 Poster: A snowHead
|
I live in Scotland and do quite a bit of ski touring - usually on Scott Missions with Fritschi Freeride Plus bindings. However I've started to play about in the park too, and am coughing up for a pair of Salomon Thrusters. I wouldn't mind having touring bindings on these as you never know when you might want to put your skins on and disappear out of the ski area. However I have found that the frischis are prone to pre-releasing in the park (probably due to the lack of skill in my landings!).
So was thinking of a pair of Marker Dukes. Does anyone know how much more robust these are then Fritschis, and in particular does anyone have any views of what they'd be like in a park? If there's clearly going to be a performance gap I'll just mount the skis with downhill only bindings, and make sure I have my Scotts handy too...
Cheers
Mike
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
I am looking at these bindings and they look bombproof. But that strenght/robustness comes at a price...weight. For this reason, I think they will be small hiking bindings, maybe 2 hours max uphill. I am sure they will be a vast improvement in the park over the Freerides though..
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
motatapu, not ideal for park use but certainly the best option out there.
As you have the Scott Missions / Freerides for more dedicated touring why not have alpine binders and get some Alpine Trackers and have them in the pack for the odd little excursions? <2 hours just for giggles Trackers are perfect compromise - you get the perfect park ski and can tour side country.
JT, you know that means you'd have to buy some skis to put them on? 
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
parlor, thanks for the suggestion. I don't knolw anything about the alpine trackers but will investigate....
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
parlor,
Ever the quandry
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
|
|
|
|
If you can show us around the back of Mont Fort I reckon a hook up can be arranged 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Dukes look like the are for those who like to hike for a short distance for that one awesome descent. It will hold at very high forces such as turns at extreme steepness and landings from cliff hucks. It is seriously weighty and so probably not ideal for long/steep single day ascents and certainly not suitable for multi day tours.
Reviews so far have been very promising.
The range also has a binding called the Jester, which I havent read any idependent reviews but know it is made for the park but I am not sure it is hike compatible.
How often when you leave the flat in the morning deciding to spend the day in the park do you decide to go off on a tour and vice versa. I'd get Dukes if you need to charge hard in the backcountry otherwise get some park specifc bindings which arn't quite so expensive and keep your fritschi' for off piste touring.
Saying all this, I am going to mount Dukes on my Gotama's and then I am going to buy lighter touring ski's such as Ski Trab Freerando's and mount something like Fritschi Explore and I guess if I was a park bod which I'm not get a third pair .... and finally 2 pairs for the piste!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
plectrum, living in Scotland you have to take what you can get - so it's not uncommon for me to head up Cairngorm planning on sticking to lift served stuff, only to realise the weather's turned out better than expected - which then makes a spin across the plateau a much better option.
When you're talking about the Dukes' ability to hold high forces, is that just because it has a higher DIN range, or is it an intrinsically better binding? What I'm interested in is improving on the Fritschis in the sense of having something that will release when I'm about to break a leg / bust a ligament, but won't pre-release as often. In other words I want to ride at more or less the same DIN I currently use (ie  , stay in my bindings when I land backwards, but not compromise on safety.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
motatapu, I was skiing with a friend on Saturday and he was skiing on Dukes (isn't sponsorship great  ). He is very happy with them and said that he thought that intrinisically (he didn't use that word because it has too many syllables) they were a more retentive binding, irrespective of the DIN setting used, although he has his set up to the maximum. Having skiied on the Jesters, which are the non-touring version, I would agree, as you really feel locked in to the toepiece.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
BGA, wonder who couldn't say "intrinsically", like you, I doubt he could spell it either...
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
|
kitenski, no worries!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
parlor,
Should be looking to get into the Verbier lift system from Les Collons as it suits where we plan to stay. We wanted to do the run down to the Dam and then up and over Greppon Blanc and back. I haven't been back to Verbier for years and I haven't really got a sense of scale of the place but I think it would be a nice detour and day out. I am expecting a few steep gullies at the top and then into a bowl or so..so not guided atm.
So, yes, should be possible to meet up...depending how busy you are. It is unlikely we can get over for more than a day ... 
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
parlor, damn. Out smart-arsed. A slip of the typing finger brought on by the post powder euphoria from the weekend. And no, I'm sure he couldn't spell it either
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
BGA, I think the kids say "soz".
JT, kitenski, just keep me posted I'm sure we can sort something out.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
kitenski,
Sounds good to me,
parlor, If the days work out with Greg we will be coming over from Zinal so will PM youn nearer the time...
motatapu, Sorry for trashing your thread but I hoping the Dukes will prove a robust alpine binding with an uphill facilty. They look a lot butcher than the Freeride ..which I feel leaves the ski a little too detached and high for me. I don't think the Dukes will be any lower to the ski..nature of the beast really, but would hope it makes for a more secure attachment, or rather, sense of attachment.
I am hoping to demo them soon. If I go for these, it will probably be with the view that they will do alpine very well and will tolerate a short skin. How acceptable the compromises of weight and the ski size is...I don't know yet.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
Can you put crampons on Duke's?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
parlor,
See, now you go and confuse things with the trackers.... good call though.
The chalet looks great...
Be in touch
DB, I thought crampons were an issue with dukes....hope someone clarifies that.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
DB, there's a comment on telemark-pyrenees, who've recently got the Dukes for sale, that there are no crampons available for them at present (and no indication of when/whether there will be). I consider that a show-stopper for it's use as a touring binding.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
GrahamN & JT,
Yes, no crampons no go. I'm sticking with freerides for now.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
