Oct 18 2011

Modifying NTN for better touring

Update (13nov11): Finally managed to get this revision out on snow. See the very end for the results..

First, I would like to thank Jay (tainted meat) and Andrew (Andrew L) and Mike (MD2020) for donating NTN parts for this experiment. It saved me from destroying my own working bindings as the prototypes were made and remodified as problems developed and were dealt with along the way… Thanks guys!

NTN v1 modified for better touring.

Theory: The theory I have is that NTN has significant resistance in tour mode that can be “detensioned” and improve tour mode greatly.

Analysis: The throw lever extends the plastic tensioning parts to engage the power tubes. Modifying those parts to have less extension could, in theory, leave the boot captured by the claw, but not under tension.

In Practice: You place the modified tensioner in the new de-tensioned mode position. You put your skins on your skis  and climb in the modified free pivot mode. When you reach the top of your climb and remove your skins, you also reposition the mid part tensioner in the normal position and your binding is back to normal power tube tensioning for the ski down.
Keep making backcountry turns

Oct 18 2011

Telemark Skier Magazine’s Loyalty Tour

For the second year in a row the Telemark Skier Crew is taking the show on the road to promote a free heel life. As editor of Telemark Skier magazine, Josh Madsen will be traveling around the US this fall to showcase his latest video, Loyalty to help spur interest in telemark skiing.

Not being a big fan of ski videos I’d be hard pressed to recommend the Loyalty video but I am a big fan of Josh’s enthusiasm for promoting the most difficult form of glisse, the telemark turn. Thus I do recommend you check out his presentation when he comes near your town.

Besides viewing the Loyalty video you’ll get a chance to meet Josh and buy raffle tickets to win several prizes including a full ski setup plus lots of other assorted gear like poles, clothing, climbing skins, etc. Proceeds from the raffle will benefit Lifeturns.org. Of course he’ll have some TSM T-shirts as well, in case you care to wear your tele pride.

The schedule of where and when is here.   •  Loyalty trailer

If anyone has been to the shows the rest of us would love to hear your reaction to the TSM presentation.

© 2011

 

Oct 16 2011

TR: Mt. Shasta – October 12, 2011

Headed up north once again.  I had to see what the last storm did to the mountain. I had been watching the snow piling up on Shasta, on the computer, and then watched as it melted away. I couldn’t take it anymore.

Drove up Tuesday and camped at the Brewer Creek TH. The road was clear all the way, but a few patches of snow lay in the shade at the trailhead.  

Woke up Wednesday to a hard freeze. Found quite a few patches of snow in the woods on the way up.

Sunrise from 8500' on the E side of Mt. Shasta

According to the Google Earth snow report there was 10 inches of snow here a few days ago. Kept my eye on it and found excellent driving/skiing conditions.

Started hiking by 5am. Got a good start on the morning with another vehicle waking me at 2:15am. I gave up sleep by 2:30 and prepared to get my jib on. After prepping with a ton of coffee and oatmeal I booted on up the gully.
Keep making backcountry turns

Oct 12 2011

Ode to John Holleman (1960-2011)

John Holleman pauses on a powder trail above Lake Tahoe, March 2009 after 5 months of chemotherapy.

Nobody likes talking about it, so it’s weird when you have to deal with it regardless of what you know or, more importantly, what you believe about death. It is that season for my friend, and thus for me and a small group of friends who have rallied around John since he was diagnosed with colon cancer just over three years ago.

The day he found out was the day that my relationship with John Holleman was transformed from casual to close. My response has been the signature ingredient of our friendship ever since. My response was prayer. Some of you may think that quite appropriate, and indeed I agree, but at the time it was a very unnatural response, not just because of who I am, but also because of my relationship with John.

John was my ski bud, a man who had entered my life as a roommate when I first moved to Truckee to put Couloir magazine in high gear. According to my other roommate, Corey Stern, John was a ripping telemarker.
Keep making backcountry turns

Oct 11 2011

Review: Black Diamond’s O1 (2011)

To say that Black Diamond’s O1 is the most popular telemark binding in America for earning turns is to acknowledge reality. There are several reasons for that popularity, not the least of which is the fact that the O1 was the first telemark binding with a free pivot that also, finally, delivered enough power to adequately drive fat skis.

Other bindings made it to market with a free-pivot sooner, but they were under powered and skis were only getting wider, boots taller, and aspirations higher.

Black Diamond's O1 - a.k.a. The One
Weight: 3 lbs., 12 oz. (1.7 kg).

The O1 builds upon the platform established with the O2, using a pair of compression spring cartridges routed underneath your boot, for fast turn engagement. It was the first touring specific binding that came close to equaling the Hammerhead for turning power. It is no longer the most powerful telemark touring binding on the market, but not all telemarkers want or need that level of power to control their skis.
Keep making backcountry turns

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Oct 07 2011

Review: 22 Designs Axl (beta version 2009)

Rerun: This article was first published on BackcountryMagazine.com April 2009

Axl - the free pivoting Hammerhead - finally arrives. Beta version shown.

Ever since I first skied it, all I ever wanted in a telemark binding – the mythical Tele Grail be damned – was a free pivoting Hammerhead. It took almost a decade, but 22 Designs has finally delivered one. Axl’s debut couldn’t have waited much longer. In the intervening years every other extant telemark binding company has managed to offer a touring model. However, none of them ski like a HammerHead. Axl does.
Keep making backcountry turns

Oct 05 2011

News: Salomon/Atomic AT binding comin’

Very interesting.

Received a very interesting package today. It came through the back door marked with a pair of I’s for insider intel.

It’s a new touring binding for young hucksters hunting freshies from……shhhhhhhhh…..Salomon and Atomic.

The pictures tell most of the story, but leave a few questions. Looks like a beefy adaptation of the Silvretta chassis. Might even be able to switch to tour mode without exiting the binding. Purportedly more rigid while touring or charging than the Duke, and the angle stock bars reinforce that belief.
Keep making backcountry turns