Telemark Tech

From the Trab booth at the Winter OR show:

Found on telemark tips (I'm not at the show, unfortunately). Is this going to be a game changer?

major points for the hemp leashes brahstafariiiii

NTN boots have dynafit inserts. This would certainly be a lighter backcountry rig than a pair of NTN bindings.

Wyatt H wrote:Is this going to be a game changer?

From what? Slow to slow?

Bascally the same concept as my 3pin hardwires that I have used forever and will use forever, except it looks more complicated/fiddly and less secure and with more components that could break and be a bitch to field repair. If your hellbent on having dynafit interface then i guess this would work, but at that point why not just go with a regular dynafit AT system? it seems like people hardly make tele turns these days no matter what setup they have.

Fix the heel, fix the problem!

drpw wrote: From what? Slow to slow?

Heavy to light? I don't know, I don't tele, so I don't know that much about the gear, I just found this interesting and it seemed much lighter than NTN and some other options. I know alot of people are turned off by the weight of tele.

As far as tele gear, it looks kinda beater!

Bob - nicely stated. Only thing I would add is the unique feeling of a tele turn through powder.

Regarding the Dynafit compatibility: I think it's nice to see a tele boot that you can lock down as it gives more options without having to buy an entirely new setup (boots, bindings and skis). And if you use something like quiver killers, it really increases options.

Those leashes look good to me as they would most assuredly release the ski in a violent fall. Leashes are one thing I don't enjoy about skiing tele inbounds...who wants sharp ski edges scissoring around your head?

Lastly - La Sportiva brought out their own skis at this year's show. There's no XS Grip on them as far as I can tell.

Jonathan Callahan wrote:Bob - nicely stated. Only thing I would add is the unique feeling of a tele turn through powder.

I like the feel of the turn in any condition. I like the way the upper body counter-rotates against the lower body, it really activates the hips, the body's "second brain."

That said, after many years of tele only, I've come to the conclusion that it's a sucker's game. Twice the work, half the control. But I still tele.

I don't think the binding will change much. One of the reasons I like tele for touring is that the binding seems to replicate the body's natural movement, bending at the ball of the foot. Randonee's pivot just doesn't seem natural.