Hucking on Dukes

**Tyrone Shoelaces** · 12-05-2007, 11:45 AM

Originally Posted by alpinedad

Tell you what, Ty. I've got a pair of 188s being mounted with Dukes as I type. You're welcome to give them a whirl, including hucks.

that's a seriously cool offer AD. Hell I'll buy you a beer if we ever cross paths at Alpine or KW just for offering that up, but i wouldn't feel comfortable abusing someone else's gear. My personal stuff i couldn't give 2 shit's about

, but i wouldn't want to ski hard on someone else's stuff.

**kidwoo** · 12-05-2007, 11:54 AM

For what it's worth, you're not the only one thinking about it. I don't know if you met Mike Vaughan last year at the squaw or Kirkwood comps but he's got a pair of dukes mounted up to some XXLs that he has every intention of using in comps. He's a mechanical engineer type and is usually really anal about checking out equipment before he commits to it......

Of course he lives here so he's got about as much snow time as you do right now......

**skier666** · 12-05-2007, 12:05 PM

Something about the Dukes wants me to wait and see how they perform this year.....

I'm usually a first adopter on many things, but not the Dukes.

**Buster Highmen** · 12-05-2007, 12:07 PM

Ipodology.

**llyon** · 12-05-2007, 12:25 PM

Ive done a fair bit of hucking on my dukes so far.
A bunch of 10ish footers into bumps, and anything ranging from 15-30 footers into pnw pow.
Theyve felt solid, only release was weight too far forward into deep pow and a flat landing.
I havent taken any big hits on them yet, although they handled a flat 25 footer onto bed surface, which gave me some good shinbang.

**The Dad** · 12-05-2007, 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by Tyrone Shoelaces

that's a seriously cool offer AD. Hell I'll buy you a beer if we ever cross paths at Alpine or KW just for offering that up, but i wouldn't feel comfortable abusing someone else's gear. My personal stuff i couldn't give 2 shit's about

, but i wouldn't want to ski hard on someone else's stuff.

Hey, they're used blems. What's the worst that could happen?

Wait. Don't answer that.

But seriously... the skis were an impulse trade. And if the Dukes blow up, they're under warranty.

**Buzzworthy** · 12-05-2007, 02:50 PM

Originally Posted by Odin

My binding needs a firmware revision!

Just the one?

This is my job, firmware revisions.

What would you like yours to do and what is the application you will be using for said event?

**powder11** · 12-06-2007, 12:07 PM

Originally Posted by Tyrone Shoelaces

I'm thinking of putting a Duke on a potential competition ski.

Considering what you huck, I'd stick with the heavy metal.

**hutash** · 12-06-2007, 08:00 PM

I'm talking out my ass here, since I will never ski anywhere near your level, but the Duke is a compromise binding...jack of all trades, master at none. If you want a huckable competition binding go with a comp. binder. It would not be a problem if the consequences weren't so high, but equipment fairly during a comp. is not a good thing.

**Arty50** · 12-07-2007, 02:20 AM

After fondling the Dukes recently, my initial impression is this:

They're a very solid binder. On par with say the Look/Rossi consumer bindings (P14/140). Better than the Solly consumer stuff (912/914); hugely better than the Z12s. Much better than Freerides or Naxos. But they're not quite at the level of metal race binders.

**Sirshredalot** · 12-07-2007, 02:43 AM

I can't really argue with Arty's appraisal, nor do I generally huck to a point that is burlier than a Rossi 140 can handle, but I think we'll have a powder day tomorrow and I will report back with test results.

One of my roommates said he thought I had loose screws on the heel plate. I hadn't noticed that, but I thought the screws seemed short. I'm going to have to investigate that tomorrow before I huck at all. The design of the binding seemed really solid, though.

**Core Shot** · 12-07-2007, 07:05 AM

Didn't Shane say this is his main binding now?

He used to huck, once upon a time. Did he realy stop going hudge?

**The Dad** · 12-07-2007, 07:28 AM

Originally Posted by Core Shot

Didn't Shane say this is his main binding now?

He used to huck, once upon a time. Did he realy stop going hudge?

You mean, unless he has a parachute attached?

IIRC, he was definitely throwing down serious hucks off Palisaides during the spring of 2006.

**millfiger** · 12-07-2007, 10:27 AM

all i have to say is, bring a toothpick when you tour. took me 5 minutes to get ice out of the track with my pole tip. i guess it happens. is it worth it? yeah. and i'm wondering, maybe i can lube that track somehow to promote snow repellancy? probly more hassle than it's worth.

**Huckwheat** · 12-07-2007, 10:32 AM

Didnt you pop a binding on the Ice Goddess at the Squaw Comp? I think I agree with Jack of master of none comment.

Plus, you have plenty of skis......dont really need to skimp on the Comp pair, just so you can tour on them.

**Tyrone Shoelaces** · 12-07-2007, 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by Huckwheat

Didnt you pop a binding on the Ice Goddess at the Squaw Comp? I think I agree with Jack of master of none comment.

yup

I've been reliving that stupid release over and over in my head all Summer. Judges told me afterwards that if that didn't happen, and I stomped that little air, I would have advanced to the Finals no problem.

**hop** · 12-07-2007, 11:12 AM

The more I look at the Dukes sitting next to me the more I wonder about the copious amounts of plastic in critical areas being weak links just waiting to explode.

But then I figure they're probably way burlier than all the tele bindings I use so I stop worrying.

**Schralper** · 12-07-2007, 01:30 PM

Well I skied mine for the 1st time today, only one lap up/down @ Bachy before opening.
Now I know the Sumo's aren't firm snow skis so there was some of that issue goin on. But in the chopped up variable soft they skied just like an alpine binder. Felt nice on the skin up also. I personally will huck but tiny airs w/ these. Anybody goin' big why take the chance? They're burly for AT but compared to my 916 salomon or 1018 atomics, heck even my rock skis Big Daddy's w/ 957's are way more solid for hucking. Seriously if you ride the resort 90% and tour 10% and have to have only one yes it's good. But it's not gonna last as long as a alpine binder
.02

**stihletto** · 12-08-2007, 06:34 PM

I was thinking of getting some dukes, but this thread is making me think I think i might be confined to trekkers for another season. The last pair of markers I had were the mrr's with the gae selective control plate. I blew both of those plates up real fast. Then two toe pieces and a heel piece. I really hope the duke holds up because we need something like this.

fyi-just broke a trekker, so I'm really wanting to get into something else.

**SuperGaper** · 12-09-2007, 10:16 AM

I spoke with Jess McMillan yesterday and asked if she would ski in a comp with her Dukes. She said she wouldn't hesitate to do it and said she dropped a lot of 20' to hardpack on them in SA this summer.
She will however be skiing on her Marker 20.0 because she prefers the feel of a low stack height.
FWIW she is probably about 5'8", 140 286mm boot and skis on 14.

**whiteroom** · 12-09-2007, 02:04 PM

The stack height (compared to a FLAT comp binding) is why I would avoid competing on a Duke. I've got 6 days on a pair, they ski very well... but the lift is extremely noticeable. It makes the ski feel twitchy. I'd say gnarly terrain + big air + twitchy = not good.

The binding is fine, the application is bad.

**marshalolson** · 12-10-2007, 09:10 AM

ty, i went 30ft to flat landing, and blew through 3 feet of snow and hit the hardpack underneath and didn't break them/release on friday. just FWIW.

**trainnvain** · 12-10-2007, 09:40 AM

I can see the dukes just skiing hard everyday (they rail Gotamas like GS skis, whoa!), but if money is on the line I really want 9 screws in each ski.

**trainnvain** · 12-10-2007, 09:44 AM

Originally Posted by marshalolson

ty, i went 30ft to flat landing, and blew through 3 feet of snow and hit the hardpack underneath and didn't break them/release on friday. just FWIW.

On the flip side of my opinion, this is quite the testimony that would make me think twice.

**Wolfmansbro** · 12-10-2007, 11:19 AM

I dont know how much this will help but it might

Couple days ago i totally stalled out on a front flip, came around and landed on my tails. I ended up with a bruised calf (hence why im typing this instead of skiing right now). Anyways, had the dins up to 12 and the skis blew off (good thing too prob would have been much worse if they didnt come off). So after carful examination of my skis i realized i broke both of my tails on my Katanas. The bindings seem to be fine though. So if it helps a little bit my skis broke but the bindings are still working