@Cooper_TrelawneyThe testers/designers use bindings with plates, so likely no big deal.
@tru-jackAlpine speed skis are different (SG and DH). Sometimes they will be several years old. When you hear Picaboo Street or Lindsey Vonn are using DH skis in Super G, it's because they are incredibly fast. Atomic owns the speed skis, they return to the factory after races. Mikaela, who I assume had #1 priority, decided not to start the super G, the other Atomic athletes stuck with what they chose earlier, so Ledecka got Mikaela's and flashed from the back for the win. (The track can also get faster and faster when the snow gets less sharp and glazed-over)
World Cup Alpine SL skiers probably use at least 10 pairs of skis a season (and several boots!) Alpine skis flex more than 12 inches every single turn, obviously they break down quite a bit. (A SL course is around 50 turns). It would be interesting to know how much an H20 ski flexes when the greatest load is applied in water.