Been having some trouble deciding on bindings for my new board. Looking to start the season the first weekend in November, so gotta finally decide. I have always had conventional strap bindings and have never been particulary interested in step in bindings until I came across the SP Brotherhood (Fastec) product. They seem to be a hybrid between the two, giving a versatile solution with many benefits. Having never tried a pair of step ins, I was wondering if anyone had any experience or thoughts.
Seems the 09/10 models have ratchets on the straps to give unlimited options for adjustment, this was not present on the older versions as far as I can see.
Looks like a winner to me. As you say, the best of both worlds. Flows are a great binding, but are a pain getting in and out after a fall in powder (I know you can open the front of Flows, but it's a pain). These would solve that problem.
The other binding I would consider if money were no object, is the Catek. It's a stiff binding for free riding. It has cant, and lift/tilt adjustability. So you can set up the perfect stance.
Interesting, these two companies seem to be linked somehow, if you go to the Catek homepage they are advertising last seasons SP bindings.
Would I be right in saying that these are targeted at the carving market? I am not quite at that stage so far but my stance is moving more and more positive on both feet as I go on, and I can see myself moving in that direction (very positive on both). When I started I was riding duck with +15° on the front and -10° on the back, now its more like +25° on the front and +5° on the back.
I assume these can be set up in an absolutely endless choice of stances, and the tilt would be a great alternative to moving the highbacks forward.
Would you think they are a realistic alternative for a rider of my current set-up/style?
Sounds like you are moving toward a more classic free ride stance. This allows you to truly angulate, rather than just bend at the knees and waist. You may want to up your rear angle another 5 degrees or so to explore how angulation changes with stance. Most people think the max angles for soft boots are about 35/20. As the angles increase, you need a stiffer boot (esp.laterally).
If you put your boots on and approximate your stance while standing on a hard floor (with your legs comfortable) , you should notice that the soles of the boots will not be flat on the floor. You may find that the toe of your front boot is lifted off the floor a little, and maybe the heel of your rear boot. Also the rear boot maybe canted inwards a little. With the Cateks, you can recreate this comfortable stance on you board, allowing your legs to move more naturally.
It is possible to carve well with duck stance, but it seems to me, that the back leg is really torqued to do it. This guy's a pro and makes it look easy.
This guy isn't a pro, but he looks to be in a more comfortable stance. Also notice how he doesn't have to sit on the toilet for heel side turns.
The first guy washed out on a couple of heel sides when he tried to go low. This may be because of his stance, he was twisting the board by having his legs in an unnatural position.
Trencher
because I'm so inclined .....
Tino_11
reply to 'Bindings' posted Oct-2009
Well, finally go some bindings for the board I bought back in May. I have not used it yet as I didn't want to put sub-standard bindings on it and wreck the topsheet.
Went for the SP as I posted above, am in London so went up to the Snowboard Asylum (@Ellis Bingham) in Covent Garden and got a chance to look at them first. Really quite impressed from the off, the build quality seems good and they are fairly light and very stiff.
Hopefully get to try them in the next week or two :)
BTW, if anyone is based in London and wants to get some good leg exercise in preperation for skiing, the 196 stairs at Covent Garden tube station are fairly handy!!!
Another option to consider is riser plates. Burton and Palmer make them. The primary reason for using them, is to reduce boot out as you incline the board, but they also give more leverage, and distribute pressure to the edges more evenly.
