Always surprised that 8mm (1/3 of an inch) can make this much difference

[jim-ratliff]

     Midwif has been in Colorado that last 10 days for a "medical conference" and I joined her the past weekend.  The snow and weather has been pretty great.  She and her co-worker Heidi happened to go to Vail last Friday.  9" of snow announced on the web site, but 15" - 20" in the back bowls and Blue Sky Basin.  I missed that one since I was just driving up.
     Then this past Sunday BC had 6' overnight and another 4" during the day.  And, since it was a little bit windy there was even more snow in the lee of the hill and in the trees.  And there was still wonderful snow on Tuesday.

     Today the soft was skied off, the high was forecast for 40 degrees, and it was time for the Peak 84 Pro's in place of the Ullr's Chariots.  This was only my third day on the 84's and I have really been liking them for my Colorado groomer skis.  I had been skiing them with the binding 8mm forward.  At the end of the day today I decided to try a couple of runs with the bindings moved forward another 8mm, fully expecting that to be too much.  WOW.  A ski that had felt a bit heavy suddenly transformed and came alive, even with less speed.  Turn initiation became almost intuitive - think about tipping and they were already turning, balance was better, and edge hold was still exceptional.  A ski that had been a really nice ski became a wonderful ski.

     My last run of the day was my best skiing of the year.  As I was coming down the last run, I noticed a snowcat hauling food up to one of the on-mountain restaurants, leaving a trail of fresh courderoy behind it.  I have been working on more forward pressure and a much less upright stance, earlier edge engagement and more angulation.  For the rest of the way down the mountain I just ripped it on the corduroy, good edge angles, decent body angles, short turns staying within the single groomer track.
I think this was probably the best I've felt about my skiing this year. Rather glad I don't have video to burst my bubble.

But WOW, what an amazing change 1/3 of an inch in binding placement made.  Interestingly, where I am now is exactly the same as the +1.5cm that was the forward position on the two earlier versions of RailFlex. Anyone that has purchased the Head Peak series, or the Head Rev series should do themselves a favor and at least test their skis 1.5 cm (15mm) forward of the factory position.

NOTE: If you have the Tyrolia Power Rail system, in order to use the numbers on the bindings for moving both bindings in the same direction, you have to divide the numbers by two.  In my case, my 303mm boot sole moved from 303 to 333.
     

[HighAngles]

I always love to see more real-world validation of the influence of binding mount position.  As you noted, +1.5cm is really where you're getting into the right ballpark on a lot of Head skis (Stockli too).

Interestingly enough (and for those that think I always wants a forward mount), I was skiing with ToddW this past Sunday and noted that my Atomic Savages were feeling just a bit too much "on/off" through turn initiation.  They were almost too grabby in the snow conditions.  I backed up the mount position on the Railflex to -1.5 and the skis completely calmed down.  They were much smoother through transition and I felt like I could stay forward on the skis without the tips fighting me.  Based on where the rails were mounted on the Savage, the -1.5 position actually put me right back on the factory mark for that ski.  So here's a ski where I actually preferred the factory mark over my initially calculated position.

This all goes to show that in the end the best advice is to use a binding that permits easy experimentation with your mount position.  You'll never really know just how much performance you can get out of your skis if you never try any other positions on them.  You just might not know what you're missing.

[Perry]

Highangles,
Do you find that BOF puts you very close to the perfect spot most of the time?
If not what are the exceptions?  In my limited experience, this works very well. 

Also, for my Rev 85, if I use BOF with the small rocker, I am guessing that you measure to the middle of the running surface when tipped, or put another way, the middle of the wide place on the tip and tail.  Is that right?

[HighAngles]

Perry - rather than me re-post a bunch of information.  Please go here and read through this thread: http://www.peakskierzone.com/index.php/topic,2351.0.html

I'll be happy to answer any follow-up questions you might have.

[Perry]

I'll read it - thanks.

[jim-ratliff]

Also, for my Rev 85, if I use BOF with the small rocker, I am guessing that you measure to the middle of the running surface when tipped, or put another way, the middle of the wide place on the tip and tail.  Is that right?

Perry:
in\\In my experience Head's all-mountain skis have skied better 1.5 forward of the "default" binding position for many years now.  I would expect that they have not changed their thinking  for the Rev series.
Just food for thought. (once High Angles approach over whelms the brain cells, which is what happened with me.

Jim

[Gary]

Hey Jim...awesome revelation...I find for me...the 1 to 1.5 cm forward on most skis makes a dynamic change.

Having said that, on my Rev 105's....in the 181 length...I'm skiing those 3cm forward from the factory mark. I have the Schizo bindings on them (thank goodness).

The ski performs totally different from that mounting position. It may be the length, or how I ski, but the ski comes alive and like you, it's a totally superior ski for me mounted there.

Best, G

[LivingProof]

   
     My last run of the day was my best skiing of the year.  As I was coming down the last run, I noticed a snowcat hauling food up to one of the on-mountain restaurants, leaving a trail of fresh courderoy behind it.  I have been working on more forward pressure and a much less upright stance, earlier edge engagement and more angulation.  For the rest of the way down the mountain I just ripped it on the corduroy, good edge angles, decent body angles, short turns staying within the single groomer track.
I think this was probably the best I've felt about my skiing this year. Rather glad I don't have video to burst my bubble.

Jim,
 
Without bursting your great run bubble, I have mused, frequently, this season about the inconsistency in my skiing. One run wow  , minutes later on the same trail,  meh . The same can be said about whole days, always ski better in sunshine. As you described, I frequently try different mental "technique thoughts" on a given run, again, it's just inconsistent. Often I just to "let it go" runs and go for it, result is usually a higher speed GS style, ya get down faster but not necessarily better.

I'm glad the forward adjustment worked out so well, and you had great forethought for getting the Powerrail bindings. I, too, have been working all season on for/aft, which, is complicated by my tendency to bend my torso forward and the resultant butt back position. I try dolphin turns and they have taught me about getting more forward, then, that changes other aspects of my skiing. Long way of saying that we are all on a journey of discovery. It's great that you ended the day with a big smile on your face. In golf, we all feel so upbeat after playing the 18th hole great.

[Perry]

Perry - rather than me re-post a bunch of information.  Please go here and read through this thread: http://www.peakskierzone.com/index.php/topic,2351.0.html

I'll be happy to answer any follow-up questions you might have.

H-A
Very interesting and helpful to me. The narrow part of the ski matching the arch of the foot makes a lot of intuitive sense.  Skis that fit both the BOF and boot at narrow part of ski +++ Great thread.