heli tele bindings

[mntlion]

Well I'm still not sure if I wil go back to mike Wiegele heli ski next year but if I do I'll be teleing on spatulas and need some bindings. Just doing the tele thing again as alpine with most of the guests is kinda dull.


What I need is

quick and easy to get in and out of (15-25 runs daily = in and out 15-25 times daily)

uphill/touring performance doesn't matter

powder performance only. edge hold is NA

weight doesn't matter

Using older T1's

blue terrain and some black. If I get a good group I'll alpine on spats.

Also If someone has this type of binding for sale/trade, let me know

[hop]

www.ultimatetele.com
It is the best tele binding I have ever used, and I've pretty much used them all....
The features that you would probably appreciate most are: Step in and out easy as pie. You only have to flick the heel throw once in the morning and once in the evening, unless you never take them off your boot in which case you flick the heel throw once at the beginning of the season and once at the end of the season...
Extremo rad powder performance. No tip dive. Amazing control...no slop like with every other binding I have ever used. The toebox (one piece cast titanium) is super burly and yields amazing responsiveness, but that can get annoying when you have new boots that haven't quite broken in to the tight fit.
You can get multiple plates for the binding to step into, which means you an use the same binding (or at least half of it...the half on your boot) for as many pairs of skis as you have plates for. And you can get them w/o the most amazing heel lifters to minimize cost. I do recommend an extra set of springs and rods, just in case. Both Armond and I broke rods this season (first problem in about 200 days for me, don't know about Armond).

Any other questions feel free to ask! And before Mulletizer brings it up, I am semi-spancered by Armond. That being said, I would still buy his bindings.

[Steven S. Dallas]

Originally posted by mntlion
What I need is

quick and easy to get in and out of (15-25 runs daily = in and out 15-25 times daily)

uphill/touring performance doesn't matter

powder performance only. edge hold is NA

weight doesn't matter

If you weren't a good guy, I'd really hate your guts...:D

[Mulletizer]

Personally I'd go with Linkens. The true step in bit is so nice.

IMO They rule for powder more than any other tele binder I have skied (and I have skied most of the newer ones too but not the UTB or Bomber). Not so great for ice and hard crappy conditions - but do you really want to tele on spatuals then?

[hop]

the only reason I wouldn't go with Linkens is that, although their powder performace was on par with UTB's, the unpredictable snow buildup underfoot was a major pain. The latest version has attempted (again) to remedy this problem but I haven't skied it nor heard if it worked any better than the middle version.
If the problem is fixed (and I think it's less of an issue in drier snow, but I still hear problems from Utah, etc. which makes me think twice) then they would be my #2 choice.

[jk]

Now, I don`t know about Mike Wiegele, but I for one would not like to have someone stomping around in my helicopter(not that I have one , but IF I had one anyways) with these on their boots:


http://www.ultimatetele.com/images/ut68b.gif

I have no experience with the binding, though, so it might be worth taking on and of 15-25 times a day.
I`d gladly take my Rottefella R8`s of /on quite a few times for 15-25 heli runs a day...
Linkens are true stepins, but as hop said I`m not to sure I would trust them due to the snow buildup thing. Not as much of an issue in dry powder, but it still happens , especially when the paintjob on them gets worn. Also if you use leashes you`d have to bend down to connect them anyway, and my Linkens released quite a lot so I wouldn`t go leashless.
I would go for the R8`s, but that`s because I have a preference for active bindings.Fairly easy on and of due to the plastic plates and very good downhill performance. And can`t imagine tipdive beeing a problem on Spats

[mntlion]

So with the UTB you have the binding attached to the boot all the time and just step the whole thing into the ski.

How is that for durability? You have to walk to the heli pads and in and out fo the heli.

The snow build up is a worry (again in and out all day) and I dont think the tip dive is an issue with that ski ;)

release is not a big issue. I'm not charging with this set up. nice but not a big deal

[hop]

so far so good. I have walked around parking lots, in and out of lodges (oops, so long hardwood floor and carpet!) and climbed over and rapped down rocks with these things. the points are holding up fine. If you go to the utb website you'll get a link to the ttips first look, where Mitch kicked a step in the concrete curb in front of his house. Of course I'm not advocating abuse, but for normal wear and tear I don't forsee a problem. Ski patrollers at Stevens Pass use them and walk around P-lots, concrete walkways, etc. every day. It takes a bit of getting used to with the reverse forward lean from the points under your toes though! ;) The only thing I worry about is getting a point stuck in a metal walkway with slits in it... that would suck.

I suggest getting in touch with Armond and explaining what you need and what you'll be doing. Tell him Adam sent you!

[EstoBum]

I havce linkens and have noticed the snow build up problem in powder and in soft wet snow. I think I was told it has something to do with good form, and I suck at telemarketing so that may be it.

It can be quite a bitch having to take your skis off at the bottom of every run and clear out the snow, as it begins to feel pretty damn weird with the snow under the boot.

[Greydon Clark]

3-pins... seriously. Next season I'll be running AK Rockets with 3-pins.

Linkens-- I avoided snow build-up by applying some packaging/anti-ice tape.