This is true, and at the same time false. Here’s the dilly with the new binding:
The Axial or Pivot binding from last year had old technology. Skis have changed a shit load since that binding design was first introduced (look nevada circa 1980's.) So look at the skis that were around when that binding was first introduced, long and strait. Now look at skis now a days, short, fat, huge amounts of sidecut, and profiles that we have never seen before. This new binding was made to address that fact that from a performance standpoint, the old binding was just wasn’t cutting it. It didn’t have enough forward pressure to allow the new skis to work properly, and it was sluggish side to side.
Now, lets look at a few things that still make this binding the best out there for jibbing. First off, vertical elasticity in the heelpiece. Now, your thinking to yourself, what the fuck is this vertical crap-iscity. Well, it’s the amount that your heel can lift, and still click back into your binding, basically acting as a shock absorber. It prevents prerelease and holds you in ‘mo better. Now, rossi/look bindings still have a full 25mm of vertical elasticity, which is about 7 or 8 mm more then anyone else on the market, which is fucking huge. So when you pop your ass out of slam-on’s or marker’s, its that vertical elasticity that’s blowing your load. Note: vertical elasticity IS what holds you in on switch landings.
Now, the toe piece still has 45 mm or horizontal elasticity (side to side, not up and down like the heel) Which allows for a super clean release, and solid retention.
Partner that with the fact that the forward pressure has been increase ( so you don’t have to bend over and reef on the giant dildo to snap your booty into place) which makes for a much more solid “step in” feeling to the binding.
Now, the cost has dropped to, which someone was complaining about too. Now that I think of it, we’ve upped technology, still have the same great features of the original pivot/axial, and dropped the price. Something’s fucked up. I should get on the horn right now and call my sales managers up right now and say “raise the fucking price of the binding” so that it seems better to you all. But no, Rossi/ Look have made there binding more competitively priced, and only made the binding better.
Not satisfied??? Ski it. Demo it side by side with last years binding. You’ll not only feel a difference in the ski, (it live-in’s up the ski incredibly) but you’ll be ripping down and staying in where markers and salomons blow out.
Still not satisfied???? FKS will change to a PX/Axial2 design for next season, and that’s were technology is at its max… racing.
