Wha happened to the Duke thread?

[Mike LaFontaine]

Hey wha happened?

[pappag]

Obviously it blew up along with the Duke's toe piece. D'UH!!

[GrizzlyFD]

Isn't it obvious...government conspiracy

seems totally bullshit b/c the original poster was an ass with access to a computer and interweb

[Andy_B]

office sex. thats what happened to it.

[Mudfoot]

I deleted it. The answer was that Dukes have not been recalled, they appear to be sold out by Marker in the US, but some dealers still have them available.

[cj001f]

it's confirmed K2 is declaring bankruptcy later today because of the Duke debacle; all Volkls are being liquidated at 90% off retail - PM Rontele for details on the skis.

[powder11]

The Dukes appear to be designed and marketed for people who have never backcountry skied. I don't think anyone who does serious bc skiing (i.e. no lifts and climbing for every turn) would ever consider using them. They are not AT bindings, they are alpine bindings that allow you (with some hassle) to unlock the heels. Dynafits weigh more than a 1/2 lb per foot less and function better or as well in 95% of the situations you encounter in the bc, so why would you hobble yourself with Dukes for bc skiing?

I have Fritichis and always take my skins off without taking my skis off, by first locking the heels down with a push of my poles. You just stick a tip in the snow behind you, unclip the tail, and rip the ski off with one continuous pull. Often when skiing or skinning up or down I lock or unlock the heels for long transitions, again with the flick of my poles. I can also adjust the heel elevators up or down to any of 3 positions with poles when the grade changes. It is my understanding that you cannot do any of this with Dukes without taking your skis off, or at least a major hassle. When you have a good size pack on and are in deep snow every time you have to bend down and dick with your bindings it is a real pain in the a$$, even more so on a slope.

I consider an AT binding that cannot be locked or unlocked without taking your skis off totally lame. If you are skiing in a foot of new snow, with no compacted base underneath, then every time you take a ski off you sink up to your crotch. Make no mistake, the Dukes are not designed to be true AT bindings. Yes they work for the bc, but they are so much heavier and inconvenient than other AT bindings that IMO their use is limited.

The Dukes fill a nitch in the alpine/AT cross-over market, but it is a very limited one. They seem to be marketed to the alpine skier that pictures themself hucking huge cliffs in the bc or side country. If you are just going to be skiing ice, slush, powder, curd or any other snow condtion in the bc then Dukes seem to be overkill. How many people are going into the backcountry to seek situations that require a DIN of 16 on their bindings?

I see the biggest advantge of Dukes as being able to alpine ski with a locking hinge boot with a Vibram sole. I think the ability to hike/climb in an AT boot for area or sidecounty access far outweighs the advantage of the Duke having an unlockable heel.

taken from his post on epicski... accidental rumour mongerer or total cunt with an agenda?

[wi3dzmin]

It was taken off the market.

[beaterdit]

I deleted it. The answer was that Dukes have not been recalled, they appear to be sold out by Marker in the US, but some dealers still have them available.

You're a fucking moron.

[skier666]

I guess the delete button has an upward release

[couloirman]

"They seem to be marketed to the alpine skier that pictures themself hucking huge cliffs in the bc or side country."

Or people who are in better shape than you and can handle the extra weight. Or people who are heavier than you who think there is way too much slop in naxo/fritschi and a din of 10 on dynafit is NOT enough. If you hate them so much, why did you start a thread about them?

Personally, if I am in a you fall you die zone, it doesnt matter how hard Im skiing, Im cracking that din up to max and KNOWING my feet wont come out, as opposed to on naxos where Ive come out at din 13 for no apparent reason, or 10 on dynafit and keeping the fingers crossed my toe piece wasnt clogged with snow. Bottom line, if you dont like it, dont buy it, and dont knock us for needing them as a "true AT binding", which is what Ill be using my two pair for. I, and a lot of other people here, are willing to sacrifice light weight for piece of mind on dangerous runs

[Conundrum]

I guess the delete button has an upward release

Biometric bitches

[Tippster]

I guess the delete button has an upward release

It's all good when trying to save a coccyx.

[shm4]

Don't make stupid shit up about them b/c your pissed you can't get a pair....

[Tye 1on]

Don't make stupid shit up about them b/c your pissed you can't get a pair....

or don't have a pair?

[still chuckling about the new switch tele binding idea...]

[Zeedashbo]

i wouldn't trust anything made by marker in a 'fall you die zone'. if you need that much din in a dire situation, you must not be a very smooth skier. and what are you doing in that situation if you're not a very smooth skier? true gangsters use dynafits. i'd put money that if the icy hot stuntaz ski toured, they'd use dynafits. just lock the toes.

[Lani]

i wouldn't trust anything made by marker in a 'fall you die zone'. if you need that much din in a dire situation, you must not be a very smooth skier. and what are you doing in that situation if you're not a very smooth skier? true gangsters use dynafits. i'd put money that if the icy hot stuntaz ski toured, they'd use dynafits. just lock the toes.

Can I get an AMEN?
Let me hear a HALLELUJAH!

[Eldo]

AMEN!
HALLEBERRY!



Er, I mean HALLELEJUH!

[LeeLau]

i was going to post something serious but instead I'll just say HALLLLELUJAH!

[mitch_cumstein]

Can I get an AMEN?
Let me hear a HALLELUJAH!

amen. hallelujah

[ColdSmoke]

Well this whole discussion helps me decide to just keep my Frischi's and wait to see what happens with the Dukes in a couple years.
Thank you everybody.

[Core Shot]

His only decent comment was that you cant peel skins and lock down for the descent on a Duke without removing the ski.

Having to click out in deep snow will be a pain. I'm thinking maybe click out one ski, flip the lever, then click back in. doable, less convenient but really not that painful.

[skifishbum]

taken from his post on epicski... accidental rumour mongerer or total cunt with an agenda?

Not sure of his adgenda , but a total cunt none the less. You start a thread with stupid rumor comments it gets funny you get ripped on a little and you delete it. Fuckin lame shit. Stick to gapic. The people are nicer and they may even believe the clueless smack you post. Iv'e never really had an issue w/ taking my skis off to deskin. Most tours end on a peak or ridge line were the snow is compacted and usually flat. Just stomp out a spot or one ski at a time.
It's kind of like if you were to yard sale on a steep and deep slope, only easier, but nobody here ever has to do that. Although some of the members dawn patrol pressed for time crew I tour with are masters at the 30 second transition. I like to chill for a while before skiing down, get safe, jet boil up some warm liquids, stretch, etc.
Tough to dig a pit w/ skis on aint it? I like what Couliorman man had to say not so much the nofall zone.
, that shit sounds Extreme but more finding the right at binding for your style of skiing. Dissing on a product you've never used is lame.