Joined: 05 Feb 2005 Posts: 251 Location: Driggs, ID
Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2010 10:11 pm Post subject: Paul Parker interview
I thought this from Parker was very interesting.
Paul Parker wrote:
Stiffer plastic boots needed more active binding designs, but the down side was that a binding developer began to dictate how our boots should bend, when he might be skiing in a very different boot.
At Garmont we took a different approach and developed our multiple-injection technology. By working with different plastic durometers-- stiffnesses-- we could properly position a more progressive and consistent boot flex. It has been very successful, with the only limitations being the 75mm norm.
In this context it's easy to visualize why NTN's second heel is such a good idea. The NTN binding grips the boot under the mid-foot and facilitates the boot's bending farther back. It's the fundamental "ball of the foot" thing that we always talk about. You call it a sensation, which is correct. The ball of your foot is never really on the ski, but if your boot and binding work in harmony you feel progressive pressure under the ball of your foot that translates to contact, ski feel, and edge control.
I particularly liked this part. It's not really about fixing the ball of the foot to the ski as someone on this forum seems to believe.
Quote:
It's the fundamental "ball of the foot" thing that we always talk about. You call it a sensation, which is correct. The ball of your foot is never really on the ski, but if your boot and binding work in harmony you feel progressive pressure under the ball of your foot that translates to contact, ski feel, and edge control.
Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 3188 Location: Betwixt the Silvers and Saint Johns
Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2010 2:15 pm Post subject:
Quote:
PP: I've always been an advocate of a taller stance, something that we can learn from good alpine technique. With a taller stance the skier has more range of motion. In the days of leather boots it required particular emphasis because we lacked the cuff support of today's big boots-we couldn't just stand up and lean on our boot cuffs. It took conscious effort to stand tall so that we could use our full range of motion and flex those stiff, skinny skis.
Exactly. Glad to see him help bust the myth that the "always low stance, bounce your knee off the ski even on flats" technique is some kind of old-school hold over from when you *needed* to do so on skinny skis and leather. It has always been bad technique- not just another valid "lifestyle choice."
Oh, and your favorite band sucks. _________________ Reluctant enthusiast, part-time crusader, half-hearted fanatic
Joined: 30 Dec 2004 Posts: 1646 Location: New Paltz
Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2010 2:20 pm Post subject:
Nurse Ben wrote:
Will it never end, the pain, the pain or was that "the plane, the plane".
I like how the lack of retention is justified with the use of softer boots when for years the industry has been going the other way.
Funny how the cutting edge duckbill systems are still going with stiff bellows and active bindings, maybe they didn't read the memo.
If you like standing on your toes, then feel free, certainly better you than me
Ben, I went out on purpose and bought a pair of left over last years Prophets so that I could get a pair of them BEFORE they stiffened up the bellows, that and some Green spring cartridges, of course the lower price of buying in the summer was a big incentive but I've never liked stiff flexing boots and active bindings, but then what do I know, I also like and ski the 7TM and have never felt it held me back at all.
Joined: 12 Jun 2006 Posts: 2970 Location: the cascade foothills
Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2010 2:22 pm Post subject:
Ben, I hear traing wheels are very popular on little kids bikes too...
very active bindings and short skis. Ridin' with the big boys now Ben!!
I am going to hold off commenting on the prophets. I have a pair and was poised to tour in them, but the car overheated when we got to Rainier so we canned the tour and rescued the car instead.
*I don't review shit by touring it across my living room.... _________________ the fall line is your friend.... resistance is futile
Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 13191 Location: People's Republic
Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2010 2:29 pm Post subject:
Tele Till You're Smelly wrote:
Quote:
PP: I've always been an advocate of a taller stance, something that we can learn from good alpine technique. With a taller stance the skier has more range of motion. In the days of leather boots it required particular emphasis because we lacked the cuff support of today's big boots-we couldn't just stand up and lean on our boot cuffs. It took conscious effort to stand tall so that we could use our full range of motion and flex those stiff, skinny skis.
Exactly. Glad to see him help bust the myth that the "always low stance, bounce your knee off the ski even on flats" technique is some kind of old-school hold over from when you *needed* to do so on skinny skis and leather. It has always been bad technique- not just another valid "lifestyle choice."
Oh, and your favorite band sucks.
Yep. I too am tired of people saying knee to ski is an old school technique. I started tele skiing in the late 70s and nobody I knew skied that way back then. We always used a full range of motion.
And how dare you say the Flying Burrito Brothers suck?!?!?!?!? _________________ that sounds like a sure-fire way to get bitch-slapped by devil's club -- dschane
I agree with everything Paul P says. My big question is why, if the forces/levers have been reduced by using the NTN 'Second Heel' system, does the NTN binding have to be so ridiculously bulky and cumbersome? I'm all for the concept of how an NTN works but the solutions, so far, have not been looked at yet with much ingenuity or innovation. The Dynafit system is, in my opinion, one of the finest design solutions I have ever seen in any field of products. If NTN could come up with a solution even close to the elegance of a Dynafit then sign me up.
How about a NTN compatible toe . . . at or near a dynafit toe weight and bulk . . . but with a Dynafit heel? The perfect near backcountry setup? Nope. The perfect setup would allow the rider to lock the heel, free the heel for hiking, lock the ball for skiing, rotate the binding platform to lock the skies together into a snowboard. Tele, alpine or snowboard, all in one package. _________________ "Q-What does it all mean Mr Natural? A-It don't mean S#!+" r crumb
Joined: 23 Dec 2004 Posts: 260 Location: Golden Colorado
Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2010 2:38 pm Post subject:
Nurse Ben wrote:
Will it never end, the pain, the pain
Exactly how all of us feel about NBs personal crusade against NTN!!!
I agree Woody, Paul's comments were interesting particularly the bit you cited. And for the record, I am still firmly in the camp of liking the way the NTN system skis very much. The Garmont Prophet is my boot of choice - thanks Paul for a well executed product - Believe me, there are many of us who appreciate the effort _________________ Life is short - ski the day!
Joined: 17 Jan 2005 Posts: 10577 Location: Parker, CO and proud of it!
Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2010 2:48 pm Post subject:
cesare wrote:
Cheap, light, strong. Pick two.
Nah, I don't believe that for a second. It can be done.
I will agree with Paul Parker that a soft bellows is nice. I'm a soft bellows guy myself, but...I think that binding leverage, while not necessary, adds a whole dimension of capabilities to what a skier can do. Call it tele-pine if you will...a burly binding can unleash the beast! So, it's curious to me that the NTN isn't all that active after all, and I agree that it seems overbuilt for a neutral binding. I can put pins on a CRB kit and other than step in feel like I've got something similar for downhill.
Then again, I appreciate the seeming battle being waged in tele right now, between tele-pine and true telemark. I enjoy both, to be sure. Some days I like to flow like water, some days I want to destroy all H2O in my way... Where *should* tele go? Hard to say. I like the idea of creating gear that will allow people to do what they want with it. HammerHead is nice because of the adjustability of the springs and pivot point. Maybe the HH/Axl really is the best thing going in tele right now..
Ok, too much coffee and I'm monologuing...sorry.. _________________ "To me Plastic boots are kind of like a condom on the experience." -light skier-
"He who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man." -Dr. Johnson-
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but I've never liked stiff flexing boots and active bindings, but then what do I know, I also like and ski the 7TM and have never felt it held me back at all.
