Thread: Resort skiing on dynafits

Essentially, all I own are Dynafit bindings. Going to Europe, bringing two pairs of skis is retarded, so I got used to skiing them in area and have never given it 5 seconds of concern. Never an issue and I weigh 225, although I don't huck unless it's a Fred Syverson scenario. Skiers are such gear-pussies it's painful to read some of the posts in this thread.

I have broken a Fritschi in area, and snapped a couple cable bindings. No issues with Dynafits though. I have never owned an alpine boot or an alpine binding in my life so I'm probably too stupid to know any better.

Originally Posted by JoeStrummer

although I don't huck unless it's a Fred Syverson scenario.

^^^ that's teh funny.

Originally Posted by Hugh Conway

yeah, not buying it either. Nice FUD though




err, they aren't that meaningfully different within the Dynafit line and it's derivatives.

I was alluding to auto locking toes paired with no adjustment in the heal, which is what "low tech" usually means.

Originally Posted by nhbrooks

what "low tech" usually means

Low tech used to mean the original TLT Speed/Classic binding in all its iterations, going back to the early '90s. Many people in Europe still refer to the Speed/Classic as the "low tech" - Dynafit happens to use the low-tech moniker for some of their current race bindings as well

Skiers are such gear-pussies it's painful to read some of the posts in this thread

I just think about the potential scenarios a little more after knowing what it feels like to blow a knee apart, lose half my meniscal cartilage, and miss the best season ever. It was nice to sk for almost 30 years without that happening, but once is enough. Not blaming the binders I was skiing on at the time, but I want to know all the strenghts and weaknesses of the gear I trust my future mobility with.

So we have had a super shitty season so far, not good for much touring, so I decided to put the Dynafits (Radical ft 12's) to the test at Moonlight Basin today, as I really wanted to get the feel for how they ski steep firm chalky stuff before I really get comfortable with them in terrain of consequence.

All I can say is that I am pretty amazed at how well they worked out. Started carving some firm groomer laps, but then gained confidence and took them on some steep chalky terrain with small bumps and ruts. Had them set on 8, not locked, (6'1" 175lbs) and could not find a limit for what they could do in those conditions. Layed in to turns full force on steep hard pack, up against moguls, railed the groomers, many many runs, no hint of prerelease and very little discernable flex. I even pointed it through some more choppy runout snow and although maybe not as damp as skiing on a Duke, they sure as hell didn't come off.

Garmont Radiums for boots, 192 Fischer Wateas for a ski, couldn't be happier with this set up for the exploits I have in mind. Super stoked, but I still sure as hell wouldn't do that every day on these things. Amazing that those four tiny screws into plastic is all that holds your heel to the ski, if there is anything that really needs beefing up on these, it is that assembly. I am now convinced that Lou Dawson is right in his theory that the pre release issue some people have has to do mostly with imperfect and variable boots and tech fittings, ice, or improper mounts.

Originally Posted by tone capone

So we have had a super shitty season so far, not good for much touring, so I decided to put the Dynafits (Radical ft 12's) to the test at Moonlight Basin today, as I really wanted to get the feel for how they ski steep firm chalky stuff before I really get comfortable with them in terrain of consequence.

All I can say is that I am pretty amazed at how well they worked out. Started carving some firm groomer laps, but then gained confidence and took them on some steep chalky terrain with small bumps and ruts. Had them set on 8, not locked, (6'1" 175lbs) and could not find a limit for what they could do in those conditions. Layed in to turns full force on steep hard pack, up against moguls, railed the groomers, many many runs, no hint of prerelease and very little discernable flex. I even pointed it through some more choppy runout snow and although maybe not as damp as skiing on a Duke, they sure as hell didn't come off.

Garmont Radiums for boots, 192 Fischer Wateas for a ski, couldn't be happier with this set up for the exploits I have in mind. Super stoked, but I still sure as hell wouldn't do that every day on these things. Amazing that those four tiny screws into plastic is all that holds your heel to the ski, if there is anything that really needs beefing up on these, it is that assembly. I am now convinced that Lou Dawson is right in his theory that the pre release issue some people have has to do mostly with imperfect and variable boots and tech fittings, ice, or improper mounts.

Nice tone!

I skied a few runs on my dynafits, newly remounted on my bros, yesterday. The harsh ride I had experienced before disappeared and apparently was the skis vs. the binders.

I will say again, I'm not planning on using them at the ski hill on a regular basis, but it is nice to have that feeling now that I can really push 'em around in any variable conditions or hard surfaces I might enounter in the mountains. I could not believe how hard I could push them with total confidence. I just hope they hold up over the course of a couple seasons and that they supply me with spare parts so I don't get stranded in Bumfuck, Montana.

I'm in. I've skied exclusively on Dynafit (well nearly, I bought my first Alpine set up last season) for over 10 years - 100+ each season. I've never broke anything, except a screw in the back of a pair of Scarpa Matrix that made everything feel loosy-goosy when the plate fell off. I ski probably 60-70 days at the resort, 30+ touring. The only prereleases I've ever had were due to ice build up under the toe piece. I ski fairly hard, weigh 145 lbs and occasionally do a jump or two - mostly unintentionally. With the set up being lighter, I will chime and agree with others that it can harsh your ride a bit, but I live with it. Rode through a huge icy avy pile at the Bird last year and was surprised I lived through it. Nothing fell off. Nothing broke. Nothing prereleased. Current set ups include both gold and black Gotamas 183/186 and an early Mantra 177. The rock-mantras have seen alot of action this season. @145, I barely weigh enough to get core shots. DIN set at 7.5

YMMV

My confidence in my Dynafits is growing. I'm running FT 12s at release value 11 on 186 EHPs. I hit a 10 foot cliff with toes unlocked and landed slightly backseat in my buddy's bomb hole and there were no issues. I skied fast through chop and moguls on my way out to the backcountry with no problems. Groomers at the end of the day felt normal.

On icy suncups in October, I did have a pre-release where I'm thinking alpine bindings would have stayed on. That experience made me have my doubts and I was skiing toes locked for a bit after. But I'm thinking that you're good as long as conditions aren't teeth-chatteringly hard.

The only thing I have to add so far is that ever since that day that I ripped a bunch of wind buffed Lone Tree laps at Moonlight, my rebuilt knee has been really irritated. Like, can't ski irritated...

Skied hard on a bunch of other days this year with alpine setups and worse conditions and no problem afterwards.

It's just got me thinking, maybe they do channel more vibration up through your body than traditional set ups, cause there is no doubt that day fucked with my knee like no other despite no tweaks and very smooth chalky hardpack.

Originally Posted by tone capone

The only thing I have to add so far is that ever since that day that I ripped a bunch of wind buffed Lone Tree laps at Moonlight, my rebuilt knee has been really irritated. Like, can't ski irritated...

Skied hard on a bunch of other days this year with alpine setups and worse conditions and no problem afterwards.

It's just got me thinking, maybe they do channel more vibration up through your body than traditional set ups, cause there is no doubt that day fucked with my knee like no other despite no tweaks and very smooth chalky hardpack.

My knees get worked pretty good with Dynafits and super-wide skis (or what TGR considers mid-fats.) But my kneecaps are full of old apple cores and Chinese newspapers. Below 115 waist or so I can ski resort for a week and not notice anything. I ski a bit less than Johnny Deep but not much, moving away from resort skiing but still get 30-40 days on lifts and Dynafits.

But there is less interface to absorb energy than an alpine binding so I'm not surprised you are feeling it.

Definitely not much give in that system, Tone. Metal on metal all the way.

Well, I'm sold.
Radiums are a damn good fit, too. Might have to look into finding a newish pair and power wraps.
Can you sand down the soles and cram then in 912's too?

I know ski patrol here at the Bowl has a few dudes on Dynafits, and there's no way they're not slamming into moguls.
I forget his name, but that big dude with the mustache was skiing S7s with Dynafits and Factors and loved it.

Then again, just another reason I wish I had $700 for Bodaciouses. (Bodacii?)

Stuck,

Unless you are going to be touring alot these would be a waste of money for you. Skiing around on hard conditions sucks ass. There is no give at all so you get jarred to hell. At snowbowl these would suck balls unless the snow is soft which is not that often. I have been on dynafits for 5 years and have both conforts and ft12's so I have seen my fair share of time on these. I skied one day last year at Targhee with factors, ehps and FT 12's and by the time things started getting tracked I could really feel the fact that the binding has no give to it. Does this patroller ski around on his S7's when it hasnt snowed in 2 weeks? If he does I wouldnt exactly consider him a credible source. With that being said if you plan to tour a bunch go for it they are the only way to go for that purpose.

Ice magnifies poor technique.

Good to know. As far as give, these 912s are retarded.

Originally Posted by Johnny Deep

Ice magnifies poor technique.

Lol, true. Mtslack is race trained or something, so he knows what he's doing. No idea what the guy is skiing right now. Might just be sitting in the patrol shack and sulking when it doesn't snow. That's what I'd do.

Sent from my DROID2

Originally Posted by tone capone

The only thing I have to add so far is that ever since that day that I ripped a bunch of wind buffed Lone Tree laps at Moonlight, my rebuilt knee has been really irritated. Like, can't ski irritated...

Skied hard on a bunch of other days this year with alpine setups and worse conditions and no problem afterwards.

It's just got me thinking, maybe they do channel more vibration up through your body than traditional set ups, cause there is no doubt that day fucked with my knee like no other despite no tweaks and very smooth chalky hardpack.

Yeah anything firm -- real ice, western "ice," coral reef -- and my right knee just throws fits and threatens to go on strike. My arches get tired lots faster too. Very direct vibration transfer -- what makes them ski like alpine bindings, the rigidity of things, well that also means there's more shock/vibration transmitted to the skier. Metal-to-metal, like srsosbso said.
.

Would not want them as my only setup since I walk 5-10% of my ski days and ride chairs the remainder. Full alpine setup = much happier when riding chairs.

Also be thankful those Wateas and that carbon layup are pretty nice at dampening rough ice. My AT ski is the Watea 94 and it's the dampest friendliest thing I've skied on nasty reef and chicken head concrete.

I was blessed with the chance of breaking my boot and was forced to ski my touring rig inbounds untill I got a replacement. 179 stiff bro's with vertical st's and factors set at 10. I'm x racer type, minor hucks, 145 lbs, usually riding snowbowl, MT. I had my reservations at first but ended up quite pleased. I found railing turns, occasional arcs, bumps, powder, all fine and dandy. Small drops were okay as well, but I did hear a noticeable creaking sound at times of heavy impact. Usually when pivoting while leaving the air and slamming turns down. Occasionally I hear this while touring as well...

The only stuff that scared me ridiculous ice. Surely they could hold me fine if I would take it easy, but I did pre release once when I leaned far over and put all I could into it. I felt like the vibrations combined with steep slope popped it off.

So would I use them only as my inbounds setup? No... My p18's will never loose their spot right next to my heart. Thats not to say the dynafits haven't inspired my confidence. Whats not to love about their touring performance? 95% of they perform just like alpine bindings too.

I've thought about locking them down to keep them 100% solid but I never can convince myself with the increased risk. I only lock them to tour, and ski unusually sketchy areas.

I just test mounted some brand new Dynafit Radical FT 12's to a short snowlerblade sized 2x4 and I've been stomping around on it for the last hour to get a feel for some of the release characteristics before I put it on a ski and take it out.

Boot is a brand new Tecnica Bushwacker and the heel spacing is 5.5mm measured with digital calipers.
There are no odd interaction issues with the heel lugs and the brake, brake snaps down into place and then the heel pins engage.
Both 'DINs' are set to the middle of the range, 8.5
I weigh 185 pounds and I am about 5'11", BSL is 320.

I'm jumping about a foot up in the air and landing on doormat over a concrete floor in the basement. Harder than I would land anywhere while skiing.

So jumping straight up and down and landing balanced fore/aft and balanced side to side very hard does not release the bindings.

Doing the same thing, landing fore aft balanced but not side to side balanced (landing on an edge) causes extreme lateral forces on the toe and releases bindings, the toe releases first and the "power towers" don't seem to do much.

Landing in the backseat is more sensitive to release than landing forward, the Tecnica heel is deep and the boot rides the full 5.5mm back, disengaging the front pins. I can see where snapped pins come from, too close a spacing, a heel that isn't deep enough, or crap in the heel.

Twisting release: Putting the front of the 2x4 against a door frame and kicking the back with my other foot causes some extreme twisting forces
and the binding releases very easily. Doing it slowly it looks to be less than 20 degrees or so deflection in the heel before it lets go. It is definitely way less than a FKS, but it's not horrible.

No noticeable difference with the 'stiffener' thing engaged -- then again this is a 2x4...

My impression is that this binding should hold up fine carving on groomers and crud at the resort, jumps and moguls possibly -- if your form is perfect.

I'm going to field test this this weekend. If it can handle a loaded patrol toboggan in the moguls, then I'm calling it good, we'll see.

YMMV.

Those look like Jerantulas^^^.Still waiting for my shipment
Listened to my own advise and checked each ski for each boot last weekend.
The toes were off quite a bit on my Scarpa Maestreles to where the heel pins would not slide into the slot without putting torque on the front pins when mixing skis.Now have dedicated right/left skis and no releases skiing moguls for 3 days.Pretty happy that I fixed that issue.

Sitting here in the ER after my dynafit didn't release in a twisting fall at Snow King, let's say I am skeptical on release values. And they haven't brought me any percocets yet

Well thats not good.Hope things turn out to be ok with you.Sending positive vibes your way tonight+++++

I was lucky enough with my Tecnicas not to need a left/right. When I mounted them to my skis, I put one screw in the toe and locked the boot in, I rotated it such that the heel center landed on ski center and then marked the other three holes. I put the second boot in and did the same and it was spot on. Compared the marks with the binding template and it was good to go, drill, tap, inserts, done:

http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...wiss-Cheese-S7