To the discerning telemarker, as oxymoronic as that may sound, there is a lot that goes into selecting the components of the best tele system. In the end it really doesn’t matter, you can’t make gear an excuse for poor technique but the right combination of a boot and binding can make a world of difference in the control and depth of the turn experienced. Most bindings present a compromise at one end of the spectrum or another, and all are adjustable to some extent, but few offer the breadth of options offered by Burnt Mountain Designs, the product of a tele dreamer in Vermont who built the Tele Bulldog, the first truly step-in telemark binding in the world in his garage while mending humans in an hospital emergency room by day. Though the new NTN bindings are pretty darn easy to get in to, the Bulldog family of bindings are easier still.

Louis Dandurand doesn’t have any illusions about setting the world on fire with his bindings, let alone the tele tribe, but he has persevered nonetheless and created a litter of boot chompers worth serious consideration. About the only thing they don’t offer is safety release. Though that sounds ominous to an alpine skier, most pinners know that with a free heel you don’t need that release but rarely and, knock on wood, many of us have gotten away without it for several decades. So, while it may seem cavalier, I’m in the camp that a safety release (for tele gear only) is overrated. Please don’t confuse that with the universal desire for avy release, or an ejection trigger.

Choices Choices
Going into the Thirteen-14 season Tele Bulldog has spawned quite a litter of pups since its inception back at the dawn of the new millenium. The stainless steel, unibody construction of the second generation Lite Dogz has become the genetic building block leading to the current generation of Spike bindings. It is a whole family of tele dogs, that range from Spike Lite, the ultimate step-in 3-pin binding to fraternal twins Spike XT and NT with a range of single or dual spring cable assemblies with adjustable pivot locations and a choice of three spring rates. The XT fits duck-billed boots, NT for the symmetrically shaped new tele norm kickers.

Because the foundation is the same for all bindings, starting with the cantilevered step-in function of the toeplate, you can build your own breed of teledog with the options you prefer, from the height of the climbing post, the spring tension and sole type. The key choices concern whether to include a touring mode switch, or brakes, or both. Beware, you are advised to chose one or the other since the presence of the ski brakes makes switching to a free pivot the most difficult mode switch in the tele kingdom. It isn’t impossible, but it requires extra special technique, or a second hand to help push the tour lock in and keep the brakes retracted. Louis is up front in recommending brakes for in-bounds turning only.

Weight
Weight on Spike varies depending on what spring configuration you go for. The basic toe piece with brakes weighs in around a pound per foot with brakes. A single tube spring assembly adds another 12 ounces with a climbing post, and yet another 10 ounces for the dual tube version. It can attach to one of seven positions with an equivalent range of power from HH#2 to HH#5+ if you also double the tubes and use stiffer springs.

Ahhhh – Step-In Convenience
Unlike any other cable binding, you still just step-in to add turning tension, no need to bend over to flip the heel lever up. There is a simple heel block at the back of the tube shaped to fit into the heel groove of a tele boot. With the right position, you simply step down, the spring stretches to allow it to push past the heel and snugly into the groove.


 
Getting out takes a bit more thought. First, push down on that heel block to pop it out of the groove, freeing your heel. Then press down on the front switch and lift your heel even further to lever the toepiece open and then slide your toe out. You’ll probably step back in to the heel while pushing on the front release lever, but a bit of practice cures that.

Downhill Control
In downhill mode the binding simply rocks, solidly adding power to your edges when you need it most, at speed and on ice. As with any active binding, it won’t completely cure bad habits, but it can help with balance and will make a decent skier tele better. The single tube, medium strength Spike XT I tried felt like a HH#3, maybe a 3+. It didn’t break any records, but few need or want more tele resistance than that anyway.

Touring
As warned, tour mode was a bit of a bugger to switch to, but once in position the binding delivers a more than adequate 55°+ range of motion. You can modify the toepiece to allow even more angular range, but 55°+ is plenty enough for jack knife switchbacks. I was concerned that there was noticeable friction between the side walls of the toeplate and the baseplate, but your legs don’t notice when skinning, and if you’re concerned a lil’ dab of grease between the surfaces can’t hurt. Over time you may notice that the touring pivot is in front of pin line. Not just a little, a full 30mm, no less. It tours better than the NTN Freedom because it has less resistance, but on a long climb it isn’t as efficient as an O1 where the pivot is directly under the toe, not in front.

Mounting
It should be noted that there are detailed directions for assembling Spike and you may need to read them. Mounting the Spike Blade version is fairly simple, but adding brakes does require more than rudimentary mechanical skill. If you want brakes and a tour switch you had best slow down and read the detailed instructions provided to make sure you assemble the pieces in the right order and positions.

Conclusion
So who is this system for? By and large it’s for telemarkers who insist on step-in convenience and prefer the flex of a binding that bends a boot from the heel. It helps to be mechanically inclined, or be willing to tip a good ski mechanic an extra Jackson with a 12 pack for mounting these. Bring whatever boot you have and Spike will hold it tight while you dance the tele delight. You can get as picky as you want when it comes to picking the mix of spring components, but odds are you’ll want a fully outfitted Spike so you can follow your fancy whatever slope you find yourself on, whether breaking trail or riding lifts.

Burnt Mountain Designs
Spike NT/XT
MSRP: $265
Weight/pr: 3 lbs., 5.2 oz. (1.5 kg)

© 2013
 

More notes from ‘anonymous’ reviewers on the next page.

Tele Bulldog, NTxBulldog, Spike Observations from TTIPs

Grant 12nov10, pp2, more RT Bulldog Praise

I purchased the RTBs for skiing the resort. I ride a gondy often so having to bend over to clip in, attach a leash, etc is a pain in the @ss. I really enjoy the step in but wouldn’t feel comfortable without the pins plate installed as I have had the heel bar disengage from my boot while skiing. I could ski it with the pins until it re-engaged. The brakes work well and don’t get caught up. 

While I did install the free pivot slider on the RTBs, it is a pain to actually engage. The mounting screws need to be loose enough to allow it to slide and as said above, the tolerance is minimal. Probably not bad to do at the parking lot but I could see your friends with a button or switch on their bindings skiing away while you work on it. Additionally the climbing riser at the heel is a little kludgy as well. 

If you decide to use the RTBs as a backcountry binding, I highly encourage you to ski them at the resort several times first to make sure everything is set properly. RTBs do take some set up time to ensure the rear heel block is properly measured and to get used to the step in feature. One disadvantage is the boot pin holes can get blocked with snow that make stepping in tough. Something to consider if you plan on booting in the BC.

Response to Mitch and Big Tim review : Burnt. Mtn.’s NTxBulldog, Mar. 2011.

Details on the new Bulldog lineup for 2011/12, Sept. 2011

RT Bulldog Spike – still around?, Sept. 2011

fogey, p1, 13sept11, RT Bulldog Spike – still around?

Range of motion is quite a bit better than NTN, and NTN has more range of motion than Hammerheads. I’m picky about range of motion and the Spikes will be my everyday touring binding. 

Lateral stability is not as good as NTN, but feels better to me than HHs, Axls or Switchbacks (no experience with O1s). I’m un-mechanical, but having a single rigid tube seems to reduce the wiggle room that’s there with two independently connected side cables. 

The toepiece is not HH snug. The wiggle room there is front-to-back, not side-to-side–in other words, a split second of delay engaging when the knee bends and the boot flexes. Louis has a tweak to tighten things up, but a couple of days were not enough for me to get that dialed in. 

Attaching the heel riser to the tube is a plus–easier to flip up and down and no need for a hunk of plastic on the ski (especially the big hunk on NTN). If you like multiple riser heights, though, you don’t have them. 

The mechanism for engaging the binding and switching from touring to downhill mode is not–speaking here as a fool–as foolproof as a Switchback or Axl–but step-in is more of a plus than I thought it would be. 

Mitch’s Review of RT Bulldog, Winter 2011