Binding delta refers to the boot angle that is created by the height of the heel vs. the toe of a binding. This is a parameter that is often overlooked and that those of us with smaller boots are particularly sensitive to.
Now that I am in a proper boot setup with the biggest change being a short cuff boot, (but also sized down to a 21.5 even though I measure a 23.5 on a brannock device,) I can say that I am not as sensitive to, or maybe I should say unable to adapt to, bindings with more positive delta than I have been in the past. With that, I will say that I do still prefer bindings that are closer to +1 mm or so, can ski -1 mm fine, but when the parameters get closer to +5, I do start to feel off-kilter. I like to share my experiences with the hopes that I can help someone else on this challenging journey to become a proficient and skilled skier.
My go-to daily ski is a Stockli Nela 88. I have owned this ski for 3 seasons now, and did well on them in a softer junior race boot 2 seasons ago, barely skied them last season in a fairly stout Atomic Redster sti 110 because I could not pressure the tips, and have skied them a ton this season in the Lange RS 110 short cuff. They were mounted with a Salomon Warden 11 non-demo binding, which I measured at +5 delta. After demoing several different skis a week ago, most of which had a Marker Squire demo binding which is approximately -1 mm delta, I realized it was time to revisit the bindings on the Nelas. So, I mounted a pair of Warden 11 demo bindings that are +1 delta, which is 4mm lower in the heel than the non-demo Warden 11s that I have been skiing on for 3 seasons now.
With the +5 mm delta, my tails would wash out. All the time. I had to exaggerate a forward stance to even dream of getting pressure to the front of the ski. I would find myself exiting the turn with a ton of heel pressure, which was exaggerated on steeper terrain (not fun!) I also found that I needed to tighten the power strap almost to tourniquet tightness (I ski with the Atomic Dual Strap, which is elastic.) On my skis with bindings with less delta, I can tighten the power strap to a more "normal" tightness.
Probably the biggest change is I can feel my whole foot working the ski through the turn. I used to feel myself almost teeter totter back and forth from toe to heel, and it was really challenging to get pressure on the ball of my foot. Now it is almost effortless. My turns are rounder and smoother, and I am skiing faster.
Through all of this, I have also come to realize that the torn LCL in my right knee, which happened when I fractured my tibial plateau 9 years ago, is the main cause of the stem I have going into my right turns. I never get a super stable platform on my right leg, so I don't have a solid place to release the ski from. Going to a flatter binding is already helping me work through this more.
How is it that one sport can be so frustrating and exhilarating at the same time?! Also, how many women would benefit from being in a short cuff boot? Brent Amsbury in Park City put me in this setup and said he puts lots of women in it. It has been an absolute game-changer for me.
