JSM 10/28/11
Hi, this is John Springer- Miller from KneeBinding.
As you clearly already know, ordinary bindings offer equal
opportunity for knee injuries – regardless of who is skiing or how, and regardless of which brand, model, or how they
are adjusted. Most knee injuries occur because
the skier gets in the back seat (hips and knees bent) and catches an inside
edge. It’s really a pretty simple
problem. Unfortunately, it results in
70,000 ACL injuries each year, and countless other knee injuries. Skiing is the number 1 cause of ACL injuries.
In fact, it is even fair to say that it doesn’t matter how well ordinary
bindings are adjusted, nor how poorly they are adjusted. The crappiest old bindings - set very badly –
are likely to result in the same risk of knee injury as a brand new one fresh
off a shop's test equipment. Note –
badly adjusted bindings can certainly result in increased risk of broken bones,
pre-release, and other issues. But since ordinary bindings can’t mitigate knee injuries, it
really doesn’t matter how they are set.
Skiers who think they can improve their odds by being
“better” skiers, or by setting their bindings looser, or by “not falling
slowly” or any of several other strategies are missing the point. Ordinary bindings do not, as you correctly
stated, recognize or respond to the forces that cause most knee injuries. They retain in these situations, but are
designed NOT to release.
KneeBindings are the only ones with technology proven to
mitigate knee injuries. Our patented
PureLateral™ heel release can detect the forces that cause most knee injuries
on skis, and can release in situations that would otherwise result in such an injury.
KneeBindings are a lot safer, and that's good news, but it gets better. KneeBindings also offer better retention than ordinary bindings. People
often toss out statements (such as mokatizer’s) that Kneebindings will release
when you don’t want them to. These are
not informed statements. In fact, this
is a well-known issue for many ordinary bindings but NOT about
KneeBinding. There are many reasons our
retention is BETTER, including our mounting system – the world’s only floating
mount system for a flat-mount binding.
This lets the binding maintain a more consistent relationship to the
boot, dramatically REDUCING unwanted release!
I’m sure you have been witness to skiers cranking up their DINs to
prevent coming out. Not so much with KneeBinding. No binding can completely
eliminate unwanted release – but we are a lot better than any other flat-mount
binding.
For someone to say we were not designed for freestylers is
also incorrect. KneeBinding offers great
retention, great edge grip and leverage, and a much safer skiing
experience. These things are true
regardless of what kind of skiing you do.
Binding biases are strong within the freestyle community – but the facts
are still the facts. Our bindings are
fine in the park. In fact, KneeBindings
have some advantages for park skiers – such as the higher rotation point (and tip
placement) of the brakes.
If you’re curious and want to see more about this, take a
look at some of the videos on our site.
Here’s one that will show you several more reasons our binding skis
better and retains better than ordinary bindings: KneeBinding
LeverEdge™ Technology.
And – I am always willing to answer questions…
Thanks!
John Springer-Miller
Chairman, KneeBinding Inc.
