Rare bindings

[daguilarh]

Hi everybody.
First of all I will introduce myself. I'm writing from Spain, and I am a 45 old ski fanatic and in the last time also interested in ski history, specially in technology.
I would like to contribute to this forum, but I'm afraid trhat the level is too high, and I suppose I will get more than I can give. Anyway, it's nice to meet you all.
And now my question: i'm looking for an invention of the 70-80s, a 'revolutionary' ski binding which was supposed to be used with soft aprés-ski boots -Do you remember those old fashioned 'Moon Boots'? That's the idea.
I saw something about it some fifteen years ago, in a TV documentary, but I barely remember it was a Swiss stuff.
Can anybody help me?

Thank you very much, and once again

Nice to meet you!

[Seth]

You're thinking of the old Nava system. Nava was an Italian manufacturer of motorcycle helmets. They got into the ski business as a source of counterseasonal revenue, initially introducing a soft, high boot with a very stiff walking sole that contained the elements of a plate binding. A spring-loaded lever functioned as a ski brake and, when the boot was in the binding, rested against the back of the calf to provide lateral control.

Nava is back in the binding business again with a conventional toe-heel system -- see http://navaski.com.

Seth

[Unregistered]

Hi,
I saw your post (quite old now) when searching informations about NAVA ski system from the 70s
I rediscovered this recently. I remenber seeing this when I was a child. I have a pair of NAVA system that I tested last winter. This is surprisingly nice to ski. I am a lover of non conventional systems and decided to start an internet site about the NAVA system. If you have any info about it. Please e-mail me directly at f.c.bayard<chez>(in french)libertysurf.fr

[WillyMontelliana]

The testimonial for the system was Piero Gros, the idea never really worked because there wasn't enough support. As a general rule, you'd rather use a specific product and after your day on the skis you don't want to have the same boots on.

Willy

[dirk-pitt-38]

The main interest on the NAVA was not to keep your boots after skiing but to have a more confortable boot during your skiing hours and, more important, that this comfort is not going against accurate drive of the ski but evan making the drive better than the existing boots. remenber that at the end of the seventies, the compromise between comfort and ski drive of the boots was not very good.
skiing last winter with the NAVA, I can tell you that this compromise is absolutly good even compared with nowdays boots.
I have some contacts with Piero gros and from his opinion, the main reasons for the market failure of this system was due to:
first: large pressure from competitors to block the distribution of the NAVA system in the sportshops networks
second: not enough effort from NAVA to make the system "nice to look and have" It is a pure "fonctional" system which is very efficient but the look and the marketing design was poor.
I am personaly going further on my idea to create a web site about this system in order more people knows it.

[Malinarov]

Hi everybody !
I find this site accidentally and I am very happy.
I try NAVA System in Campitelo-Italy ( I believe 1985-6 or 7 ) and I find it as the best one I ever try. I am skiing more than 45 years ( I am 53 ) and never try something good as NAVA.
I believe the production stop because they have some problems in USA.
On elady have broken the leg and all finished on court.
Any way I am still interesting for NAVA Ski System and will appreciate if somebody will have optimistic news abt production start again !
Let see.

[Unregistered]

I had and used the Nava system for a couple seasons when I was 16-17 years old. The bindings were great! I always fely they 'forced' you to ski better (the hydrolic arm pushed you legs into an ideal position). I started snowboarding shortly and used the Nava boots for boarding; the similarity with modern snowboard boats and Nava boots is uncanny.

Nava was great...but the skiers market is hard to convince...too many old schoolers stuck in therei ways, and too many new schoolers that make fun of everything that's different.

[Unregistered]

Would anyone like to buy my Nava System?
1 pair of boots, 3 sets of bindings.

ridnharley@comcast.net

[dirk-pitt]

Hello,

I am in France and trying to build a web site about the nava skiing system and its history.
I already have a pair of boots + bindings but could be interested for other ones, particulary if the model is different as several versions occured.
could you please send me pictures of your boots and bindings + price you expect for them.
where are you from ?

regards

dirk-pitt-38(at)aliceadsl.fr

[Philpug]

I had a pair last year and actually skied them, the video is posted on youtube. I would suggest that you don't take them on snow.