Welcome to Louis (Lou) Dawson's backcountry skiing information & opinion website. Lou's passion for the past 50 years has been alpinism, climbing, mountaineering and skiing -- along with all manner of outdoor recreation. He has authored numerous books and articles about
ski touring and is well known as the first person to ski down all 54 of Colorado's 14,000-foot peaks, otherwise known as the
Fourteeners! Books and free ski touring news and information here.
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Lou,
Is it just the picture, or are Anton’s bindings mounted inside of center? Ive never heard of this, I assume its because the skis are so wide? Can U shed some light or let me know if my eyes are just playing tricks on me. Thanks
Hey other Caleb, actually the zealot top sheet has a thin strip of black coloring on the left-hand side of the green. Look carefully and it’ll make sense.
Yeah, the bindings are centered, but mounting bindings off center on wide skis has been done of course, and it can produce useful results. Likewise, orienting the foot with toes pointed slightly in or out can also be something to play around with. If you’ve got lots of time, lots of skis, and potential for hundreds of days on the hill that kind of stuff can be fun to play around with. But we’ve got other interests.
Looks like this post needs another Caleb comment. Nice sticks fellas. Dave going AT and locking toes with Anton. The things that happen in that shop.
The mold on the ceiling has strange effects. I think it is a subspecies of Amanita muscaria. We’ll see what Dave thinks once that wears off. He can always build the skis into one of his furniture creations. Probably sell it up in Aspen for 25 grand (grin).
I just got a similar setup to Anton’s. With just 3 days on it so far I’d love to hear any thoughts he ends up having about it. The Zealot is by far the widest ski I’ve had and I’m just starting to dial it in.
Matt – Haven’t gotten out on them yet. Waiting for skins. I’ll put up my thoughts once I get a few days on them though.
Dave’s website is amazing.
I fully understand those big smiles! I took me 4 exhausting hours to mount my dynafit bindings on my 10 EUR rock skis. What a joy!
Dave,
I saw your work on the cover of Woodworker West magazine last month! I’ll have to go back and read it now that I know you’re a skier too 😉 Check out my website if you like (Linked to my name)
Cheers,
Pat
I just mounted some Fritchis with the paper jig. It can be perfect, but as the woodworker would say, measure thrice (and understand the sequence). I borrowed a Dynafit jig to mount up some new BD skis and it does simplify the process. I’m a believer in tapping holes so I drill out the plastic toe piece base (Dynafit) , this lets the screw ‘find’ the tapped hole and not bind up against the base plate. The heel base plate has big holes (I’m not sure why they do this). Also, I have an allergy to epoxy so I’ve started using a new clear, runny, quick dry Gorilla Glue. It seems good.
Now that Dynafit compatible boots are commonplace, is anybody selling replacement boot inserts separately? I have a pair of non dynafit AT boots, along with the epoxy, carbon fiber and skill to easily do the conversion but no source for a pair of junk boots to scavenge.
RDE, no source for those that I know of. They are difficult to retrofit. A better way would be to have your own design machined and heat treated. Hint, the original fittings _were_ retrofitted, and the toe fitting was a round steel bar that was inserted in a hole bored in the boot toe. The fittings were at each end of the bar.
Always the same question about Zealots: what is the length?
The Zealots are 182s
http://www.wildsnow.com/articles/denali_dynafit_retrofit/denali_dynafit_retrofit.html
Congrats on the Zealot + Dynafit setup Anton!
I’ve had the same combo since last xmas and still love it. The 182’s are a really nice combination of fairly stiff and fat skis that still tour well. Of course they are heavier than Manaslus and other featherweight sticks, but hey, the Zealots award you after the climb:)
Hi all,
I was wondering if you could help me out? I am interested in converting to AT skiing and am wondering if it is possible to use my currebt alpine boots and boards and just get new bindings? Is this possible, or a really dumb idea? Thanks for all the input!
Tony
re: converting AT boots to Dynafit compatibility,
Funny how monopoly control works. Dynafit invented a unique niche product which they refuse to sell parts for except under license. Fair enough– after all that is how the US medical supply system works.
I do a bit of backcountry skiing, ski resort powder because I live at one of the few places where it still exists, and also masters ski race. Of the three variations, “earn your turns” is by far the most expensive.
My race quiver is built upon one year old world cup handmade race room skis usually purchased from national team members. I rarely pay over $250 for a pair of race skis in perfect condition, and my din 17race bindings come from levelninesports @ $169 each.
A season pass at Targhee serves up so many powder days you get tired of it, and costs me $350.
Compared to this, If I want to upgrade my klutzy AT binding set up, I’m expected to cough up $400-500 for Dynafit bindings plus $600 for Dynafit-compatible boots. No thanks. I think I’ll just go ski the latest 16″ at Targhee.
RDE, Dynafit is not the only one making inserts. Garmont makes their own, as does Black Diamond. The inserts are not patented, nor is a license required to put them in your boots. (Though the ones with the “quick step in” configuration are still patented” and not essential). As for deals like your Worldcup connection, they exist in the backcountry world as well. So don’t get too bummed out. Instead, make the connections and shop till you drop. Lou
Tony,
You can’t use dynafits easily with alpine boots, but fritschi’s work fine. So buy those and some skins, and you are on your way, assuming that you do the proper research and training in the avalanche department.
RDE,
Are you kidding me? Good, I’m glad. Stay at the resort. Despite the rumors, it isn’t really all about the down. And by the way…I’m no racer, but Anton raced in Europe and look at his new skis…. I think he is on the right track.
Tony, the answer is yes. Get Fritschi or Marker touring bindings and stick them on any ski you want, with any boot you want. These days, the options are brilliant!
(And I guess your comment proves we’re a bit Dyna-centric around here. I keep trying to break out of that, but keep getting drawn back in… go figure.)
Thanks for all the input, any other recomendations are welcomed!
RDE, yes, tech bindings are expensive, but you can ski all that Targhee powder without having spent the $350 for a pass.
Yeah. You don’t have to listen to the ridiculous talk in the lift line or on the chair. Keeping that 350 bucks in your pocket helps too.
I purchased a similar setup in 2011, BD Zealot 192s, Dynafit Radical FT, and Dynafit Titan boots.
You still use this setup? I thought I had light weight hard charging BC setup wired but found a few problems with the whole system:
1) BD Zealot is a very stiff and very straight ski. And in a 192, it takes a lot of effort to turn to steer. I’m 6’1 210lbs.
2) Dynafit Titan does lock the upper cuff from going backwards in ski mode, but doesn’t do much for the forward flex. I tend to squish these things with a little forward pressure. So they feel soft – and not very hard charging.
3) The radical (as with all tech bindings probably) tends to release really easy if your fittings aren’t perfectly clean, not good in a “you fall you die” scenario. So I tend to lock em in for any descent.
Being 2015 I think there have been some advances – but boots haven’t quite figured out how to get a real stiff forward flex, and there’s no solution yet for the tech fitting problem.
What are you riding these days?