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What to expect from 'Flat-Mounted- Bindings??

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hey_dude_its_me
Posts: 1403 - Karma: 32

My first season I used bindings that were on plates. I was told to get flat-mounted bindings. I'm guessing there are advantages in the park and disadvantages for downhill skiing? Is that right?

May 27 2008 9:14AM
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miroz
Posts: 10333 - Karma: 3,945

I would think that...

Advantages: Easier/better flex of the ski

Disadvantages: Turning radius decreased, or something like that...

Am I right?

May 27 2008 11:08AM
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MEGAZORD
Posts: 4531 - Karma: -7
The turning radius is not adjusted, it is merely the leverage you have over the ski.
May 27 2008 11:26AM
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dave44
Posts: 11052 - Karma: 113
With plates/lifters you can power into a turn more, and I think it may help to hold an edge for longer too, but flat-mounted bindings are better when it comes to park/pow cause plates make it difficult to land and ski pow, because plates are mainly designed for carvers and they need the pow in the toe, so you'll find a lot of your weight is over the front of the ski whih makes it dificult for pow.

Dunno, I might be wrong. But flat bindings are definitely better for park/pow, I might just have the details wrong.

May 27 2008 12:38PM
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Mex_LineJib^a
Posts: 3928 - Karma: 65
by plates do you mean lifters or demo plates/bindings?
May 27 2008 1:08PM
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phishfood
Posts: 2542 - Karma: 298
search "risers", there are a few threads about it
from what i've put together theres not much of a difference- like someone said they're made for racers so carving will be easier, but besides that you won't notice much. if your doing park/pow it's better to go without them though, cause it's just more weight and one more thing that can break.
May 27 2008 4:09PM
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hey_dude_its_me
Posts: 1403 - Karma: 32
Thanks for the help, I'm starting to realize that my setup from my first season is  wrong in just about everyway. Its actually encouraging and I hope I can see some benefits relatively quickly from a good park setup.
May 28 2008 11:49AM
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dave44
Posts: 11052 - Karma: 113
Add some baggy clothes and you're pretty much set to go as a freeskier. ;)

May 28 2008 2:57PM
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funk.
Posts: 2679 - Karma: 33
haha ohh I do love what this industry has come to.
May 28 2008 8:03PM
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phishfood
Posts: 2542 - Karma: 298
how so?
May 28 2008 8:24PM
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Aenigma
Posts: 11256 - Karma: 424
Lifters make carving easier and give you more leverage on a wider ski.  Mounting flat makes turn initiation quicker (but holding an edge a bit harder) and you get more stability.  I used to mount most of my skis with lifters, but my skiing has changed and I have ditched them in favor of setups more suitable for weird edging and straightlining.
May 28 2008 11:07PM
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smooticus
Posts: 1798 - Karma: 27
Exactly, race skis and turny skis have plates so that you can put tons of power into your turns and cut in the ice and such.. there also bad in the park becuase since you have more leverage on your ski it more leverage on your ankles too.
May 28 2008 11:37PM
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hemlockjibber8
Posts: 5979 - Karma: 3,577
as everyone else said, riser plates give you more leverage on your edges. The same way that lifters on your boots do. That is so you can edges harder. doesnt change any turning radius.

For any Freeriding you do not want to use plates. In the same way that it gives more leverage on your edges, it also gives more leverage on your knees, substanially increasing the chance of blowing a knee.

You do not have to buy bindings that are flat mounted. you can just take off the plate and get shorter screws for your old bindings.
May 29 2008 2:55AM
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hey_dude_its_me
Posts: 1403 - Karma: 32
well I pretty much only ski park which is all we have here. My setup sucked bc my skis were public enemy, I didnt have flat mounted bindings, and I used rental boots for the first 2 months
May 29 2008 3:33PM
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jsaya_SagStraps
Posts: 1840 - Karma: 29
flat-mounting =better switch riding

but correct me if im wrong
May 30 2008 12:14AM
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Silence
Posts: 16030 - Karma: 150
^ Not necessarily

I'd say risers aid in initiating turns, flat-mounted bindings will give you more control (e.g. on rails etc) as you are closer to the ski.
May 30 2008 12:40AM
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