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Ended up talking with some people from a shop about the merits of the Silvretta Pure vs the Freerides. I brought up the lateral slop in the naxo's/freerides and was wondering if the lower stack height/design of the Pures would help that problem.
They guy mentioned that the new Freerides from next year "take care of that problem" and he made it seem like a revolutionary change but wouldn't offer up any more info.
All the SIA stuff I've seen is ski related... so anyone got news on new freerides?
The new issue of coulior has stuff about next years freerides. They are coming out with a freeride plus which is supposedly a little beefier and stiffer. It is also supposed to fix the accidently tele problem. I can't tell if the binding is any closer to the ski than the current model. There is also a version of the pure put out by atomic. I just glanced at the article, i think they had something about naxo's too.
http://www.brandex.co.nz/index.cfm/P...TSCHI/Bindings - new freeride picture
The biggest problem I have with freerides is the zero ramp angle. Combined with even burly AT boots (Adrenalin), that also have no ramp, this gear just doesn't facilitate aggressive skiing. I get much better response out of my Mantras, even with Freerides, if I use Alpine boots instead of Adrenalin. I got a chance to try a set of Mantras with Rossi Axial 14s Saturday, and the difference is amazing. Coupling and performance compromises all add up in a big way, but IMO, boots are a bigger issue than the bindings for me.
I'm about ready to change my whole gear approach to go ultra light for anything that requires hiking. Optimize uphill and accept that downhill is a bonus; and just stay with core alpine gear for the resort. What I have now is great for sidecountry that requires an occasional hike, but is way too heavy for serious BC. I'm seriously considering mounting the Mantras alpine, then putting Dynafits on a light ski. Screw the Adrenalines anyway, I keep losing screws for the tounge and need to get a new hold-down. Its been a damned expensive lesson, and I doubt the problem will be solved by a more bomber Freeride next year. (rant over)
With hopefully a pair of bro's on the way soon, Ive been trying to figure out what to do about bindings. I worry about the performance of AT bindings because I dont want to make a supposedly great ski, ski like crap. I know that for fritschi's you can take the shim out from under the toe to get a degree or two of ramp angle, but i go back and forth daily over the lateral flex issue.
I only have so much money and extending myself for bro's and AT bindings is about as far as I can go. I do have p12s that i could mount up and maybe find somethign else cheaper to tour on, but touring is something the Bro is supposed to do really well.
I'll have to check out the new issue of coulior, thanks for that info cc.
The pic in the couloir issue is the same pic in that link, just blown up a bit more.
As far as I can see they added a plastic shim at the toe and heel mounting points; it is tall enough to wrap around the toe and heelpieces to provide more lateral support. Supposedly there is also an internal spring of some sort to dampen binding flex in mid-turn, as well as a reinforced heel lock/unlock, to help prevent insta-tele. If you want more information, 3pin may be the person to talk to; he works @ Couloir.
All that said, were it me, I'd go with Naxos or Pures. I think Freerides are overrated in a big way.
btw also I'd avoid anything above a medium flex (like, say, an AK Lawnchair) w/ touring bindings/boots - I have a set of Igneous FFLs, in a 250 flex (similar to an explosiv), that I used to ski with Silvretta 404s. Used similarly - side-country kind of stuff, occaisional hardcore backcountry (but a fair amount of weight!). Anyway at first I was pissed and thought the Iggies sucked dick since they skied like shit, but then I deleted the 404s and mounted them with proper downhill bindings (Soloman S912s), and was AMAZED at how much better they skied.
Anyway I'm fairly convinced you want a softer ski when on A/T gear; remember your power and energy transmission on sloppy A/T stuff is nothing like it is in downhill gear. Pocket Rockets, Lawnchairs, B4s, XXX's, etc. I'd say the soft bro would be the way to go, certainly nothing higher than the medium-stiff. I'll be skiing AK Enemies this spring, and I'm probably going to put Pures on them - them, or NX21s.
I don't know....I think that my first year riding Fritschis/Denalis full-time (including inbounds) was a bit frustrating and left me longing for full Alpine boots/bindings. This was 9 years ago.
I adapted my skiing style a bit, and I have no ramp-angle issues whatsoever, and the (a) comfort, (b) flex, and (c) climbing/hiking capability of my AT boots is insane compared to alpine.
For the record, I do ski very aggressively, I do take air (not huge), and I do ski steeps (up to 55 degrees). I'm not saying this out of bragging -- there are far, FAR, FAARRR better skiers than me in the Valley where I live and on this board....
but I have seen people rule on AT gear.
I ride on my Explosivs with Dynafits (took that setup out today on hardpack/groomers/icy bumps), and the Dynafits are a very responsive binding. I think Lou Dawson showed that AT bindings are on-par with alpine bindings in terms of "slop".
AT boots may "suck", but I believe stock liners are $hit for most people...and much of the skiing world is either on alpine boots that are not right for them, or they are using AT boots that have not havd the time invested in the fit that their alpine setup has achieved.
I really have to maintain that 90% of this is the rider, not the ride.
I doubt the changes in the Freeride will make a huge difference next year, but I still think it'll be one of the top bindings for people making the inbounds/out-of-bounds crossover. Freerides & Naxos are not so great for touring...but they are great in the sense that they make touring even possible.
...That is, until everyone figures out that Dynafits are the way to go for real touring AND downhill (non-hucking) performance.
We're lucky...we have fat skis. Life is easy.
I caved; since I'm in the "over 32" age group specified by APD & Trackhead for Dyanfit use, I got them, and put my Fritschi's on my 27 year old Fiance's BC setup... :wink:
Incidentially, I won't miss them, as I hated the way they skied, on every ski I ever put them on. :rolleyes2
Jumper Bones - I use kneissl tankers w/ Freerides for sidecountry; i use BD Havocs with Titanal IIs for longish tours.
I'm light at 165 lbs. I don't air much in the b/c or on my b/c gear - maybe 10 ft max and only if its soft and I know the landings; runout but I do ski some pretty steep stuff (45 - 50 degrees) so Im in the upallnight category.
I use fritschi because i have hookups with the Canuck distributor; i like the field serviceability (but have never broken one in the field) and so far - Im too cheap to make the dynafit investment.
Like upallnight i adapted my skiing style to fit the AT gear. I have G-rides and couldn't imagine touring in my alpine boots. Likewise when I'm on my alpine setup I'm so much more supported and stable I couldn't imagine skiing as hard on my AT gear as on my alpine gear. I know this sounds completely gear-geek but its just the way it is .. for me.
btw- I did get to tour on the 06/07 Freerides - I'm not sure how much Im allowed to say about it but I can tell you that the marketing spew I heard was that it was beefed up and yes - there is a spring in the titanal bar to solve the insta-tele problem - which personally with my skiing style and weight; I've not experienced.
xtrpickels - i hope this answers some of your questions and doesn't completely confuse you.
naw, it doesn't confuse me. I need to figure out if i want the trade off in performance.