 Poster: A snowHead
|
has anyone got experience of optimising ramp angle (the difference in height between heel and toe - normally defined by the bindings such that the heel is around 2-5mm higher than the toepiece)?
Thinking about it, this should play a big part in being balanced fore/aft on the skis (ie, in or out of the backseat), and I would expect everyone is going to be built quite different for this, so this should be something which is commonly adjusted. However, to my knowledge only a handul of people are doing this (usually racers/top end skiers, with a specialist bootfitter/alignment expert like CEM); and for these guys, I read that they are often changing very significantly from the standard manufacturers set up - eg changing in some cases from +ve to -ve values, with toe higher than heel).
Is this something which anyone here is optimising - if so, how and why?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
gra, I first discovered boot 'balancing' a good few years ago in the US when I was set-up by Bud Heishman. Since then my new boots have been balanced by CEM/Andi McCann in the UK & there's a bunch of others on this forum that have had the same treatment. It not only works, it works very well.
BTW, the angle of the bindings (ie heel height above the toe height) is called the delta angle & boot ramp angle is the angle of the inner platform (or zeppa) within the boot that the liner sits on.
For some there's no requirement to alter the boot/bindings but most people require some tweaks. My lateral alignement measured up as needing 3 degrees of cant in each boot which could have been done by either grinding the boot sole or with an internal shim under the liner on top of the boot's zeppa. This is a different adjustment to the boot's canting adjustment which is used to align the cuff of the boot with the lower leg, ie when my boot's cuff canting was adjusted to correctly align with my leg the soles of my boot's were still 3 degrees off flat. I opted for the shim & CEM/Andi used 2 degree shims as my Atomic boots already had 1 degree built in to them.
They also determined, which I could easily feel myself, that I balanced best in the fore/aft plane with my toes 2mm above my heels. I use Vist bindings which have 5mm of delta angle so I've got 7mm shims under the toe pieces to give the required 2mm negative delta. An alternative to shims under the bindings is attaching riser blocks under the toes (usually, but sometimes the heels) of the boots. This method requires the boot lugs to be routed back down to the correct thickness although many current boots, like mine, have hollow lugs meaning that this approach can't be taken.
Last edited by Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person on Wed 7-10-09 23:28; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
I forgot the 'why'. The lateral alignement work is to ensure that your skis are flat on the snow. Until this work was done I found it very difficult to achieve simultaneous edge changes, especially at slow speed, as I was skiing on the inside edges of my skis even though they felt flat to me.
The fore/aft balancing ensures that you're skeletally stacked in a neutral central stance so that it's your bones supporting you & not your big muscles which fatigue quickly if they have to support your weight, ie backseat skiing. Binding delta angle, originally designed to help a skier get forward often has the opposite effect as the skier has stick their backside out to balance to achieve a natural balance to stop that 'over the handlebars' feeling etc.
I believe that all skiers will benefit from this, not just racers/high end skiers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
gra, a good few snowheads have had this done by Andi McCann at CEM's shop.
We all have been pleased with the result. The process also involves lateral alignment.
Basically he can simulate different angles (lateral and fore and aft) and examine your movements on on a balance table (i forgot the proper name). From this he shims your boots and reccomends a ramp angle which is ultimately a combination of that in your boot and binding. Mine was adjusted by shiming my binding from +5 to +3mm.
I also needed a heel lift to increase the range of movement in my ankles.
It made a difference to me. My skis rideflat and roll on and off their edges together, my boots dont try to pull my legs to suit their angle but now match them (some of the mismatch I had before getting this work was causing injuries to my shins which have disapeared since doing the alignement), I flex naturally and naturally maintain a better stance.
We are all different so need different prescription. The idea is to get the kit to match the skier and not force the skier to adopt positions dictated by the gear.
I'm convinced.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
Andi is at CEM's shop this coming Sunday and may still have some slots available.
I'm having my telemark skis and inline skates down 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ