How was it to ski without a releasing heel?

[kashaslc]

I have been thinking about something recently, and thought people here would know the answer. Either from back then, or if they go out on the hill on the old gear.

The question is, how bad were the old systems with a non-releasing heel? A lateral release toe and cable hold down?

It would seem it would result in a lot of broken legs, but I suspect it might not have been so bad. Did people keep the toes loose enough that any twist along with the fall would cause a release? Or were the boots soft enough that the ankles bent enough to protect the leg?

Anyone still take these set-ups out on the hill?
Thanks
Dan

[Seth]

They were pretty bad. A properly set up cable system would sort of release. The old lace-up leather boots did very little to support and protect the ankle, so it was easy to stretch, sprain or rupture an achilles tendon in a forward fall. The toes would, in theory, release laterally but without an anti-friction pad the boot-to-ski friction usually prevented lateral release in most forward falls.

My first alpine binding rig featured the original side-throw Marker Rotamat heel, which did NOT release in a forward fall. And it sprained my ankle.

Bear in mind that after the introduction of the Kandahar binding in the mid-30s -- the first binding to lock the heel down alpine-style -- about one-third of the racers in any downhill race could be counted on to finish the course on a sled.

Seth

[Old School]

A Marker turntable.....

[KZimm]

When I was still in school and racing I was the cool dude for a while when I showed up on the heel with a Marker (triangular shaped) toe and a regular long thong set up for the heel. I only recall one release out of this contraption and that was in a local ski race right in the starting gate. I must not have tied my long thong properly. In any case, he was a friendly starter and after retying my 8 foot strap he let me go again.
No one knew any better, but you felt safer because it was a "safety binding". Go figure. I would not recommend for enyone to use this stuff anymore! It is dangerous!

I have been thinking about something recently, and thought people here would know the answer. Either from back then, or if they go out on the hill on the old gear.

The question is, how bad were the old systems with a non-releasing heel? A lateral release toe and cable hold down?

It would seem it would result in a lot of broken legs, but I suspect it might not have been so bad. Did people keep the toes loose enough that any twist along with the fall would cause a release? Or were the boots soft enough that the ankles bent enough to protect the leg?

Anyone still take these set-ups out on the hill?
Thanks
Dan

[psia74]

I remember guys using these setups when I was getting started, but I never did.

Another odd thing people did in those days was mix and match toe and heel bindings form different companies. Look heel with Marker toe, etc.

My best buddy was sold a Tyrolia heel with a Marker Rotomat toe in about 1970. He had all kinds of trouble. That Marker toe needed a bit forward pressure to keep a couple of little teeth engaged with a plate screwed onto the boot. The Tyrolia heel didn't supply this, so he was constantly pre-releasing. I don't know why the shop sold him this outfit.

I also remember that the shop didn't really explain how to set the release on the toe unit. We were out on the slope and a passing skier, noticing that he was having trouble showed him how to increase the tension. Of course that wasn't really the problem. He had the tension set properly, but without the required forward pressure any movement off-center disengaged the teeth and out he went.

At the time I was using the same Tyrolia heel with a Tyrolia toe and wasn't having any problems. The next season both of us switched to Look and never changed.

[snowfry]

I skied a half dozen years without releasing heel. No problem. -- snowfry

I remember guys using these setups when I was getting started, but I never did.

Another odd thing people did in those days was mix and match toe and heel bindings form different companies. Look heel with Marker toe, etc.

My best buddy was sold a Tyrolia heel with a Marker Rotomat toe in about 1970. He had all kinds of trouble. That Marker toe needed a bit forward pressure to keep a couple of little teeth engaged with a plate screwed onto the boot. The Tyrolia heel didn't supply this, so he was constantly pre-releasing. I don't know why the shop sold him this outfit.

I also remember that the shop didn't really explain how to set the release on the toe unit. We were out on the slope and a passing skier, noticing that he was having trouble showed him how to increase the tension. Of course that wasn't really the problem. He had the tension set properly, but without the required forward pressure any movement off-center disengaged the teeth and out he went.

At the time I was using the same Tyrolia heel with a Tyrolia toe and wasn't having any problems. The next season both of us switched to Look and never changed.