Patmaster

@efw, LOL great post. Will add on but gotta drive 8 hours home today, so I'll do it later! I go way back with Terence so I like when he is "involved"!

@BraceMaker - good point. But you said it at the end, viable, heavy and a bit complicated (my comment). That's probably why it never took off in large numbers and no pros are using it. Even JT is/was on Evolutions. Still all of you guys that snow ski know what I wish for. Imagine, just take your pair of hardshells when you head to Florida and try out a bunch of new skis in a day...all with the boots you are used to. I know it is doable now as well, but it is not nearly as simple as in snow ski industry. Well, one can dream!

@DanE, I hear you and agree. Tried EXOs myself and could ski well. Did not like the boot comfort. Currently on black Fogmans with (GOODE) Intuition liners and orthopedic insole. Can't beat the comfort. Given how (un)popular the EXOs are, I was not in the mood to adapt. But I appreciate your comments about offside tip dive and agree! EXOs were a nice try but it did not work out. In my book it works out when the pros start using a product. Double Reflex is interesting but who can guarantee that both feet will release at the same time? I wish we had something that snow skiers have - our favorite hard boots (shells) that we could just move from one ski to another thanks to a standardized, safe binding system. Now, that's my dream. Actually, with Fogmans and Rob Clarke's adaptor plate I come kind of close but all this is still garage technology! There was a Fogman prototype years ago that made sense. Both boots clicked in the middle, so as soon as one released the other had to. I hope someone will revisit this idea one day. Ski well and ski safe!

For years and years the discussions are identical. Bindings did not really change. People get hurt in all kinds of bindings and continue to ski against the odds. Every year we get several new revolutionary ski models. Just put your old crappy bindings on the brand new rocket, get a few more balls and wait for a new injury to happen. I love our sport. I sacrified a lot to ski. I had three surgeries related to the sport. I broke my ankle in Fogman bindings. I tried all other existing bindings. I'm still on Fogmans because they are as good/bad as anything out there with double hard-shells. But I'm pissed that the whole water ski industry is incapable of making slalom ski bindings that release properly in 21st century, when the snow ski industry resolved this problem ages/centuries ago...There will always be injuries but there will be a lot less once safe waterski bindings appear (the ones that release when they need to). Maybe in 22nd century?

I was coached with most of the above mentioned people. Still it will only work if it clicks in my head...which depends on so many factors, coach just being one! Still I'm surprised no one mentioned Aron Larkin - had a few excellent sets with him last November. You can find him at Greater Miami WSC and if you are lucky perhaps he will be able to coach you. Worth a go!

I'm not a great skier but I like longer sets and in warm water it kills my hands. Over the years I tried many things and here is what works for me: Pro Gear gloves (most people love them) but with the blue relatively thick liners sold by D3. Pro Gears stretch anyway so a pair of liners fits nicely underneath. I need max two pairs of gloves per season, liners last longer. It's a compromise, but the best one I found so far. Can't go away from a thin handle...but I now rarely have blisters! I find Clinchers a bit too radical, although this works as well.

Like @ed johnson I sport a 20 year younger wife. Like @rich I am into Bikram yoga which solved my back issues. Like @ ed obermeier I may need a rear knee barace soon. After meniscus surgery 2 years ago my knee is on strike after I skied for 3 weeks every day one or two sets. I hope to recover by March but my mood is pretty grim since there is no quick fix... But like most of you guys, I will never, ever give up! So keep skiing young seniors and Merry Christmas! Tips for maintaining knees in good shape are welcome!!!

Only the copyright owner has the right to make his/her work accessible to public. If you post it on Facebook you do just that, without authorization. So, if the owner chooses to object, he/she is entitled to do that. This is the essence.There are instances of "fair use" provided for by the law, but posting on Facebook is definitely not there!

Horton, you made my day. I saw that video before but it just hit the spot now!

51 years and a few surgeries old. Still skiing brings me to the best shape ever. I also do Bikram (hot) yoga, but not as much as @Rich. Good to control the weight. Moderate targeted gym workout, moderate alternative like hot yoga, a lot of targeted warmup before skiing and never more than 2 sets per day. The key word obviously being - moderate. Except in competition...

Thanks Jamie for your input. I will certainly give Stealths another go....

As a Fogman user from almost the very beginning of hard shells, I thought I'd share my latest impressions. EXOs ski just fine if you are used to double hard-shells, but hard plastic/buckle combination will be missed by those used to it. With boots more like Powershells EXOs would be more interesting for Fogman and Powershell users, IMO. STEALTH suffers from similar issues, whereas the boots look really interesting and promising, particularly the carbon base. I tried only the front boot (it takes forever to mount it on another Fogman plate) and gave up after two passes because it hurt me higher up on my shin. Maybe my foot/leg is just not good for it. Anyway it was a lot of effort for not much of a result. I happily went back to my Fogmans, which I use with Intuition liners made for Powershells. Nothing comes close to this in comfort/control combination. Latest experiment - adding an old (probably Reflex) "tongue" made of hard plastic to my front Fogman boot feels great. It just may prevent excessive flexion forward of my worn out front ankle! Curious if anyone else likes to use this accessory?

T-Gas has a new place very close to Drew's. Definitely give it a try...

Back in November JT was still on and off with EXO's. 2012 EXOs are supposed to be better - all metal mechanism, no annoying plastic parts. It is tough for high level pros to change into something different, especially bindings. It's far easier to change skis. I wonder if there is anyone out there of a higher level who is set on EXOs....?

Brent, JT showed me his EXO's, he goes back and forth, but he seems to be trying to figure out what works best. Said that Exo's saved him during a tough crash at 39... good enough for me.

19skier, Wish, you revolutionized the hardshell (garage) industry. Wish, can you impress us with a photo of your creation like 19skier did? Connelly, Fogman, are you listening? I've been on Fogmans forever, willing to try the 2012 EXO's (good enough for JT...should work for me). But the high front boot concept sounds great - I only have a limited number of tweaks left in my front ankle! Awsome guys!

For those among us with shaky/broken front ankles, a higher boot may be interesting!

I heard good things from an insider, but they will be available only in January, last time I asked.

So you rotate both boots clockwise. Interesting. Particularly the front!

Thanks for the feedback guys. I found that most hard-core hardshell skiers have a sort of a heel lift (fixed). It is different of course with Powershells and the spring mechanism. And what about rotation? Front, rear, both? Should be pretty hard to ski with hard shells straight, but one never knows - we're here to learn. Generally I found that most people don't rotate the front boot and some rotate both. Rear is almost always rotated outwards. I rotate both. Just reduced rear boot rotation recently to try - my shin started to hurt, hitting the boot differently!

For years I was advised to lift the rear heel (3-5mm approx.) on my double hard shells (Fogmans). I now wonder if this is good or bad for avoiding too much pressure on my back foot? Pros seem to be divided. Anyone able to elaborate why would it be good or bad?

KM, never liked the adapter plates for Fogmans. Just never felt this would be precise enough. Once I wanted to quickly try out a ski w plates and lost it in the middle of the pull/boat wake. Still hurts when I remember. One piece thin G-10(I think) plate for RUs, fixed with Dual Lock to the ski seems to be what works best. Used to drill RUs directly in the ski (80% Goode skis), never had issues, aside for resale value. Still waiting to try out the Fogman thick G-10 plate as described by clemsondave. Thinking about experimenting with different boots (Reflex, powershells). Would like a stiffer, taller front and a flexible, lower rear boot to save the achilles. Feet, of course, need to stay together no matter what... Regarding your concern of losing the adapter plate(plates?), I always had only one release, either the Fogman itself or the whole plate with Fogmans on it. I guess theoretically it could happen that the plate & RUs sink if they separate!

Been there recently with Arturo and Miguel - really serious, nice and professional. The best address in Miami, for sure. I highly recommend it.

Tried out Fogmans while they were still a prototype, many years ago, mid-nineties. Used the system ever since, in spite of injuries, mainly in case of OTFs. Never had a pre-release with a properly set Fogmans. Major issues: difficult release when OTF, likely front ankle tweak, sprain or worse. Possible problems with the rear foot achilles if some movement is not allowed. Pretty much everything else is very good and very reliable. IMO, further evolution of Fogmans would give us perfect hardshell bindings of the future. No one wants to invest, understandably. It should be interesting to check out the new Connelly version. I doubt that it will resolve any issues, but let's see. Personally, I use a G-10 thin plate for release units and fix it to (any) ski with interloc. Interloc will eventually release in case of a really violent OTF. Maybe some extra safety...

I heard from some insiders - boots are good, different than Diablo, they are taller, which may be better for ankles, laces instead of buckles, but - they are not available yet. Release should be the same as with Fogmans.