Comments on: Dynafit at Fanes Hutte — Too Nice http://www.wildsnow.com/9081/fanes-hut-hutte-refugio-skiing-italy/ Backcountry Skiing Weblog Blog, FAQs, more, links and info about randonnee, telemark and backcountry ski mountaineering. Sat, 25 May 2013 16:20:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: palic http://www.wildsnow.com/9081/fanes-hut-hutte-refugio-skiing-italy/#comment-49880 palic Sun, 13 Jan 2013 21:58:15 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=9081#comment-49880 Hi Lou, it was a great time with you at Fanes Hutte in previous days! You are right, that this hut is more like a comfortable and luxury mountain hotel than only a hut :-) Hi Lou,

it was a great time with you at Fanes Hutte in previous days! You are right, that this hut is more like a comfortable and luxury mountain hotel than only a hut :-)

]]> By: Lou Dawson http://www.wildsnow.com/9081/fanes-hut-hutte-refugio-skiing-italy/#comment-49872 Lou Dawson Sun, 13 Jan 2013 16:50:42 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=9081#comment-49872 Scooter, indeed, it's all just words till the binding goes on-snow with thousands of consumers. In my case of writing about it, I indeed think Beast can easily perform on the downhill as well or even better than the best alpine bindings, just from looking at how all the mechanicals function. It's really pretty amazing. One interesting concern is if these steel-on-steel bindings are used even more agressivly, there is no damping action as there is with conventional bindings, it's steel-on-steel connected directly to the ski. I'm wondering if a bit of damping will need to be added. The steel-on-steel solidity of tech bindings is one of their beautiful consequences, and has made it so less boot does more, but at a certain point there are perhaps forces that need to be absorbed a bit rather than directly transmitted between ski and boot. I'm not talking about binding elasticity in release directions, I'm talking more about overall "feel." As for the philosophical discussion above regarding how high the RV values need to go even if you don't use them, my take is if you're having problems staying in bindings then sure, everything is on the table. On the other hand, I must know hundreds if not thousands of skiers who do perfectly fine with tech bindings as they are today. For them, discussions about wider base plates and higher release values are largely irrelevant, instead, things like easier entry/exit, less weight, more overall durability, functional brakes... those are always real issues. But yes, you guys in the 'freeride' population have needs too! More coming, if I can get any work done instead of skiing (grin). Lou Scooter, indeed, it’s all just words till the binding goes on-snow with thousands of consumers. In my case of writing about it, I indeed think Beast can easily perform on the downhill as well or even better than the best alpine bindings, just from looking at how all the mechanicals function. It’s really pretty amazing.

One interesting concern is if these steel-on-steel bindings are used even more agressivly, there is no damping action as there is with conventional bindings, it’s steel-on-steel connected directly to the ski. I’m wondering if a bit of damping will need to be added. The steel-on-steel solidity of tech bindings is one of their beautiful consequences, and has made it so less boot does more, but at a certain point there are perhaps forces that need to be absorbed a bit rather than directly transmitted between ski and boot. I’m not talking about binding elasticity in release directions, I’m talking more about overall “feel.”

As for the philosophical discussion above regarding how high the RV values need to go even if you don’t use them, my take is if you’re having problems staying in bindings then sure, everything is on the table. On the other hand, I must know hundreds if not thousands of skiers who do perfectly fine with tech bindings as they are today. For them, discussions about wider base plates and higher release values are largely irrelevant, instead, things like easier entry/exit, less weight, more overall durability, functional brakes… those are always real issues.

But yes, you guys in the ‘freeride’ population have needs too!

More coming, if I can get any work done instead of skiing (grin). Lou

]]> By: Scooter http://www.wildsnow.com/9081/fanes-hut-hutte-refugio-skiing-italy/#comment-49869 Scooter Sun, 13 Jan 2013 03:42:10 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=9081#comment-49869 Lou - I understand Plum's issues on brakes, my question was more directed at Look rebranding Plum bindings in Europe, and possibly the states. I would also question the Beast as being on par with the best alpine bindings (tour or otherwise). I'm sure Dynafit has done its homework, but it needs actual on hill time with the general retail public to prove the Beast can join the ranks of the Guardian or Duke, let alone non touring models. Psyched to hear how the Teton ski rides. Lou – I understand Plum’s issues on brakes, my question was more directed at Look rebranding Plum bindings in Europe, and possibly the states.
I would also question the Beast as being on par with the best alpine bindings (tour or otherwise). I’m sure Dynafit has done its homework, but it needs actual on hill time with the general retail public to prove the Beast can join the ranks of the Guardian or Duke, let alone non touring models.
Psyched to hear how the Teton ski rides.

]]> By: Jonathan L http://www.wildsnow.com/9081/fanes-hut-hutte-refugio-skiing-italy/#comment-49851 Jonathan L Sat, 12 Jan 2013 18:20:30 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=9081#comment-49851 Best part of this hut is the hallway on the second floor. Disco lights. As you step into the darkness, a sensor turns the LED strip lights in the floor on. I spent half an hour doing this after a bottle of Gruner. And of course that goat. Plus the skiing doesn't suck. Best part of this hut is the hallway on the second floor. Disco lights. As you step into the darkness, a sensor turns the LED strip lights in the floor on. I spent half an hour doing this after a bottle of Gruner. And of course that goat. Plus the skiing doesn’t suck.

]]> By: Lou Dawson http://www.wildsnow.com/9081/fanes-hut-hutte-refugio-skiing-italy/#comment-49846 Lou Dawson Sat, 12 Jan 2013 15:13:39 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=9081#comment-49846 Scooter, we have a full raft of Plum bindings at WildSnow HQ. They're cool, beautiful, but sometimes I feel like they're a solution without a problem, especially considering they don't have an available brake. I'm pretty sure idea of Beast is it has the retention and safety of the best alpine bindings, with a frameless touring mode. What they need to do is have a guy finishing a World Cup downhill on them, now that would be the clincher. Idon't think you'll be seeing that on a Plum, Dynafit Radical, or any other normal tech binding, that is unless it's heavily modified. Lou Scooter, we have a full raft of Plum bindings at WildSnow HQ. They’re cool, beautiful, but sometimes I feel like they’re a solution without a problem, especially considering they don’t have an available brake. I’m pretty sure idea of Beast is it has the retention and safety of the best alpine bindings, with a frameless touring mode. What they need to do is have a guy finishing a World Cup downhill on them, now that would be the clincher. Idon’t think you’ll be seeing that on a Plum, Dynafit Radical, or any other normal tech binding, that is unless it’s heavily modified. Lou

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