Marker Duke EPF hole pattern dangerous?

[Icey0]

I was at my local ski shop ready to pick up some Duke EPFs and the tech told me that due to the wider hole pattern the binding has a tendency to rip off the ski. He said that the holes are outside the metal plate in the ski where the screws would normally anchor.

Does this have any validity? Are there reports of the EPFs releasing from the ski?

I am planning on mounting to an Armada JJ AK.

[XavierD]

I guess that means that the origional dukes should have all ripped out of the regular JJs by now.

Funny, haven't heard of that happening yet.

Not all shop techs were created equal.

[Caucasian Asian]

If that's the case, then why haven't my original Dukes ripped out of my Turbos? They're not mounted in a metal plate.

[sfotex]

There has been some talk on here of wider mounting pattens being weaker compared to a narrow pattern due to some ski manufactures reinforcing a narrower area on the mounting area on their skis:
http://www.astm.org/Standards/F473.htm

Sounds like certain death to me.

[Tutuko]

What do you guys think about airline travel with EPF hole patterns? Check in them to be safe?

[jondrums]

The new EPF mounting pattern is about the same width as dynadukes/sollyfits/dynalooks, and I only know of one plate that has ripped out and that was because it was mounted in thrice used holes.

I wouldn't sweat it.

[sfotex]

Does the Armada JJ AK even have metal in it??

[iscariot]

If your holes aren't in the metal plate, the shop should provide new holes free of charge. But they will not be able to guarantee the colour of the holes, so you take what you can get. If you like you can even keep the new holes in a ziplock, for your next pair of skis, just be sure to check the best before date. Some people keep holes in the freezer so they last longer, but I heard that only works with 4.1's, and not so well for 3.6's.

[Climber Joe]

Well this actually brings up an interesting question for me... Is there a determined "too wide" mounting pattern for skis? Other than mounting into the sidewall, is there really much concern?

[Icey0]

Thanks guys. I didn't think there was any special metal plate in pow skis for drilling into the binding either. Think i'm about to blow a cool $450 on some dukes

[Climber Joe]

Thanks guys. I didn't think there was any special metal plate in pow skis for drilling into the binding either. Think i'm about to blow a cool $450 on some dukes

save some money and buy some dynafit bindings or the new Tyrolia touring bindings. The tyrolias have completely metal mounting hardware.

[jfost]

check the reinforced area (if any) on your chosen ski, then compare to the width of your chosen binding pattern.

it seems reasonable that if the reinforcement is 50mm and the pattern is 65mm then you may be mounting in a less than optimal way.

then again, I've never ripped out a binding so WDIK.

[STLharry]

save some money and buy some dynafit bindings or the new Tyrolia touring bindings. The tyrolias have completely metal mounting hardware.

I would do this. The 4frnt/Head/Tyrolia Adrenalin 16 binders look sweet.

[Climber Joe]

I would do this. The 4frnt/Head/Tyrolia Adrenalin 16 binders look sweet.

I preferred the ski feel of the Salomon Guardian a little bit, but in my opinion they have plastic where there should be metal in a couple places. Even the toe plate is metal on the tyrolias, and they still ski way better than an older Duke or Fritschi.

If you are going to buy a non-tech touring binding, make it the Tyrolia/head/4Frnt/Elan, or the Salomon/Atomic.

[bestskieratsnowbird]

many companies do build in a kevlar or some other sort of reinforcement so while he may not have his facts completely straight it does seem like there COULD be some validity to the argument. only time will tell i guess, if the material they're using for better screw retention doesn't reach wall to wall this seems like a plausible thing.

[weasel1]

Mounted Adrenalins up this week, looking forward to getting them on the hill. Dig the fact that all of the touring system hardware is metal. From what I have seen so far, looking like a well-done rig.