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WATERSKI MagazineOver the years, the most frustrating problem I've had with my ski equipment is bindings. Getting them to fit right, repairing worn-out footpads and adding extra wraps not only add time to my skiing, but don't give me the results I need. Instead of looking for new ways of making the current designs work, I went looking for a new design. Period.
There currently are two companies producing hard-shell bindings: SkiTecnic, a French-based company that distributes through Swiss Ski School in Clermont, Florida; and Fogman, a joint venture between engineer Terrence Fogardy and pro skier Jennifer Leachman, available through O-Town Water Sports in Orlando. Other similar systems are in testing phases, including O'Brien's long-awaited LCS-1, which should be available in 1998.
After testing both systems and talking with a number of world-class skiers using one system or the other, I see three main areas in which hard-shells seem to perform better than standard neoprene configurations.
The Comfort Factor: If you are one of the thousands who suffer from cramped feet due to poor-fitting bindings, place your order for a set of hard-shells today. Risport, the inline skating binding that has been adapted as the main shell by both SkiTecnic and Fogman, is exceptionally comfortable and will allow you to ski as long as your hands can hold out. There is no constant top pressure on your foot as there is with a neoprene setup. Plus, you can add orthotics much easier than with neoprene designs. Every skier polled mentioned comfort as a major advantage of hard-shell binding systems, and I could not agree more.
Exacting Edge Control: The first time I tested a hard-shell binding was an education to say the least. Normally, a skier applies pressure to the edges of the ski with the small muscles and bones of the foot and ankle. Since the ankle is in an immobile lateral flexion position in the hard-shell binding, you cannot make such a movement. You have to use your hips and knees to edge the ski. By moving the control point farther up on the leg, you use bigger, stronger bones and muscles to control the ski, thus dramatically improving edge control and leverage of the ski.
Kris LaPoint, who has been using a hard-shell system for more than a year, says the improved edge control has made his off-side turns easier. However, the added edge control on his on-side “was harder because of too much control,” he claims.
Another plus with hard-shells, says LaPoint: “You definitely cross the wakes better.”
Leachman, who helped develop the Fogman boot, explains. “Due to the improved lateral support, your ski is able to match the angle of your body lean,” she says. “This means better acceleration, more control and makes it easier to ski [with less effort and fewer falls].”
Fogardy furthers the point. “Traditional water ski bindings, made from rubber, allow for great amounts of flexibility in all directions. This flexibility is desirable in a forward/reverse direction, as this aids in the turning of the ski. The lack of stiffness from side to side, however, isn't desirable – when cutting, your legs do not remain perpendicular to the surface of the ski because the binding flexes so easily. Using our system, this problem is decreased dramatically. The combination of the hard-shell boot, along with the heelside supports, creates a much more rigid condition, providing a situation where the skier obtains a much more aggressive edge, given the same amount of lean as in the traditional boot.”
I agree with all three assessments. There is an adjustment period to relearn how to edge and turn the ski, but the performance benefit is well worth the time. I have seen top skiers like Patrice Martin pick up major buoys by switching to a hard-shell system and have had ski-school students make drastic improvements in body position and ski control just by switching to these new setups.
Safety: Unfortunately, in today's litigious society, safety issues (as well as tooling costs) have kept the major manufacturers from coming to market with hard-shell binding systems.
The SkiTecnic system uses technology from the snow ski industry, and has a release system with a force setting that you set to your ability to keep you in tight (expert) or loose (beginner). The bindings (available in single or double boot) release during falls. The Fogman system is available only for skiers who are willing to use double boots. This permanently sets the system to the ski (the bindings can be canted, as well), so neither foot can come out of the ski. It also has a unique benefit: It eliminates torsion on your ankles and knees that occurs when a foot comes out of the ski. I like this concept because I have incurred more injuries stemming from my foot releasing from the ski than from it staying in during a fall.
The bottom line is that with current binding technology, injuries occur. Hard-shell bindings provide better support and protection for the foot and ankle. In fact, LaPoint cites the added safety factor as one of the major reasons he switched to the hard-shell system. This should not be any more of an issue in water skiing than it is in snow skiing. My prediction is that either the major manufacturers will get into hard-shell bindings soon, or they will be selling all of their skis blank and letting a SkiTecnic or Fogman take the risk and reap the rewards.
Or course, hard-shell bindings are not for everyone. World champ and record holder Andy Mapple has tested them extensively and reports, “I didn't see any real improvement in my score, nor did I like not being able to 'feel' the ski under my foot [which rests directly on the ski]. They do, however, have great lateral support.”
Are hard-shell bindings right for you? If you're a competitive skier who skis the course, yes. I'd say 80 percent of the course skiers out there should try them, and the other 20 percent will join the bandwagon in the next three years. The price is very reasonable ($200-$400) considering hard-shells' durability and the benefits of comfort, improved performance and safety. If you're a recreational skier looking for the latter three benefits, they are certainly worth a test ride.
Like any new product, however, its success will depend on how well it meets the needs of the skiing public. We should know that answer by the end of the summer, when the products have been demo'd by the public. We'll keep you posted.
- Ben Favret
