Telemark Talk / Telemark Tips Forum

What are you old (over 60)Tele skiers using for bindings?

Rottefella NNN BC on Glittertinds
Lite Dogz on SBound 98
Rottefella Three Pin Cable/Traverse Riser on G3 Stinger XCD
Trab Vario tech toes/TeleAlp plate/Switchback X back end on Voile Vector BC’s
Dynafit Radical tech toes/B&D tts plate/Switchback X back end on Atomic Backland 85
Meidjo 2.1 on K2 Talkback 96

For tele, which I'm interpreting as lift served, or bigger steeper backcountry trips, I'm on some Burnt Mtn Designs Bulldogs (I think it's the Bulldogs; step ins with a single spring loaded tube and heel lever). I've only skied them a few times so far, a day at the resort and a couple days skinning up for powder. They ski exceptionally well, and are highly tuneable for flex. The step in is a treat; I don't need the feature, but it's nice.These are on K2 Wayback 88's.
Prior to these, I had lots of years on BD 03's, and 7tm Power tours. I'm partial to a "neutral" binding, with progressive flex, and these three have all performed well.

I'm 68 and I used to have Tele Bulldogs as well for use with 75mm. Made by a guy in Vermont? My only problem with them was that, at the time, they had a max of 5 screws closely spaced holding them in and I pulled bindings. In fact they were the reason I started using inserts. They were highly tunable and I did like supporting his operation, though I found the tour mode transition was difficult, but I'm betting he has solved that issue.

I had Freerides (too active for me, though I got used to them) and the Freedoms, both of which tended to break at the turned up tab on the toes (I ski the bumps - a lot. Like 7 or 8 runs a day, 80+ days a season - and the jarring motion was hard on them) and they tore up my boots.

Most recently I've been on Meidjos and they have been the closest to perfect, for my needs, lift served.

There have been some adaptations to the 3.0 that are available from Meidjo that make them tour even better. Dostie covers it here:


Here's the powder casing: https://www.the-m-equipment.com/en/prod ... der-casing

The 3.0 doesn't come with the powder casing or the 4 degree riser, but it tours well even in the 2.1 version. It just requires removing the skis to make it easier to switch to tour mode. These mods solve that issue.

Old guys are divided into curmudgeons who cling to their 75 mm duckbill and poseurs who have gone NTN.

So I’m a curmudgeonly poseur Bob. Thanks for clearing that up

If I was going to be serious about resort skiing I would look into NTN. Releasability is just a safer option. We can be very fit and grow older, however at least for me I can now hurt myself falling. When I alpine skied I tightened the DIN screws at least as tight as I screwed the binding to the ski. I didn’t want to release. Now, releasability doesn’t seem so bad. NTN is also supposed to offer much more control. It is expensive, but skiing is good for body and sole.
For this getting older guy, Voile bindings are just the ticket. I am spending more time touring. I either tour the trails, or I’m touring trails for turns. I personally would rather spend money on gas, and motel rooms looking for more snow or vertical, than on resort equipment and chair rides. That is not to say that I don’t respect the older guys ripping the resort snow!
I guess I am a 75 mm curmudgeon, I can’t be a poseur because I like skiing most where there isn’t anyone else!
I may not qualify for this group, I won’t even be 60 until the end of summer. Darned, curmudgeonly before my time!

fisheater wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 09, 2021 10:01 pm

Darned, curmudgeonly before my time!

If you pay attention to how you dress, you can start walking dumbly up to the register (cutting the line) today!

Rotta Super Telemark....three pin binding....used them for decades on any surface and in all conditions...over 60...sheet...that makes you a whiper snapper....Same binding on all my skis....Don't hit downhill areas anymore...Backcountry is it for this old guy...TM