doonez

@MattP Thanks a lot I will try and keep that in mind! Also I think I might check out that thread and say a little :)

@tfriess Hahahaha I am mistaken! There are others my age on here! That's awesome to see that we are in fact represented!

Hey every one. I think I might just do a little preparation here. I have been skiing since I was about 12 but only just started hitting the course February this year (aged 16 - surely I'm the youngest on here?). I got my first pass at 46km with no problems and since then have progressed quite rapidly considering there has been a winter in between then and now for me. (I have run 55km 3 times in the last 2 weeks) and my PB is 3 at 58km. Once I get the full pass at 58km naturally I am going to want to see the orange of 22off connected to that pylon! What are some of the things I need to do on my first taste of shortline? How do I tackle it? Do I need to do anything differently? Any thoughts? Thanks and I look forwards to some ideas :)

Here we go @BraceMaker. I just took a quick vid for you. I tried not to put too much pressure on the ski. On the front foot I had to apply very little to get it to move as you could probably see. I put it on youtube because it was taking forever to upload directly to here. Heres the link:

Thanks @BraceMaker that sounds doable for me. I can probably see why people have reservations about them being for someone who needs to "know their stuff" because their a bit more intensive to set up than something like stradas or other bindings. In your opinion is the extra effort worth it? Also being a system with moving parts is there a bit of maintenance involved with them (apart from the usual checking screw tightness etc)?

@BraceMaker I'll put a video on for you. The fact that it was on dry land was definitely a factor but it wasn't like I was putting excessive weight on them or anything. With the reflexes are you saying that they are easier to set up than they used to be because they are making better components? I think I'm looking at some 2013 model so the newest components should be being used which. I was told that they are pretty easy to set up. Just a few tests etc to get the right tension. I'm heading off to a clinic later this month so if I did decide to go with the reflexes for whatever reason there would be people who can set me up there. Thanks and I'll see if I can get a vid of the EXOs on later today

@JamesW haha thanks anyway. About NZ being just another state? I feel for you - everybody wants to be associated with us ;) @Horton Yes that's what I thought about the Reflexes. Why is this though? I'm prepared to be always checking them etc. Do you need to know what you're doing skiing wise or be mechanically minded? Thanks @ntx no I hadn't done anything so I don't know what could have gone wrong there? As far as the screw impressions go that was really just something that I was curious if other people were putting up with the same thing. A professional coach noticed the other day when I was standing on the start dock the other day that when I lent down to pick up the handle and put more weight on on side of the ski the whole side of the two EXO boots lifted up off the ski about a centimetre or more. He was shocked! Do yours do the same thing? I would imagine that this would be terrible for performance on the water? Would it not be more efficient if no energy was lost when we go on edge and all our movement was transferred straight to the ski? I may be completely mistaken and their meant to do this but it just doesn't seem right to me at the moment. Is this one of the reasons why they never make it further than the HO photo shoots on the feet of pros? Just a thought :) Thanks all

@JamesW yes that sounds good thanks but If I was to get some radar gear I would probably buy from the rep here in NZ because hes given me a bit of coaching and its good to support local :) Thanks for the heads up anyway. Just out of interest however what sort of a price do you think they'd be? Cheers Just on the general topic of bindings though there should be some reflexes in the post for me to demo this week :) Has anybody had bad experiences with them? Do any of the pros on the circuit use them?

@tfriess why the need for the sequence plate? I am not a top level skier would I really notice the difference? Thanks

Thanks @Horton. I think that there is enough evidence here to confirm that stradas are probably the best bet. I have tried some on and they are as everyone says - unbelievably comfortable :) I guess I'll just have to take peoples word on how safe they are (and remember not to crank them up too hard!)

@jfw432 thanks and yes I realize this. When I am referring to a 'release mechanism' I am talking about something like the EXOs or Reflexes where there is a mechanical component which physically releases the boot from the ski rather than the foot just coming out. Thought I'd just clear that up :) I totally agree with you about the need to be released from the ski to prevent injury and I'm sorry to hear about yours. I haven't had a bad injury to date and I 'knock on wood' that the inevitable won't happen anytime soon!! Thanks

@BraceMaker yes I thought of that. On the rear ones (holds the tip of the other end on) I have wound several layers of insulation tape around them. This has worked somewhat but eventually the nuts just grind though it like they have to the surface of the ski. Even if I could solve this problem I still would like to get a simpler system that gives more peace of mind about safety (as I explained to @ShaneH above) and doesn't scratch the ski up.

Thanks @Horton. I have seen people using just the rear Wiley with something like a reflex front. Would you recommend this setup? It would certainly lower costs if I decided to get reflexes off @epyscs if I only had to get the front Reflex and went with a Wiley rear boot. Its just a thought - Reflexes are probably far too sophisticated for me :/ I should probably stick with something simpler like the stradas! Anyway here's a picture of the EXO bolts and the damage they're doing for @BraceMaker. The bolt you see on the right was one that I found and doesn't seem to be nearly as much of a problem as the one on the left which came from HO and sticks out further!

@BraceMaker No the nuts were not elevating the bar/plate at all. There is just a miniscule amount protruding too far. It is hardly noticeable to the eye but obviously enough to be a problem. I will put up a picture of the bar and of the damage. Thanks for the explanation and I might give it a try sometime if the need arises :) @Horton I have been on the Wileys website and found a plate that looks like it would fit alright? Heres the link https://www.wileyski.com/Rear_Slalom_Highwrap_UNIVERSAL_HO_RADAR_OBRIENCONNELLYD3.asp?catID=34 If not how can I get around the problem of it being too far forwards when I mount them? Do I have to drill holes in the plate or something? Thanks

@shane There are a few things that I dont really like about the exos. Safety wise the other day I had a prerelease (I assume) otf off the second wake. I cartwheeled twice and came out concussed. It was the setting I had always been using and had been working for me before. Secondly I can't find screws for the new metal tip that I got that sit flush for the bar on the bottom. As a result of the rubbing on the top of the ski the screws have rubbed quite an amount of the coating of the ski away. And with the last plastic tips they would often snap leaving the bare (quite sharp) corner of the EXO bar bare to deeply scratch the ski whenever it happened. I don't know If I have been doing something wrong but to be honest It breaks my heart to see my ski being damaged! (especially since I wont be upgrading for a very long time). @epyscs Your right I have been looking at some of the deals I can get over in the states and there do seem to be some very good ones. I will message you via your facebook link because I would be interested in some of the systems you have to offer. I have been talking to Duncan and hes been quite helpful but seems to be very busy coaching at this time of the year, so at the moment I have been looking around a bit. Thanks all for the feedback!

@gregy yes I have noticed quite a few cheap pairs of stradas around. I live in New Zealand however and most of the US sites and sellers on ski-it-again aren't willing to send overseas (or if they are its just gonna cost way too much). The D3 factors have always looked so high to me. Do you always release when you have to?

I'm in the market for some new bindings. I don't have much to spend and would like double set up. I am coming of a pair of EXO Pros which I think are probably a bit dangerous and the release mechanism is unneeded at my level (started recently - PB is 3@15off at 58km) I have heard good things about the Wileys and they are relatively cheap. The same for Stradas however they will probably make more of a dent in my bank statement. I am wondering if anybody has ideas about this and could recommend any other setups. Thanks!

Hows this for old meets new??

Doesn't glass like this always make you happy?

This is a happy one :)

About the GoPro - I have a Hero 2 and mounted it on my ski a couple of times successfully. I was able to get some really good angles. On one outing a mate came down with his one and within half an hour both of the cameras had been flung off because of broken pivot arms. It was not rough or anything and the wake was the same so what made them snap? Any advice on what I might have done wrong eg. tightened the screws too much? Apart from this the useability and robustness of the GoPro is unmatched in my opinion and I would recommend it even if you can't zoom etc. Just be prepared to pay for the never ending list of mounts that you will want to get next!

Here in New Zealand of course the seasons will be all backwards for you guys. I ski as much as I can but it's usually too cold for only a month (around may/june). I love the sport and so try to reduce my time off the water as much as I can so am often found on the start dock in nothing but board shorts with the water pushing 11 degrees Celsius (can't afford a drysuit and don't like wetsuits). No better feeling than hopping into your vehicle and turning the heater onto full blast after a nice early season set!

Where can I get the Red 2012 Syndicate Fin your speaking of? I have a 2011 A2 and comes with the old silver syndicate fin. If the new one is faster etc. I'd like to get it.