[TrainingHeels]

I got Save Lifes/Watch Lifes earlier this season, I probably have 20 days on them.

Now I don't know much about mounting, nor have I skied a wide variety of skis, though I do pride myself on being an exceptionally smooth skier. With that said, I took them and my new Axls to the shop and told them to just mount them how the manufacturer recommends them to be mounted.

So I get them back, they're mounted right in the center of the ski -- tip and tail are equal length. I skied about 10 days on them like this and it was a horrible -- I couldn't hold an edge through the transition and I jerked left and right catching myself and going too fast. I took them back and the shop guy told me I was probably losing 15cm of effective edge by having them mounted like this, so he remounted them at "traditional cord center". So now they look like ordinary tele skis -- more tip than tail, and they ski MUCH more smoothly.

However, I've skied my Logiks around 150 days and they are FAR smoother than my Surfaces are. I still feel like I'm losing edge on my transitions, though it's subtle, and when I switch back to the Logiks my skiing is once again effortless and powerful, while with the Surfaces the transition is still choppy and difficult to perform smoothly.


So, after that long rant my question is this: will moving the binding back even further help my problem? Or is this just a ski I don't like? I read an old post on here and a guy mentioned that he moved his 2mm (cm?) back from cord center and was happy with it at that point

[westy]

Put down the Ski Logik graphic Kool-Aid. Seek a competent tuner; Surface ain't cheap for no reason, often has a horrible factory tune. Wood core skis have tendency to expand/contract. Learn to mount your own skis, you'll never look back. I've found a forward mount on these to be a blessing, mebe take a look and or adjust yer techniqes. -Jim

[Whitehorn]

So TrainingHeels.. Here's my story..

At the beginning of the season I bought the Drifters and My Lifes. Get them mounted and realize after the fact that the My Life mount is really forward or centre mounted like your Save Life's

I had originally scoured the Surface website and didn't find any mounting info before taking them in, after mounting I emailed customer service and found out that the lines on the top sheets mark the centre of the side cut which may or may not be where you should or want to mount your bindings. Ya, that's right..

Surface sent me the 2011/2012 mounting guideline pdf and on there they have positions for Classic and Contemporary Alpine Mounts. You may want to email Surface Customer Service and request the mounting guidelines.

But for your Saved Life's (cm Tail to Boot Centre)
Length, Classic, Contemporary Alpine
172, 80.5, 83.5
182, 85.5, 88.5

Everybody I personally know on Surface skis mounted their bindings on the side cut centre line and in most cases that was a centre mount. All complained that it was weird at first so far forward and then after a long while got used to it and even like it. Only a minority ski or land switch but almost all are now skiing centre mount without complaint.

I moved the bindings on the My Life back 5 cms to the Classic Alpine position Surface reccommended and all is good in my wife's world. With my Drifters I moved my NTN to the rear most position and I am very happy.

Despite my above story I have to say I love my Drifters, amazing skis and exceptionally versatile even on buffed Lake Louise groomed. Top sheets are fragile as was common knowledge, but I hear that next year they fixed that problem with a rubbery top sheet material.

I give my Drifters two thumbs up and a recommended buy (next year's) but first email Surface before you mount.