Broke my first binding. Voile Switchback X2. What's the fix?

Hi everybody, I just have been learning to telemark this spring after being a lifelong alpine skier. I have picked it up pretty fast on some old k2 skis I got for 50 bucks at a thrift store, as you could imagine I’m feeling the need for an upgrade. I am a very aggressive skier, I do a lot of tricks and extreme terrain such as cliffs, 360s, grabs, etc. so I would prefer something with some durability. I also really prefer skis that are on the lighter side. Binding recommendations are also welcome. I am a college student so I’ll mostly be shopping around second hand keeping an eye out all summer but I’m just wondering what to look for. Thank you!

Buying some On3p skis but the only two lengths are 182 and 191. I’m 6’ (183cm) tall. Should I go long or short? I’m a more aggressive / faster skier.

I am working my way into Tele from Nordic touring/XCD and looking to get the widest Tele ski that my Fischer Transnordic BCX 75mm boots can handle. These are leather with a lot of plastic reinforcement and are basically the stiffest XC-able boot you can find.

There are 2 good cheap options on FB marketplace in my area: one is 72mm and the other is 90mm underfoot. I’d like to get the 90mm, but will it be too wide for my boots?

Video: https://youtu.be/DOvGo2NDrlo?si=jMefP490y4OhjJbb Vote: https://forms.gle/kCQ4z2va69Rwsjhy9 Thanks for watching and the support

When trying to explain telemark to people, I find a common question is: "what's the advantage?" Does anybody have any good or funny answers?

Just got some 2021 99ti Mindbenders, skins and Tx Pros for under 700.

Check your local shop!

Just need to figure out bindings now...

I took a header and ripped the toe off of my not so I need to find a pair in a bad way and I can't find ANYTHING. Size 27 ideally, 100 flex minimum, 75mm toe. If anyone is selling or has a good source please let me know!?

Recently got into NTN, but I’m struggling to find boots that fit my calf correctly. I’ve only been able to find Scarpa boots and both the men’s and the women’s are too high. Anyone have any luck on lower boots?

Interesting news/gossip/drama coming out of the Facebook Telemark Skiing Forum today.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/gYoq322G3PPWXo2N/?mibextid=oFDknk

Thoughts?

Hi y'all, my ancient Crispi CXU boots are falling apart and I think this is a good enough justification to get a new set up. NTN seems like the way forward, trouble is I have never skied an NTN set-up and am overwhelmed by all the gear choices. I currently ski on a pair of Volkl BMT 94's with Axl's. I am happy with them but they have issues with tracking straight when going down the fall line at high speed, and they are too light a ski for ideal east coast icy-groomer resort use anyway.

The next year's Scarpa TX Pros seem like an easy choice for boots, but I am stumped on skis and bindings.

What is a good ski and NTN binding for New England 75/25 resort/backcountry use? (I might add dedicated backcountry ski to my quiver later on). Step-in & brakes would be nice to haves not must haves, tour mode is a must. Curious about the tele-tech bindings because of the rumor of superior edge control.

I am only a few years into tele but I want to keep getting faster and lower in my turns and get good enough to tele-turn through moguls and tight trees.

Thanks for any advice!

Hey everybody. I’ve been telemarking for eight or nine years now. I recently bought some new bishops with 75 mm bindings because I’m pretty loyal to my old Scarpa T2 boots. But there’s not enough boot to drive those skis and I was thinking about switching to NTN. At 50 years old I’m looking for some degree releasability, but I also need a boot that drives my ski hard because I Ski Patrol. Sort of at crossroads do I just buy a nice downhill package or do I invest in some sexy NTN boots and make the switch away from 75 mm. Anybody got any advice?

Anyone who is not a Meidjo user can skip this post. Experienced Meidjo users probably know what I'm about to say and can also skip this post. Warning to the rest of you: long-form journalism ahead.

My otherwise great Meidjo 2.1 bindings have been releasing unpredictably for the last couple of months and I've finally figured out why. I share my experience here in case it helps someone else.

I've skied these bindings for close to 100 days, with an average day being 10-15,000 vertical feet, all on lift-served terrain. Recently they started mysteriously releasing during hard turns. Naturally this tends to happen directly under a chairlift for all to see and comment on. And anyone with Meidjos knows how fun it is trying to step into them on a steep slope.

After several of these unwarranted releases, I eventually noticed that there was ice packed like concrete in the cradle of the spring box that grips the second heel, or duck butt, of the boot (PICTURE 1, sans ice). I realized that this ice was probably displacing the second heel when torque was applied during turns. So each time the binding released, I'd chip away at the ice with the tip of my ski pole (making sure everyone on the lift knew it was my binding and not my skiing that was responsible for my predicament). After several minutes, I'd whittled the ice down enough that I could step in and finish the run. Only to have it happen again a run or two later.

So how was ice getting packed between the binding and the second heel even when I wasn't removing my skis? I finally figured it out by taking a close look at the boots and bindings at home. Over time my springs had compressed by about 1/2" and were no longer butting up against the knobs at the end of the spring levers (PICTURE 2). That was allowing the spring box to slide back and forth a bit as I raised and lowered my heel (VIDEOS 1 and 2). So when the spring box slid backward, snow was getting into the cradle for the duck butt, and then as the duck butt slid forward against the duck butt, that snow was compressed into ultradense ice until there was enough to cause an ejection. Not having a new set of springs and wanting to ski again the next day, I elongated the springs by wiggling a crowbar between all the coils. Surprisingly, I got them to nearly their original length, and could see that the spring box was staying snug against the duck butt (VIDEO 3). I'm sure this is only a temporary solution, so I'll order some new springs. But today I was able to ski again with no ice packing and no releases. 

From now on I'll keep a closer eye on the spring lengths and replace them when they become compressed, or elongate them again in a pinch. (I should add that as the springs compress, the spring tension must be decreasing as well. Adjusting the tension would have to be done by feel rather than strictly by the ridiculously small 1-3-5 markings.)

TL;DR Meidjo springs compress over time, causing the spring box to move back and forth under the second heel, thus allowing snow to compact between the spring box and second heel. This results in unwarranted binding release when enough lateral force is applied, typically when the skier is trying to look smooth under a lift. Periodic spring replacement is necessary.

PICTURE 1. Ice was being packed into these recesses while I skied.

PICTURE 2. The spring on the left is newer.

VIDEO 1. The sliding spring box.

VIDEO 2. Before the fix.

VIDEO 3. After the fix.

I know folks like to say telemark is dead, but between this and all the fellow telemark skiers I saw at Lutsen a week ago, I feel like the Midwest is doing alright!

Hello! What online shops would you recommend for telemark skis & bindings in Europe (Spain)?

Looking to convert my beloved rock skis from AT to tele on the (fairly) cheap. They will probably mostly be resort skis, but I want touring capability just in case. Anyone skied both of these bindings and have any opinions? I have X2s on another setup and like em, but they do ice up like crazy and I'm seeing Axls on sale online...

New to telemark this year and an avid alpine skier who likes to charge and swing my skis around quick. Have always skied center mount except for on my touring skis. I really like the way I feel at the center of the ski and was wondering if this is a good idea for a beginner telemarker who is picking it up fast and wants to progress to be able to charge hard but drop knees.