Skiing For Fun

Bindings do two important things – connect you to your skis and breaking this connection when there is extreme stress. They add to your safety by letting your ski come free form your foot in case of falls and conditions, while remaining fixed under ordinary conditions. Bindings are adjustable to suit your style and skill level and will vary by the height and weight of the skier using them.

A balance must be struck with ski bindings. If they are too tight, they won’t release when needed. If too loose, they’ll come undone when you don’t want them to. Either is bad news. There are adjustments that can be made to the bindings and knowing how they work will make you able to do your own adjustments on them. If you are new to this though, it’s best to leave it to a ski technician.

Bindings are rated on an international standard called DIN. A low DIN setting lets them easily release, which is best for beginners. A more experienced skier will prefer a higher setting.

Each pair of bindings is made within a specific DIN range. For example, DIN 3-7 for intermediate bindings. A low DIN setting will cause release under sudden pressure. Intermediate settings take more pressure to cause release, but can respond quickly to a sudden change. AN expert skier will prefer a high DIN setting so that release will only happen when really needed.

Improper DIN settings can cause accidents and have serious consequences. Skis releasing while you are going at high speed is not something that any skier wants.

Step-in bindings are the most common bindings for alpine skiing. These have separate heel and toe pieces that attach on top of the ski. These let the boots release from the toe piece in the case of excessive pressure on the sides and from the heel piece with upwards pressure.

Bindings are fitted with brakes to keep the ski from “running away” downhill if released. These is a metal attachment that digs into the snow when the boots are released.

Poles

Ski poles are a simple but important piece of equipment that helps you to retain your balance. Length is the most important consideration when choosing poles.

Poles should be slightly shorter than your shoulder height, so they can fit under your arms while standing. Poles that are too short throw off your balance by making you lean forward.

The handle should be comfortable in your hand; don’t forget to bring your ski gloves when trying out poles! The pole’s strap should fit around your wrist.

The basket on the pole is meant to keep it from going deep into the snow. You should look for poles whose baskets are suited to the typical snow conditions where you’ll be skiing. Poles for soft snow need larger baskets than poles for skiing on groomed trails.

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