History from 1987 — Salewa Tour Binding Joins our Online Collection

I collect magazines, or used to when I worked for SPIN and Rolling Stone. They let us take from the archives. Taking a look back on history to see how ideas and technology have changed is always fascinating! Thanks for sharing.

I have a pair…mounted on Tua Magnum Sauvages (but you know that), they are my back up skis. Glad you found a pair. Did they work? Well, they certainly look sketchy. I did have one scary pre-release at the top of Longhorn at Taos once….

Yep, I skied that binding, on K2 lift skis. It was not real convenient when released, so I avoided releasing…

Worst rando binding I ever used. The only thing holding the binding on the ski was that little rubber / plastic wheel. Needless to say it would prerelease often.

Ah. err i admit I am still using these bindings as of 2010!. Purchased new in 1986. Used maybe 20times, including last week. The pros—–They release great. In all directions including sideways and backwards. They also accomodate all types of boots. I used to use them with plastic koflach mountaineering boots with laces. Not a leg breaker binding at all. Possibly still the safest binding ever made. (Will always release at all angles). You can test this by just ripping the binding off the ski with your hands. lightweight.Very easy to mount with included plate. I would not use these today if I did not think they were safe. DIN settings to 10!
BUT cons. wobbles a lot. Limited power transfer to ski. prone to preleasing if torqued. almost requires a certain binding specific technique ( ie parallel with edged turns jump turns for example)Partly fragile . difficult to mount plate to ski after a release. typically had to take boot off plate first. Tight clearances can become iced. Long discontinued, no parts available

I think if you stared at them long enough they would prerelease

With great snow this week in So-California I’m sorely tempted to break out my 20+ year old Tua Excaliburs with Salewa Tour bindings and climb Mt. Baldy. Just doing some online searching to decide if current opinion says they’re safe or not.

It seems a lot nicer to skin up the bowl vs carrying my alpine skis.

These were my first touring bindings mounted on a pair of Tua skis and I tip my toque to them for getting me into the whole backcountry ski thang!

The main problem I found was the lack of strength in the mode change lever at the back. It is made from folded metal and was simply not strong enough. Mine and my buddies both wore and eventually snapped at the corner.

Still I have great memories of truckin’ around on these puppies.

I have a pair of Tua Magnum Sauvage skiis – I bought them in the mid 80’s and they’re in excellent condition. But, I’m wondering if they’d come apart due to their age? Based on outward appearance there is nothing that would indicate that they would. They have the classic Chouinard 3-pin tele binding.

I used this set up with some sweet Merrell leather “Super-Comp” Cross-country Boots. They had a removable liner that you could use as a “camp” boots or remove to warm them up. I was stunned to see these boots sell for $250 on a web site. I have the same question about the boots. The leather is not cracked or dried out, they look great too.