TRF Downhill Skiers: Lifters or Not?

[joeychitwood]

I want your opinions on binding lifters. I haven't skied since my traumatic brain injury and the resulting subsequent decrease in balance abilities. I am returning to skiing with the local chapter of the National Ski Patrol this winter and am debating whether the 12 mm lifters I have mounted between my skies and Marker bindings will help or hinder me in maintaining stability. My fellow patrollers have mixed opinions.

I know lifters assist in carving turns and absorbing shock. However, my future skiing plans include patrolling activities here in Minnesota and bigger mountain groomed greens/blues. I doubt I will be pushing it too hard, given that at best, I was an intermediate skier, having learned how to ski at age 40.

Should I leave the lifters on or remove them, hoping for greater stability on mostly groomed runs?

[wantonebad]

For certain binding they are mandatory as it's a proprietary setup, that's how my Solomon ski's and bindings work, the riser plate is built into the skis making them almost 100% dependent on using the same manufacturers binding. I'm sure Marker makes bindings that can be mounted without the plate but I don't know if it can be removed once it's used?

[Kingair]

Got no knowledge on the bindings

But why where they added ?

HAGOne

[joeychitwood]

Originally Posted by Kingair

Got no knowledge on the bindings But why where they added ? HAGOne

I bought the Marker 9.2 racing bindings brand new in the box for $25 from a friend. At the time, they retailed for around $395. They came with the lifters. They worked well when I skied prior to my injury, but I wonder if the added height will make me more prone to catch an edge now. It would seem that a lower center of gravity would make me more stable, but I could be completely wrong.

[Cru Jones]

with parabolic skis these days providing such a "crutch" for carving, i'm surprised lifters are still used. i would have thought they were a thing of the past.

at any rate, aren't they more for aggressive skiing? considering your goal, i would think they wouldn't be necessary in any case.

but, i'm no expert....

most importantly, glad to have you back on the slopes!

[mannyv11]

Originally Posted by joeychitwood

I bought the Marker 9.2 racing bindings brand new in the box for $25 from a friend. At the time, they retailed for around $395. They came with the lifters. They worked well when I skied prior to my injury, but I wonder if the added height will make me more prone to catch an edge now. It would seem that a lower center of gravity would make me more stable, but I could be completely wrong.

If you don't mind me asking how old are you ski's

[FiftyTwoEighty]

Your skis look like Solomons, no?

Parabolic skis are a thing of the past. Today, many modern ski have reverse camber/rocker and can be skinny, fat, or a combination of both.

The risers on the bindings are there to allow the ski to flex/arc naturally. In some ski/binding designs, removing them would cause a "flat spot" in your turning arc. The flat spot is where your binding is screwed to the top of the ski -- preventing any natural flex under foot.

They also prevent from "boot out" at extreme angles -- which is when your boot hits the snow when you're carving your turns -- causing you to loose an edge and crashing.

Also, depending on with how narrow/wide your ski is underfoot, your boot may/may not hang over the edge, and be susceptible to booting out.

You will be no more or less likely to catch an edge based on your binding selection.

[T. Ferguson]

Sorry, can't help you with this one Joey. All I can say is you sure are enjoying retirement, Doc!

[joeychitwood]

Originally Posted by mannyv11

If you don't mind me asking how old are you ski's

They are 12 years old.

Originally Posted by FiftyTwoEighty

Your skis look like Solomons, no?

Parabolic skis are a thing of the past. Today, many modern ski have reverse camber/rocker and can be skinny, fat, or a combination of both.

The risers on the bindings are there to allow the ski to flex/arc naturally. In some ski/binding designs, removing them would cause a "flat spot" in your turning arc. The flat spot is where your binding is screwed to the top of the ski -- preventing any natural flex under foot.

They also prevent from "boot out" at extreme angles -- which is when your boot hits the snow when you're carving your turns -- causing you to loose an edge and crashing.

Also, depending on with how narrow/wide your ski is underfoot, your boot may/may not hang over the edge, and be susceptible to booting out.

You will be no more or less likely to catch an edge based on your binding selection.

Thanks for the great reply. You are correct. Solomon X Scream 7 skis.

Originally Posted by T. Ferguson

Sorry, can't help you with this one Joey. All I can say is you sure are enjoying retirement, Doc!

Retirement is great! I have time to get as involved as I wish in whatever I wish. I'm the medical training coordinator for our NSP chapter, and it's been a blast.

[rr-nyc]

The overall benefit is allows for a more natural flex pattern to carve but racing bindings typically go on racing skis, which have the most aggressing sidecut. Without binding plates, it's certain you'd slide out on a hard carve. it really depends on the skis you're on and how hard you carve. I'm almost exclusively on Atomic SL's with pre-mounted binding plates and with the current sidecut, they're a necessity. If you're on fat skis, its less important.

Most advanced skis have binding plates pre-mounted.

[joeychitwood]

I bought some used Volkl Supersport 5 Star skis from one of my fellow patrollers. (I am amazed at how many pairs of skis and boots some of these guys have. The best skier on our squad has 17 pairs of skis.) The length is 161 cm with a radius of 13 meters. The integrated binding is the Marker M12 Motion binding, and it too sits on a lifter.

The difference in turning and control is really remarkable compared to the 174 cm Salomon with a 20 meter radius. I've basically had to learn to ski all over again due to balance deficits from my TBI, but it has actually been a lot of fun.