Where should I mount my skis?

[skier_biker_baller]

Last spring I made some skis. They are 100% working and performing skis. They are fairly similar to last years Line SFB but they have more early taper and more rocker and less shape and 186cm long. I am going to mount some Marker Baron bindings to them, but im not sure where to mount them. I have done almost zero backcountry freestyle skiing, but definitely want to. This is my first powder ski so im not sure where to mount them or how close to center i want to mount them. Suggestions? Advice? thanks

[~mikey b]

On the top
That's where all the cool "backcounty freestyle" skiers mount them.

[gointhedistance]

They are 100% working and performing skis.

I'm glad you know they work before skiing them.

They are fairly similar to last years Line SFB but they have more early taper and more rocker and less shape and 186cm long.

You should mount between your early taper and less shape... +2 cm's

[Flyoverland Captive]

Mount them in your garage, or maybe your basement. Kitchen counter works in a pinch, just be sure the wife is on board first.

[mwthomsen]

First things first, put some masking tape on the top of your skis where you will be making some marks so you don't mess up the top sheet of your untested perfectly working and perfornming skis.

Second measure the tip to tail length divide by two measure that number out make a mark.

Balance the ski on a straight edge front to back, mark that spot as well.

Measure out the distance from the front contact point to the back contact point divide by two. Take that measurement and mark on the masking tape.

Now place place the center point of your boots on the ski on each of those three locations. Then adust the boot to a position that looks the best and mark that spot as the new boot center and mount there accordingly.

Ski, repeat, and report back.

[marshalolson]

find the widest point of the tip
find the widest point of the tail.

measure the middle of these 2 things and mark with a sharpie.

then figure out how far back you want to be. normal free ride skis are about -7.5 or so.

SFB for example, is about -4cm

[~mikey b]

god damn you guys and your "help"


sbb - these guys know what they are talking about - listen to them not me

[Hugh Conway]

Have your wife mouth them.

[~mikey b]

thank you Hugh

[Hugh Conway]

that was aimed at the OP, not you, mike

[~mikey b]

understood

and

thank you Hugh

[skier_biker_baller]

find the widest point of the tip
find the widest point of the tail.

measure the middle of these 2 things and mark with a sharpie.

then figure out how far back you want to be. normal free ride skis are about -7.5 or so.

SFB for example, is about -4cm

How far back should I mount them? Obviously I cant do trial and error so I'm just trying to get as many opinions as possible. What are the advantages/ disadvantages of mounting closer to center? besides getting less float and easier to ride switch

[stuckathuntermtn]

The tails hang up in variable stuff.

I would do something like -7 from either the center of the ski, or the center of the contact points. Put the tape on and draw a line and put your boot on the ski. How does it look? Try -5 for more flippy spinny.
Can't rag on a guy for building his own skis and getting ready to test them.

Sent from my cell phone. no, a cell phone.

[nickel]

I'm just going to throw this out there, but dude, if you're serious about building skis and whatnot, you need to learn about them. Go get yourself a pair of demo binders instead of the griffon whatevers you were planning on and mount them in such a way so as to be able to try a bunch of different boot center points. This way YOU will be able to discern for YOURSELF what the advantages and disadvantages are of a more centered/rearward mounting point.

I know you got lambasted pretty hard during your building process, a lot of it for not doing your own research and asking for prefabricated answers. This is a situation where you have a golden opportunity to do some learning on your own so I suggest you completely ignore any advice on what mounting point is best and do some experimenting. You should come out of it with a better understanding on the craft you're attempting to delve into. I wish you luck and lots of fun.

P.S. you can probably find demo binders for super cheap second hand on the interwebz.

[DeepHelmet]

I'm just going to throw this out there, but dude, if you're serious about building skis and whatnot, you need to learn about them. Go get yourself a pair of demo binders instead of the griffon whatevers you were planning on and mount them in such a way so as to be able to try a bunch of different boot center points. This way YOU will be able to discern for YOURSELF what the advantages and disadvantages are of a more centered/rearward mounting point.

I know you got lambasted pretty hard during your building process, a lot of it for not doing your own research and asking for prefabricated answers. This is a situation where you have a golden opportunity to do some learning on your own so I suggest you completely ignore any advice on what mounting point is best and do some experimenting. You should come out of it with a better understanding on the craft you're attempting to delve into. I wish you luck and lots of fun.

P.S. you can probably find demo binders for super cheap second hand on the interwebz.

^^That's pretty good advice. Or you could just do what Marshall said to do. Rumor has it he knows a little about skis 'n things. I'd actually mount them above my bar, but what the hell do I know.

[skier_biker_baller]

I'm just going to throw this out there, but dude, if you're serious about building skis and whatnot, you need to learn about them. Go get yourself a pair of demo binders instead of the griffon whatevers you were planning on and mount them in such a way so as to be able to try a bunch of different boot center points. This way YOU will be able to discern for YOURSELF what the advantages and disadvantages are of a more centered/rearward mounting point.

I know you got lambasted pretty hard during your building process, a lot of it for not doing your own research and asking for prefabricated answers. This is a situation where you have a golden opportunity to do some learning on your own so I suggest you completely ignore any advice on what mounting point is best and do some experimenting. You should come out of it with a better understanding on the craft you're attempting to delve into. I wish you luck and lots of fun.

P.S. you can probably find demo binders for super cheap second hand on the interwebz.

I have done research on mounting your binding closer to center vs mounting them farther back, but I would just like to compare it to what you guys think. Is there anyway to put AT bindings on demo/shitzo plate or something? Also it cant be too think because AT bindings are pretty high the way they are

[stuckathuntermtn]

You want to tour on the first pair of skis you built?
Think about that one.
Just put some demo bindings on them.

Sent from my cell phone. no, a cell phone.

[nickel]

Appologies, I did not realise you wanted a tourable binding. If you are genuinely going to do a bunch of touring, then carry on. If it's more about slackcountry and getting to the right snow to try your ski experiment on, I stand by my suggestion of demo binders with the adendum that you should find a used pair of trekkers for slackcountry. If you are serious about making skis (even if by serious you just intend for it to be a serious hobby) right now you should be after knowledge, experience and R&D. To my knowledge there is no dedicated touring binding which would allow you to experiment with boot center location.

Someone with some Solly expertise might be able to chime in as to weather there is a solly demo binder which would fit on an MFD plate, but I would consider that both a long shot and a bad idea, since the MFD plate won't move and you'll be putting weight in weird places.

To actually give feedback for your original question, a more traditional (read rearward) mount will give better directional performance, less hooky tails and generally tends to facilitate a more forward body position for most skiers. The further forward you mount them, the more hooky the tails feel, the easier it is to spin and ride switch. Also, the more centered the mount, the bigger the tendency for most skiers to get pushed into the back seat.

[XavierD]

You should mount them exactly 96.4 cm from the tail. It will be the best.

[auvgeek]

I have done research on mounting your binding closer to center vs mounting them farther back, but I would just like to compare it to what you guys think.

That's the thing, though. All skis are different. To my knowledge, most new designs are first tested with demo binders. I know that Pat at PM Gear adjusts the demo binders in 2 mm increments and has a few people ski them at the different points to determine where they ski best.

Why not put the AT binders on another ski and keep the new design for the resort? Or at the very least, mount them for demo binders first and then remount for AT after you know exactly where you want them to be mounted.

[marshalolson]

How far back should I mount them? Obviously I cant do trial and error so I'm just trying to get as many opinions as possible. What are the advantages/ disadvantages of mounting closer to center? besides getting less float and easier to ride switch

it all depends on how you designed the sidecut and flex pattern.

but if you based the ski almost exactly off an SFB, mount them in the same place, just my .02

[auvgeek]

^^ Marshal, do you guys pick the mount point mathematically or empirically? Just curious.

[marshalolson]

^^ Marshal, do you guys pick the mount point mathematically or empirically? Just curious.

well... both.

peter designs them in relation to the sidecut and flex pattern, then we ski them to confirm both that the midsole is a good place to start, as well as what to recommend, adjustment-wise, according to skier style.

[auvgeek]

That's what I figured. Thanks for the response.

[stuckathuntermtn]

Am I the only one who thinks it's stupid to throw at bindings on the first ski you ever made?

Eh, what could go wrong?!

Sent from my cell phone. no, a cell phone.