Helmet, goggles, ok. Gloves, ok. Poles, ok. And your ski bindings? Correct adjustment is as essential as a good helmet for a successful day of skiing.
Why is it so important to adjust your ski bindings?
This can be summed up in two very important words: fun and safety. Skiing is a source of fun, whatever your level. But there's no fun without safety! Badly adjusted bindings are risks for injury and can shorten or ruin holidays.
In fact, the length of the skis generates significant effort on the legs and in torsion, forward and backward. To avoid injuries, mainly on the knees, ski bindings must release the boot when these efforts are too great for your physical abilities. This is when the ski releases the boot when for example when you fall.
What should be taken into account when adjusting your bindings?
5 points define the hardness of your bindings. This is equivalent to positioning the cursor on the correct number in the binding's window located at the front and at the rear. These points are:
- Weight
- Height
- Age
- Skill level
- Outer length of the sole of your shoe
Once you know the value of your ideal adjustment, how do you adjust your ski bindings yourself?
First you need to know the length of the shell of the ski boot: it is usually engraved on the heel or side of it and expressed in millimeters.
This size will allow you to adjust the front and back of your two bindings: On the new models, the system is simplified and you will only have to pull on the lever to unlock the adjustment system. You should slide the front and back of your bindings until you reach the number range of your shell length while, at the same time, making sure you're keeping the lever raised. To lock the attachment, simply clip the lever again.
Once the binding has been adjusted to your ski boot, you can proceed to adjust the value. Using across head screwdriver, move the values in the form of graduations on the top of the binding. Perform this operation on the front and rear of each binding.
For these two manipulations, do not hesitate to get help from a professional.
