– The Backcountry Ski Touring Blog
  • Avalanches
  • Gear Reviews
    • Ski Reviews
    • Boot Reviews
    • Binding Reviews
    • Snowboard Splitboard
    • Book Reviews
    • Avalanche Beacon Reviews
    • Airbag Backpacks
    • Backcountry Electronics
    • Misc Gear Reviews
  • Podcast
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Ski Touring Basics
    • Boot Fitting
    • Fitness & Health
    • Gear Mods
  • Trip Reports
    • Fourteeners
    • Huts – Cabins – Lodges
    • Denali McKinley
    • 8,000 Meter Skiing
  • Stories
    • History
    • Humor
    • Land Use Issues
    • Evergreen Ski Touring
    • Poetry
  • Resources
    • All Posts Listed
    • 100 Recent Comments
    • Backcountry Skiing & Ski Touring Webcams
    • Ski Weights Comparison
    • Archives of WildSnow.com
    • Authors Page
    • Ski Touring Bindings
      • Trab TR2 Index and FAQ
      • Salomon Guardian & Tracker
      • Naxo Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Silvretta Pure Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Marker F10-12 Duke Baron
      • G3 Onyx Ski Binding FAQ
      • G3 ION Ski Touring Binding
      • Fritschi Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Fritschi Diamir Frame Bindings Mount DIY
      • Fritschi Diamir Bindings FAQ
      • Fritschi Tecton FAQ
      • Atomic Salomon Backland MTN
      • Dynafit Tri-Step Binding 2001-2003
      • Naxo randonnee alpine touring AT ski binding FAQ
      • Dynafit Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Dynafit Binding Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Review 1
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Page Two
    • History
      • Ski Touring Binding Museum
      • Trooper Traverse Intro & Index
      • Randonnee Ski Touring “AT” ski gear — What is Hip?
      • Chronology
    • Backcountry Skiing Core Glossary
    • Gear Review Policy & Disclosures

– The Backcountry Ski Touring Blog

Banner
  • Avalanches
  • Gear Reviews
    • Ski Reviews
    • Boot Reviews
    • Binding Reviews
    • Snowboard Splitboard
    • Book Reviews
    • Avalanche Beacon Reviews
    • Airbag Backpacks
    • Backcountry Electronics
    • Misc Gear Reviews
  • Podcast
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Ski Touring Basics
    • Boot Fitting
    • Fitness & Health
    • Gear Mods
  • Trip Reports
    • Fourteeners
    • Huts – Cabins – Lodges
    • Denali McKinley
    • 8,000 Meter Skiing
  • Stories
    • History
    • Humor
    • Land Use Issues
    • Evergreen Ski Touring
    • Poetry
  • Resources
    • All Posts Listed
    • 100 Recent Comments
    • Backcountry Skiing & Ski Touring Webcams
    • Ski Weights Comparison
    • Archives of WildSnow.com
    • Authors Page
    • Ski Touring Bindings
      • Trab TR2 Index and FAQ
      • Salomon Guardian & Tracker
      • Naxo Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Silvretta Pure Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Marker F10-12 Duke Baron
      • G3 Onyx Ski Binding FAQ
      • G3 ION Ski Touring Binding
      • Fritschi Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Fritschi Diamir Frame Bindings Mount DIY
      • Fritschi Diamir Bindings FAQ
      • Fritschi Tecton FAQ
      • Atomic Salomon Backland MTN
      • Dynafit Tri-Step Binding 2001-2003
      • Naxo randonnee alpine touring AT ski binding FAQ
      • Dynafit Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Dynafit Binding Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Review 1
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Page Two
    • History
      • Ski Touring Binding Museum
      • Trooper Traverse Intro & Index
      • Randonnee Ski Touring “AT” ski gear — What is Hip?
      • Chronology
    • Backcountry Skiing Core Glossary
    • Gear Review Policy & Disclosures
   

Late 1960s Antique Ski Binding – Geze Touring Adapter

by Lou Dawson June 24, 2009
written by Lou Dawson June 24, 2009
Backcountry skiing history.

Backcountry skiing history.

One of the best things about our backcountry ski binding museum is when someone contacts us out of the blue and donates a rig we’ve never seen before. Just a few months ago, Wyoming WildSnower Bill Kuestner sent an email saying he was trying to recycle some interesting Geze bindings, and do we want ’em? Heck yeah. Little did I know the grabber would arrive mounted on a pair of 220 cm Head 360s from probably 1966, then known as one of the most damp and supple skis out there, but flexing out by modern standards as a steel I-beam! Oh, how things do change.

Anyhow, the backcountry skiing museum display is done for this binding, complete with a how-it-works video. Check it out, and please leave comments on this blog post.

Complete Geze touring adapter and binding shown above.

Complete Geze touring adapter and binding shown above.

20 comments
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
previous post
The Ski Journal 3-2 — Review
next post
Mount Raoul — 2nd Time is the Charm

20 comments

Mark June 24, 2009 - 9:27 am

It is always interesting to see how far back touring bindings or their alpine counterparts with adaptations were being produced. I had a pair of Geze bindings back in the ’80s that worked pretty well. I think Geze was absorbed by Look and/or Rossignol not long thereafter.

Dostie June 24, 2009 - 11:50 am

Very cool!

Can you give us a few more views Lou? Maybe a small vid so we can see the “touring action?”

Dostie June 24, 2009 - 11:52 am

My bad….didn’t bother to click on the lone photo for exactly what I asked for. 😉

Lee June 24, 2009 - 12:15 pm

Simple and elegant – reckon there’s still room for someone to design a touring binding that’s as light as the dynafit but lets you use any boot.

Grant June 24, 2009 - 12:20 pm

Very Cool. Thanks for sharing Lou & Bill. Man, makes me grateful that I live in the age of Dynafits!

norman June 24, 2009 - 12:20 pm

Lou,

I remember those bindings! And I think the proper pronunciation is “gate say”. Geze was bought by Look/Rossignol some years back and the current Look/Rossi heel piece appears to be a modified version of the last Geze branded heel. One of my favorite features of that Geze heel was you could use it to open a beer…er, beverage bottle. In fact, I had one mounted to my mounting bench for after hours refreshment. Try that with a tech binding!

Matt June 24, 2009 - 1:26 pm

Looking for beta on a ski tour (winter) from the Lindley Hut up the Cooper Creek Drainage towards Pearl Pass…With an average snow pack, does the route go? Can you manage the potential avy hazards from the SE slopes of Mace Peak or do the trees force you close to the bottom of the run-out zones? How about the notorious facet farm in that general area?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Matt

Lou June 24, 2009 - 1:32 pm

My take: If the snow is based and avy danger low, it goes fine. If the facet farm and hoar ponds are in full bloom, stay away. I’ve skied down it several times, never up, but know plenty of people that do it that way. You can vary the route a bit for avy avoidance, but you’re almost always under something.

Bill June 24, 2009 - 5:13 pm

I have been trying to get ahold of you to send you some old bindings, but no reply. At first I thought they were emery engerys. But after doing some research I find out they are Emery Altitudes. Brand new. I think there might be one clip missing for the downhill lock down. E-mail me.

Lou June 24, 2009 - 6:06 pm

Thanks Bill, email sent.

dale persing June 25, 2009 - 9:08 am

That’s a beautifully-tooled setup; someone obviously stored it with love. Do the flexible adapter plates look original?

Lou June 25, 2009 - 9:18 am

The flex plates do look original. But who knows.

Bob June 27, 2009 - 8:44 pm

I think Geze = “Gate-say”. They made GREAT alpine bindings. They were bought by Rossi

Bob M July 2, 2009 - 2:25 pm

This looks like they knew it wasn’t that good of a design (ie the wear problem)but went with it anyway because it was all they could think of at the time. Which if you think about it is really a good lesson for us – Go with what you’ve got even if you know its not as good as you’d like. At least you’ll get out there.

Lou July 2, 2009 - 4:04 pm

Bob, exactly. It’s amazing how we adapt to the gear at hand. Funny to think how goofy our present stuff will look in 20 or 30 years.

Walker January 7, 2010 - 10:16 pm

I saw someone comment on the Geze “bottle opener” heal. I used to have one 10 or so years ago but it got lost in a move from the east coast to CO and I can’t remember which model it was that did that. Would love to replace it so, if anyone could help dial me in to which Geze i should be looking for I’d be very thankful! I hope everone is having a great winter so far!

Walker

Chris May 14, 2010 - 8:50 am

Hi Lou.

In a picture I took in Morroco earlier this spring, is an older ski touring binding. It doesn’t seem to be described in your binding museum.
I got to play a little around with it, but unfortunately I didn’t take a propper picture of it. It was still in use by a local guide or porter.
It’s all metal, seems very beefy. Heel is tabletop style, similar in fuction as older Look/Rossi tabletop bindings. Heel is also all metal.
The action required to change from uphill to downhill mode, has some resemblences wiht the Sk’alp. Could it be an early version of this?
Do you have an idea on what it is? Maybee some more details.

Link to pic: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0T8UgjUX_0E/S-1i085y3sI/AAAAAAAAA5Q/JzlOg40W6JU/s400/Marokko+384.JPG

thanks
\Chris

Lou May 14, 2010 - 10:02 am

Could be the first gen Skalp… I’ve been trying to acquire one of those, Dick Jackson of Aspen Expeditions (see banner to left) said he could help. He used to import the bindings and has a number of different models.

SUSAN BURNETT November 22, 2010 - 6:30 pm

I have three sets of bindings, never used, still in boxes. Purchased by my father probably in early 1950s. Top of box says “Goodman Skicraft, Inc. Manufactured and distributed from Missoula, Montana. P.O. Box 1382.” End of box also mentions Sun Valley, Idaho and identifies bindings as “Jet Heel Release.” Does anyone know anything about them?

brian July 7, 2011 - 3:09 pm

Hi, I have a pair of antique wooden skis with bear trap bindings
The toe are marked H
W
UNION

The heel plate is marked
SILVERETTA
made in germany

The Skis have a decal, worn , which reads

CANADA
—- and —orco limited

Any information as to manufacturer and/or year would be vary welcome

Regards
Brian

Comments are closed.

Recent Comments

  • ioan on The Ski Trab Deep Look: Ski Trab Magico.2 Skis, Titan Vario.2 Binding, and Branded Mohair Skins
  • Jim Milstein on The Ski Trab Deep Look: Ski Trab Magico.2 Skis, Titan Vario.2 Binding, and Branded Mohair Skins
  • aemono on Photo Story: Gear Explosion Event Horizon
  • OR on Springtime Primer: Securing Skis/Splitboard to a Bike Frame
  • RCL1 on Springtime Primer: Securing Skis/Splitboard to a Bike Frame

Gear Reviews

  • The Ski Trab Deep Look: Ski Trab Magico.2 Skis, Titan Vario.2 Binding, and Branded Mohair Skins

    May 13, 2022
  • BCA’s FLOAT E2 25: The Alpride E2 Side of the Equation

    April 29, 2022
  • BCA’s FLOAT E2 25: The Pack Side of the Equation

    April 27, 2022

Trip Reports

  • Techniques and considerations for ski mountaineering on glaciers

    February 16, 2022
  • Making the Most out of the Alaska Range

    February 14, 2022
  • Emergency Layers for Backcountry Travel

    February 7, 2022

Totally Deep Podcast

  • Totally Deep Podcast 99: Big Geography with Roman Dial and Alex Lee

    April 20, 2022
  • TOTALLY DEEP PODCAST 98: Live at the EMGT with Cam Smith

    April 12, 2022
  • TOTALLY DEEP PODCAST 97: Talk of Gear for Next Year

    March 23, 2022

Tips & Tricks

  • Fueling For Ski Touring

    May 3, 2022
  • The “New Math” for Sheltering from the Storm

    May 2, 2022
  • A Simple Ski Crampon Mod

    April 21, 2022

Ski Touring Stories

  • Backscratchers in My Brain

    April 6, 2022
  • Blessing of the Freeheelers & Bon Voyage Grand Traversers

    April 2, 2022
  • Mentorship On My Mind

    March 31, 2022

Newsletter Sign-Up

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • About Lou Dawson
  • Authors Page
  • About
  • Contact
  • Copyright & Legal
  • Website Security

@2020 - All Rights Reserved. Designed and Developed by WildSnow


Back To Top

Read alsox

The Ski Trab Deep Look: Ski...

May 13, 2022

ATK Kuluar 12 LT: A First...

April 22, 2022

A First and Second Look: The...

March 25, 2022