Second guessing bindings

[MikeK]

I bought a pair of these:

http://en-us.madshus.com/nordic-skis/annum-mgv-omni

over the summer. Didn't need them. Not sure what I'm going to ski with them, but I'm getting close to show time.

I haven't put any bindings on them yet. I'm still up in the air. I had myself convinced I was going to just put the same thing my other skis have: basic cable-less 3 pin.

I honestly can't see myself using these much for trail skiing - I have better alternatives. I know people that do, but it's their only BC ski.

My thought is to open myself up to more free-heel specific downhill with these. More xcD, than XCd.

I've been told by people in the know that these are a pretty horrible resort ski, so I'm kind of putting that on the back burner until I get comfortable with them, and then only use them when the conditions are right.

My plan right now is to forgo a plastic boot and stick with leather. Some might call me an idiot but I really hate plastic - the last few pairs I've had have been horrific. Maybe I'll break down and buy a pair of two buckles some day but right now I have no intentions. I do need ankle support so I've opted for a heavy cuff (Crispi Svartisen) boot to help me.

As such, I'm still firmly within the XCD rules but my skis need bindings before I can wrestle them into submission. My latest thought has been to go to a dedicated climbing/dh binding like the switchback.

I'm willing to give up the touring aspect because I don't see myself doing any 10 mile tours with these. My hope is the increased leverage of the switchback with help me wrestle these greasy pigs even with a relatively soft boot.

Also should I mount based on Madshus' recommended pin line? I'm not sure where it falls but one would assume they've shifted the mounting point to make these more dh friendly? I mounted the Epochs based on the boot size and their recommended line but I'm not using those for dh.

[Raventele]

Commonly mounted over at Mountain Gear (they rent out a crap load) with Voile 3PC..Good for a bit of touring, mellower climbing and some decent DH ability.. I don't think they are a "terrible" resort ski provided the snow is softer or you are hitting the SC stashes.Only skied them a few times myself, but with a T4 or such I don't see some big issue with taking them to hardpack, at least not the likes of blue runs (or some black) just don't ski them fast or hard. they turn up on the groomers around here fairly often really. Would I take them to Winterpark and ski Mary Jane crud and ice ? Oh hell no!

[Johnny]

I've skied them everywhere, from grass to crud. They are a GREAT resort ski, but only on powder days, from 7am to 10am. On everything else they suck. They start shaking as soon as it's hard. And you'll hear (and feel) the fishscales dragging you if it's not steep enough. They are the greatest xcD resort skis anywhere there's at least two inches of new snow. The best is to have 2 pairs, one MGV and one without fishscales.

You're right, they are quite bad for touring. Too big. They are about the largest you can ski on leathers without cables. It's really hard skiing anything else than Voile's 3pc or Rotte SuperT's on leathers. You have to keep everything as light as possible. The Switchbacks are about 3 times heavier than the 3pc. Just release the old spring heel throw on the 3pc but keep it on your boots and you have a touring binding way lighter than the switchback, with the almost the same downhill power.

Binding stiffness doesn't matter much with leathers, as the boots themselves will crush your toes at some point anyway... Weight should be the #1 concern here, even if you focus on the downhill side.

All this stuff doesn't matter at all with plastic boots, but they do with leathers. I would definitely go for non-touring, no-cartridge 3pc. (Read: THE binding.)

Some might call me an idiot but I really hate plastic

We all know it's called it Wisdom.

[MikeK]

My resort thoughts were exactly that. Mornings with powder or when it warms up a bit. But I'm doubting I'm going to be doing much of that.

Might be a couple places worthwhile if I hit them right, but otherwise I was just going to noodle around near home when we get fresh snow.

I'd rather save my hard earned money for gas and lodging for trips up north to hit the wilderness trails. Most likely these skis will stay at home and I'd opt for something longer and skinnier.

OK - so I'm swaying toward the cable. What about with a riser?
http://www.voile.com/voile-telemark-bin ... nding.html

I doubt I'd buy that, just a 3PC and the riser separate. I would have to think the riser still gives a good amount of mechanical advantage even with a soft boot.

I'd never call my skiing fast and hard. On ice I guess it feels that way, even if you aren't going all that fast.

I'm not sure my hatred of plastic could be called 'Wisdom'. Maybe just aversion to pain and suffering?

[Raventele]

I love the risers with 3pc for leverage and to keep the boot's up a bit out of the snow on the uphill side...Eaaiser turning ..more edge power.. maybe overkill on the sledding hill or goff course, but other than that, hell yea! I have always used the 20 or 30 mm risers for latching the cables to when climbing or touring, but, Like LJ says you can also leave the springy cables on the boots but just trip them and you will prob barely notice they are attached to your heels, especially when you are just climbing around for turns..

[MikeK]

Ha Ron! You smoked me out on my true intentions!

Yeah there will probably be some sledding hill/golf course action with these skis but I also live less than an hour away from the Bristol Hills. 1000' vertical can be found as well as some pitches up to 20° (that sounds lame by western standards but for the east it isn't bad and 20°+ is usually marked double black at resorts in this area).

[Raventele]

The last place I skied (many years ago) that marked runs in the manner which you refer to was Mount Bohemia! Drove all the way up there for a W/E when visiting a good friend who was finishing up his Master's in Biochem at Notre Dame..Had a blast though..Almost 1k of vert!! WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

[MikeK]

Odd thing is at my 'home' mountain, there isn't a lot of difference, at least to me, between a steep blue, a black and a double black.

Whiteface and Gore have true double blacks.

This is what happens when you have pitch in the east:



We call them icefalls.

[Raventele]

Well, there are guidelines -widely ignored overall - that the run colors are supposed to somewhat follow ..Most runs in excess of 25 degrees or so out here are generally marked black..The double black thing is just mayhem..lots of runs between 25 and 30 or even less are sometimes DB because they are maybe never groomed and also have gullies, creeks, lots of downed trees, brush etc etc..just impossible to say. And lots of runs may be sloped at 15 -20 overall but have drops of 35 degrees and greater , so they are often marked black, just to give a heads up ..

[Teleman]

Lifters work at downhill areas but are not needed, especially when in powder. Anything that comes between your toe and snow is a barrier....Scored a set of wicked comfortable Merril leathers....Been trying to get some laceup for awhile....My last pair are in worse shape than the Andrews Ron....Mike if your going light go as lite as you can...Works great...TM