I posted this in the thread where I have some 20.0's for sale. My now adult, retired racers both spent a TON of time on Marker's. Both of their ski companies were aligned with Marker, so many a box was shipped to them. Their ski techs, BOTH, urges them to have every pair of the bindings bench tested, torque tested, as soon as they were mounted. Same BSL, same shims and angles, same exact specs....as controlled a situation as possible.
Back in those days, about 4-10 years ago, about 3=4 of every 20 toe pieces had problems. In those case, probably one just didn't release to one side the right way at all. On the others, significant torque variance left and right. And then there was the problem where the scale on the binding wasn't right. My son had that issue with a few, and he just had to keep a log of hr fact that the bindings on ski "A" both read about 2 "heavy" , like it was set at 16, tested more like 14. Now keep in mind, we're talking about dozens, and dozens of pairs. Never had a pre-release on the bindings.
The other thing that was made real clear to them, me, their age group coaches, and their ski academy techs and equipment coach, was that the height on the toe lug, after it was cut down when the sole lifters were installed was critical. A single mm off, and you'd have issues. If it wasn't level, same thing.
So, the net result of that is that you MUST have a clear sole as well, at least under the toes, when you click in. That was always an issue with Dobermann boots, with the red lifters that had the ridges on them. They would tend to ice up and hold "snow". So, taking the extra time to clear them off.....money. My kids took some horrific crashes in big-kid DH's and SG's....as well as tech events. The skis always released.....knock on wood. And knock on wood, 18+ years of racing for each before they moved on, and no lower body injuries.
I'd test them all, and be prepared to send the ones that are screwy back. I don't need to tell you guys about forward pressure. Mich want to check the toe lugs. They're a good binding. My daughter had a younger teammate who moved onto them in college, and spent most of her first three days on them "throwing many a shoe". MY daughter suggested that she might clean off the boot soles better....rather than just banging them against the toe piece. Then she suggested that their assistant coach should check the forward pressure. Between those two....all fixed.
When my daughter went to a very string NCAA program in college, her coaches were pretty clueless on this subject. Her first year, she had six pairs of bindings arrive, and I suggested that she have a guy we know test them. She gave me the "Dad, you are SO anal", and agreed to do it. Four of the 12 toes were not right. OK......I also suggested that she have the same guy do her boots.....Not her coaches. "Dad, they have all of the stuff, they do it all." Agreed with me, had no problems. Other kids had some issues. Same exact set-up adjusted and done by others.
Just saying....it makes a difference. But you guys know that, I'm sure.
Have good days at Rose. PP, thanks for all of the ski testing work. Great stuff.
