Making bindings better!

Just got five new pairs of skis from various companies to test! All have the new "rail" system to interface with skis! There is a small problem with this new "rail" system and here is the following solution!

All ski companies have begun to make"rail "systems however in some companies there is too much tolerance ( play) between bindings and skis. This play results in having front unit move back and forth horizontally! For expert skiers that have sensitive "feel" when on edge this play must be eliminated!

Solution
Take some electrical tape and place on each rail 5 cm strip of tape! Carefylly slide unit on rail, but over tape! Bravo! No play!
On the Rossignol units works great!
Elan skis do not have this problem since internal shaft with seratted contact points!

Some skis have four clips or protusions on which bindings slide on! Plastic breaks under cold and stress! I suspect some skiers will have broken plastic "rails"! Check your skis every month since any broken rails results in you getting new ski! ( first year for sure)!

A secondary option for skiers due to these systems is to change the mid point position of boots.

Smart skiers have discovered that by changing relative position of boots on skis, will make skis behave differently.
Try it! ( of course if you are not handy with tools, let ski technician do it) Move front unit 8 mm front( towards tip)! Notice how ski is more "responsive" to tight SL turns!!!!

Have fun!

Great subject, but Pavelski, Does everything come in fives for you including test skis ?

I have Atomic and Fischer skis with rail mounted bindings. Haven't noticed any play and they seem very solid.

The idea of rail systems is to allow the ski to flex naturally under the binding. The incidental ability to move the bindings up and down the ski is a huge boon skiing. On snowboards we have for many years been able to move bindings forward for carving and back for powder. This allows you to keep a natural stance, which is better for balance and control. Skiers now have this option too.

I have read that the ski manufaturers deliberately place the bindings too far back because this makes skidding turns easier. They asssume that as most skiers skid turns, that would be what was wanted.

On Atomic rail systems (neox), two position options are offered. Forward/aggressive and back/relaxed. I think skiers weight makes a difference to how you might want to set this up. I'm relatively light (16olbs/72kgms) and I have found the forward position to be inadaquate for hard carving and set mine 30mm forward of that setting. This requires a little math as the scale index no longer works as it should, but it is very easy. Just take a #3 philips screw driver with you in case you need to change the position again.

Note. I think most bindings using this system still have a fine adjustment on the heel piece to set the binding precisely for the boot length. This should be set per the handbook. And of course all adjustments should be made by a ski tech ( or at your own risk).

Trencher

5 is an easy number to remember! If too much information is given at one time it interfers with thought processes.
I am not numerologist or "dream" in 5's I just like to be consistant!

As far as rails....plate system is one of the basis for vibration control.

The rails are introduced for two reasons;
1. Ease of installement. The ski tech world is made up of skiers that find the money for skiing by working in shops. Personnel change often and many techs. have minimal training.We have had some legal problems with units that were not placed correctly so.....

2, The second reason is based on the profit margin. Ski companies want you to "buy in" to brand loyalty. Fischer skis, Fischer boots and Fischer bindings! Having rails that just fits "their" bindings makes skiers buy their units!

Visited some ski shops to see if my skis were the only ones with "moving" bindings. 7 out of 10 skis had same symptom!
Let us keep track and see if after 3 years the "freeplay" increases!

As far as relative position of ski boots to ski, it depends on where you ski, how you ski and ski geometry! My powder skis are all dead center to running surface of base. I never use the reference mark as only indicator!
My Atomic SL12 are ever so forward since they are already very sensitive to edge sets.
The Metrons are set much more forward!
The beauty with modern skis is that you can experiment!
Hope this clears the issue!
Think snow!

You are right, Pavelski...

I did a good check of my bindings and there is very, very slight play. When then boot is in the binding, the play can not be reproduced. I'm sure under the forces of skiing, it is still present, though I haven't noticed it.

I'm intrested to know how a hard material plate system alone controls vibration. I could see that the materials used might have some damping effect. I notice on my Fischer ski plates, there is some softer material between the plate and the ski for damping. The atomic neox system does not appear to have any damping layer and the plastic riser seems too hard to have much effect.

Carving a lot on icey hard pack, damping is important to me, so I'd be very intrested to learn more and what I should be looking for.

From what I understand (and that's little), ski bindings have improved (safety and performance) in recent years. Could it be that while manufacturers have limited the choice of bindings for thier own skis, the binding has now become a consideration in choosing a ski. If people don't like the binding, then they won't buy the ski. So it may do some good. Did that force Atomic to lighten the neox ?

Never mind think snow. I'd settle for some cold temps, so they can make a little snow. We're going to be at least three weeks behind in the Mid West.

Trencher

The goals of plates ( still used in WC racing) is to eliminate vibrations from ski to boots and finally the skier. The new plates integrated in ski bindings have two elements to accomplish this; the screws have a longitudinal play insert and there is an internal "soft" layer!

That 'small" play is what I try to eliminate!Small play becomes more and more pronounced very much like the steering linkage in car!

The negative customer responce to Metrons was the weight due to widder ski but also the new bindings! That is why the NEOX units were introduced! There were issues of pre-release on some previous units!

Trencher, have you noticed the side loops on the arm of the rear units! Great addition for you guys skiing in powder! I installed permanent powder leashes on my Sugar Daddys via these loops!