"Forward" mounted bindings...

[abc]

This topic has been discussed before to some degree. I thought I bring it up in a different angle. I'm going to have one pair of women ski and one of uni-sex. So I'm thinking to myself. Where should I put the bindings?

If I mount both of them according to the mark by the manufacturer, aka, as designed, the women specific ski are designed to have a more "forward" mounting spot than the unisex one.

Here, if it's not clear:

front: <---------|----------- back (women)
front: <----------|---------- back (uni-sex)

Would I notice the difference between the two skis? Should I mount the binding on the women ski behind the mark to match up with the men's ski?

I know there're quite a few divas have multiple ski of "mixed" type. Did you do anything about the binding position? Or do you just put them where they're marked? Do you notice any difference on how they ski? For example, do you find the men's ski harder to initiate turns with the binding mounted "normal"? Or do you find the women's ski's tail tend to slide out due to insufficient pressure in the back?

Or do you simply get used to them in no time and both works?

 

[altagirl]

That's a tricky question.

Personally, I hate forward mounting. I'm used to driving the tips of my skis and if I'm mounted forward it's like there isn't enough tip there to support me. They just don't carve right. I feel like it's a cheater fix - solve getting out of the backseat by messing with the mount point rather than developing a better body position.

Mind you, that's just how it feels to me. We're all built a little differently, and obviously it works for someone! Maybe I've just spent too many years on standard mount skis. Who knows. Heck, my husband likes center mounted skis, which are even more forward than what they do for women's mount points. I've tried center mounted skis and feel like my tails are catching on things and they want to chatter rather than hook up and carve. Yuck. But he loves them, and he can kick my butt... so whatever works for you.

I personally have my Phat Luvs mounted at a typical mount point. I remember asking the woman shop owner who mounted them about it and I can't remember how she measured, but they look very similar proportionally to my unisex skis. And for example, my 167 phat luvs have the same amount of ski from the front of the binding to the tip as my husband's 185 Pocket Rockets. And he has about a foot more tail because he does the center mount thing.

Anyway - what I would say is that ideally, you should demo them and see where you like them. That, or get a binding system that you can adjust fore and aft. Otherwise, it's a crapshoot. Not all skis are built exactly the same and just going on measurements might be a good guess, but isn't as accurate as actually demoing to know what you like. Heck, on TGR, there are a bazillion threads on mounting point just for Gotamas. Depends on what you like, if you're doing park stuff, just skiing powder, what kind of powder you ski, if you're hucking, blah blah blah. You can debate it all day, but there's no one right answer.

 

[abc]

Actually, I'm a tad more concerned about having similar mounting position on both skis (one women, one uni-sex). So that's why I ask those of you who has "mixed gender ski" in your quiver if you notice any difference or done anything about them.

Demo-ing ski is one thing, unless I ask specifically to the demo shop guy to set up the binding in different positions, I wouldn't really know for sure.

I had a women ski before and I "believe" it's mounted a bit forward, though maybe not as forward as some of the more radical women skis of late. And before today, I only had one pair of ski I routinely ski on. So it was not an issue till now.

 

[volklgirl]

There's so many variables here that it's really hard to say.....

Often, the women's ski isn't just mounted forward. Other things that manufacturers do with "women's skis"are moving the 'waist' of the ski forward, softening the ski overall, raising the ramp angle on the binding, or changing the flex pattern of the ski - any of which can make a ski easier or quicker to initiate turns. The mounting position is only 1 small part of that. Because of this, I'd recommend having the bindings mounted as suggested by the manufacturer, in the position for which the ski was designed.

Personally, I also hate the feel of forward mounted bindings (my Vertigo G20Ws were mounted with the Ess Var binding that can be moved up to 1cm ahead and behind the mark....I tried them in every condition at each setting and ended up putting them in the standard mounting position and never moved them again).

 

[smpayne]

I did have a set of unisex skis forward mounted last year. I had skiied on them for 2 years at the standard position before moving them. I spent a lot of time looking at my skiing and listening to others make coments and suggestions on my skiing before making the decission to move the bindings. It did make a difference and possible a slighter change would have worked even better. But they are more comfortable now than they were before.

While I like the current position of my bindings, the extra tail does take some getting used to. I don't think I would have moved the bindings forward if they were a different shape, or the same ski was shorter (they always felt too long). My fatter women's skis that are the exact same length, but feel too short.

I would start with the standard mounting and ski on them first, especially if you are used to unisex skis. Like it has been said before, there are so many varialbes to consider, it is a matter of what feels right for you.

**Forward mounted skis just suck in powder (not enough forward length)**
Ok, could be a lot of operator error also.

 

[Captain]

My experience is that mounting the binding slightly forward makes a difference and I prefer it. Here is what happened accidentally that really let me feel the difference. It was good b/c I learned from it: I asked the rental shop to mount the bindings on some Head skis (unisex) forward 1cm. She mounted it 1 cm BEHIND instead. When I skied, I felt like I was in the backseat the whole time. Made everything harder. I was able to ski but it was hard. I went back and got them moved 1cm FORWARD standard position. WHAT A DIFFERENCE!

Another experience: I demo'd a bunch of skis this year. The only Ladies ski I was able to demo were the Dynastar Exclusive Legend Powder. Wow - I felt so comfortable and balanced on them. But I don't want to take away from the good feelings I've had on unisex skis. I like them as well, but I still like to mount them 1cm forward.

But this is just my experience. If you can, demo the same ski mounted in both positions and see what feels right for you.

 

[Captain]

Oops - forgot to mention that I didn't ski any powder with unsex skis mounted forward - or on the ladies skis - so can't comment on that.