips from a backpack as the rubber band.

 

Eric

[ral]

"You don't actually need the binding to hold your foot down or at least in my opinion you shouldn't"

 

This is genius. Now I know why you are the Master and we are simple followers...

[Horton]

@ral if that is sarcasm I accept .

 

I've actually spent a lot of time thinking about the fact that you don't or shouldn't need a downward force to keep your foot on the ski. I'm not saying you don't need some traction and assistance from moving around but there's very few times when there is little weight pushing on the ski. I suppose that at edge change you may get pretty light but your feet shouldn't actually be lifting off the ski. As an experiment I have run the slalom course on my trick ski with the Reflex buckles completely undone. It feels weird but it works fine.

[ral]

Keeping sarcasm apart, I will make a parallel with snow skiing.

 

Being a pseudo-plug boot user (not really now, but it was like that a while ago...), I always unbuckle after each run.

 

And if I have to ski for a short while in easy slopes to get to a lift, I wont buckle. Skis respond well, and it is a good exercise, as you control the ski as it should, by making its sidecut work. No lifting or twisting or jerking or any of the nasty stuff that happens when going for it.

 

If I did a run thru the gates unbuckled, I would end in @MrJones practice instead of finishing the run.

[dchristman]

@aupatking tell your buddy that dual r-styles is cheating! Next he'll be wearing a PowerVest ... for one reason or another.

 

 

 

[Ed_Johnson]

I posted this very idea on a thread a couple months ago...I was told I wouldn't have lateral support and not to try it....Switching from a rear Powershell to the R-Style was the best move I ever made.....SO MUCH more COM movement now available that it is totally changing how I ski.

 

Really, really, interested in how this works...I still would like to try it.

 

 

 

[liquid d]

This is not a good idea for shortline slalom. If you're just out going easy and making some turns fine, but it won't allow anyone to ski anywhere near their limits.