scottbell

Got the D3 Specs for the standard jump skis....27.5" it is!

Hey All.....looking for binding placement for XS Wileys on 70" HO Extreme Jumper from the Late 90's. HO doesn't have the info going back that far (which is a little weird). I have a brand new set, never drilled I'm getting ready for my kids. Any advice would be great. Just looking for DFT. Thanks in advance. .

@elr, thanks for posting that....I was looking at some -41 video from the boat and the rope barely gets perpendicular, and to boot, but the time the skier is turning the ball, is well less that perpendicular. True about Nate running 41 as well. The angle the video was taken is deceiving...It is very similar to that video of Andy. It just has to be run perfectly.

Here's what I have to say to the nay-sayers.... and I have no finalized proof but it's my take. John's Lake is very reputable. Ed Brazil maintains record capability here. John Autore himself is a National Champion and Kenny Autore was a slalom protege back in the 90's. He still runs mid-deep 39 regularly. Greg followed Ken w/ the same line and made this score....twice. I also have the video. As I stated, I did not measure the rope but I skied 3 rounds here too on the same rope. PR's go down here all the time. The lake is ridiculously good, albeit short set-ups. Greg ran into 41 at regionals last year and was in it. Hard to believe I know.... but I believe it. Wait till the season goes on and you get a chance to watch....he's a steady skier. If he doesn't at least get a big bite at 41 at Regionals and Nationals, I'll be very surprised.

The orthotic footbeds are typically ver hard and rigid. I have them in my running shoes after I tore my lisfranc tendon back in 2009. @gavski .... I was referring to my molded LINER in my boot, which does have a moldable base as well. I have had better luck with the molded base vs. inserting a footbed or Orthotic, although I have not tried my actual Orthotics. I would need to do some customization as my boots already have heel lift. Might be worth a try though. I agree with the movement of the foot; in a static or a straight gravity situation. When being pulled by a boat and strapped in, I can tell you 100% my fast twitch is dramatically reduced when I'm tied into my shells and being dragged. I keep going back to less points of failure. I feel like centering and general balance in the boot is critical. Every foot is different, but then so is everyone's stance and gate. How about twist and Canting? The pigeoned toed or duck footed? Knock kneed or bow legged? A true boot fitter would likely be the ultimate option, although that's an entirely different animal.

The shell I have been using for years has a significant heel lift. Nearly .5". @AdamCord ..... 100% correct with the heel lift feel. Both, none or rear. Front only doesn't allow your body to drop into position from the end of the turn into the wake....then you need to force everything and can't figure out why....been there. While I don't adhere to the rear heel lift and freedom in a toe or R-Style, I can see why some prefer it. The inconsistencies are what concern me. Being locked in decreases my chances of elemental changes. Eliminates a point of error. Way back up the thread, I read about the theory of using your feet to manipulate the ski. Part of the reason I use a stiffer hard boot with a moderately stiff, molded liner (about 8mm) is I try to NOT use my feet in any capacity. When I can completely relax my feet and concentrate on MY method of stacking, it allows my hips and knees to dictate the direction, angle and edge change of the ski. Takes a variable out for sure. More of a style thing, but the less I have to concern myself with the more efficient my moves become.

@BraceMaker That's kind of my point. The actual movement of an unrestricted foot, ankle, etc is only fully relevant to and unrestricted foot, ankle, etc. Not trying to get away from the point at ALL. BUT.... the more we restrict those human points of movement, the simpler it becomes to consistently transfer energy down your body to the ski's edge. I'm poorly making the point that the way the binding attaches to the ski is less relevant (as long as it's quite secure) to the material, fit and make-up of the boot itself. Also consider a fixed, high, stiff rear boot....body motion over the front boot/foot with little hip break, will lift the rear foot and create tip pressure, therefore eliminating the need for heel lift and more body movement. I see this as a natural result of moving your mass (or just standing up for that matter) and having the energy transfer to the ski. It's a fun topic to debate, but I can't help but go back to the Alpine world. What hardshell boots have done, is create a similarity to those functions...and the snow industry has a lot more money and technology behind them. We ahven't even gotten into risers yet :smiley:

Wouldn't that be relative only to a foot/ankle not being bound to a fixed device? I would assume these actions would change dramatically once a rigid piece of plastic is wrapped around the foot with a fitted liner and buckled down to pull the heel in, drop the forefoot and above the ankle to keep the foot low and secure?

Little late to the thread....but also a topic I've been noodling for many years. I think there are other aspects to consider....and other sports that directly translate to what we are trying to accomplish. The stiff plastic boot theory is hard to ignore and subtle movements will transfer energy to the ski's edge. Thanks to Alpine skiing, we know factually that this is the case. I can agree the characteristics of the sport differ, but we are also trying to get our slalom ski to react in a near identical manner of the downhill skis. (I am speaking more specifically to race technique) With what is currently out there, safety is in your own hands, and opinion of what you think is safe, has also been proven to have injuries far more than any of us even realize. Rubber, elastic lacing, Silvretta, Plunger & Spring.... they all have limitations which may not cause injury to YOU....but have at some point to someone. The next step is a binding that is releasable in all directions without limitation in adjustability. There is no perfect answer and no perfect solution that offers the options for everyone. My advice is really think about your style of skiing, and style of crashing for that matter. If you are cognizant of your more common errors and HOW you crash....I think you could identify what system might be best suited for your need of feel, and need to release. If only someone had a new method and new device......hmmmmmm :)