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Hardware Superstition: Anybody known anything similar?

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BNG
Posts: 26 - Karma: 35
I'll elaborate. A few years ago I got a new set of skis (Line Elizabeths) and bindings (Marker Jesters), no biggie. After a few weeks shredding one of the skis snapped in a bail. This had never happened to me before (snap not bail) but I figured meh, and after a while ended up re-using the bindings on another pair of skis (Alpha2s) a few months later. After riding on them for a few weeks I then snapped my ACL in a quite small bail where the binding didn't eject. Again, I figured It was my mistake, and about 18 months later after a graft I was shredding again on a different set of planks. I then picked up the alpha 2's again, and the first bail I had, I dislocated my other knee, and again the binding didnt eject. It took me a few months to look back and realise that All three accidents had a common factor, which was the bindings. FYI the dins were all on 8, and I'm 6 foot 1 and not a gaper, so Its not like I had them maxxed out or anything. My question: is it possible for a binding to get fused up/not release? and has anybody else had/had friends with this level of gear superstition. I am now basically scared to use the alpha 2's this coming season, even though they are the only park skis I have left in any good state.

TL;DR, My bindings snapped a ski and two knees in 3 separate bails over about 6 weeks total ski time. are they haunted?
Sep 26 2013 6:51AM
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cannaguts666
Posts: 504 - Karma: 256
Well there's your issue right there, you bought Markers and Lines.
Sep 26 2013 10:23AM
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cannaguts666
Posts: 504 - Karma: 256
Really though send the bindings back, explain your situation and have Marker see if they are defective. If they are you could have some cash coming your way for keeping your mouth shut. That being said I'd delete this post and contact Marker before you share your "experience" with anyone else.
Sep 26 2013 10:26AM
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kung_powpow
Posts: 1990 - Karma: 3,671
My Line invaders are bombproof as fuck. Marker on the other hand...
Sep 26 2013 10:29AM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7143 - Karma: 17,428
first thing to do is take the bindings and boots to have them tested. They will need to be mounted so take them on the alphas if they are still mounted. If they release fine it is probably you  dont need your din so high. It could be as simple as the fact that the binding was not set up correctly.

But take them to  a shop and have them checked and tested.
Sep 26 2013 11:12AM
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BNG
Posts: 26 - Karma: 35
Ok, Cheers for the feedback, I will try and get to a shop with them. the markers are still on the alpha 2s. Why would I delete this thread tho? its not as if people dont slag off hardware all the time on this site, and Im not just rinsing for the sake of it... Either way Ill also try and speak to marker. I didnt think this was such a big deal, but the more I think about it...

Sep 26 2013 11:25AM
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japanada
Posts: 13784 - Karma: 1,957
Your forward pressure could be too tight, your boots could be worn, the afd on the toes could be fucked, or the toe height is off. Little adjustments to the bindings can make a huge difference in how the release.
Sep 26 2013 11:32AM
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theblackrod
Posts: 2162 - Karma: 575
Bindings also only eject with certain pressure points. It's possible to have gnarly wrecks and never have your skis eject. But I would contact marker about sending them back and getting them checked out.
Sep 26 2013 11:38AM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7143 - Karma: 17,428
For something  like this dont contact marker directly. Have a shop test them and they can deal with Marker if there is an issue.
Sep 26 2013 11:48AM
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BNG
Posts: 26 - Karma: 35
Forward pressure was bang on (I used to be a ski tech) and I set them up arguably with even more care than usual once I was coming back from injury. As for toe height they weren't adjustable, and these accidents took place over two different sets of boots, both of which had released fine from other bindings on other skis many a time.

I am also concerned about sending them straight back to marker because once I do they basically have the binding and with it all proof that there (may) have ever been anything wrong. the thing is as cool as it would be to get some kind of cash settlement, thats really not what I want(ed) at any point, and Im from england so I don't really support this whole litigation culture (I was skiing, I got hurt, nobody needs to be sued). I'd be happy just having two working knees again so I could ski properly :/

I dont know if that many ski shops have the equipment to test the release strength of a binding. I worked in a pretty big one and as far as i know we just set the dins and trusted that the bindings worked as they should.

Sep 26 2013 11:53AM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7143 - Karma: 17,428
Where in the uk are you? Where did you work?

If your round london bring them in to me at Kensington ellis brigham and I'll check them out for you.
Sep 26 2013 12:34PM
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BNG
Posts: 26 - Karma: 35
I used to work in EB castlefield. I am actually in london next week, so I may try and do that. google tells me that in north america they like to test the release using machines which force the binding to release mechanically and take readings. Ever seen anything like that? If there is some kind of damage inside the binding I will be livid. I didnt even think this was a thing, but theres no way in hell im riding on those things until im dead sure.
Sep 26 2013 12:40PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7143 - Karma: 17,428
Yep in the states because everyone sues they check binding in most shops. It's not needed though to establish if there is an issue with bindings. Bring them in if you get chance and I'll take. Look at them for you. When were you at castle field. I started at castleford in 2004 so we may have met.
Sep 26 2013 12:44PM
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*DUMBCAN*
Posts: 2447 - Karma: 5,628
Since K2 moved there production away to China, quality of all their products dropped substantially. The same has happened with a lot of snowboarding companies. I just don't buy K2 stuff any more.

(K2 own Line, Marker and Völkl.)
Sep 26 2013 1:36PM
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BNG
Posts: 26 - Karma: 35
I was at castlefield for two seasons from 20011 til 2013. what days will you be in the kensington store next week, I may try and swing by with these cursed planks! I could really appreciate a second, much more qualified set of eyes!
Sep 26 2013 1:41PM
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Pipe_Munky
Posts: 10888 - Karma: 2,184
Actually no...K2 owns Line. Marker and Volkl fall under the Jarden umbrella outside of the K2 brand and have nothing to do with K2 with the exception of a binding partnership.

Marker bindings are still produced in Europe (Czech Republic to be exact) and Volkl in the high end is produced in Germany with a few being made in China.

Sep 26 2013 2:57PM
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Calb3rt
Posts: 6005 - Karma: 2,203
i can honestly say, this is the first time i have ever heard of a marker binding not releasing enough.
Sep 26 2013 3:03PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7143 - Karma: 17,428
I would have just missed you then I was in whistler for the last 3 seasons.

I'm off Tuesday and Friday next week so stop by any time but then and I'll have a look and see if we can figure these cursed bindings out.
Sep 26 2013 3:22PM
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k2andcannoli
Posts: 644 - Karma: -36
So I have a pair of libtech freeride, with the zombie/skunk ape, graphic. They originally belonged to my friend/coworker.

One day, before they were mine, he was ripped around took a high speed fall in which he suffered a few broken ribs and a broken collar bone, could have been much worse had he slide into a rock garden near by. He was pretty much done for the season and had developed a fear of the skis.

Forward to the next season, I was able to strike a trade for the ski. Around two months later I take a weird fall switch, caught an edge while sliding fast and ended up snapping my tibia just above my ankle.

Ive skied them since but am always a little more careful with those on my feet. They have some bad mojo.
Sep 26 2013 4:33PM
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crawley
Posts: 605 - Karma: 729
Yet you still used a pair of Marker's and don't know how to test if the bindings still release? Hmmmm...
Sep 26 2013 4:57PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7143 - Karma: 17,428
Even if you used to be a tech does not mean you will have the means to test the release. Also there really is nothing really wrong with marker, I have used jesters and had no real issues. Loads of people in the industry use and are very happy with marker. Btw did you know marker are the most used binding world wide.
Sep 26 2013 5:01PM
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*DUMBCAN*
Posts: 2447 - Karma: 5,628
Touché.

Tbh I only knew k2 and line were made in china, I just assumed the others were from my research. That research amounted to looking at the K2 wikipedia page.
Sep 26 2013 5:40PM
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crawley
Posts: 605 - Karma: 729
If you have a 2x4 and a ski boot it's pretty easy to test a binding to see if it at least releases, if the fear is as OP said "fused up/not releas[ing]".

And I don't know anybody who's worked with bindings or gear and still picks marker over sth or fks, it's simply insane and a major gamble against your health insurance deductible.
Sep 26 2013 6:35PM
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tomPietrowski
Posts: 7143 - Karma: 17,428
You may get an indication of if it releases but it's not properly testing it is it.

And I know plenty of people who pick markers. Just because ns seems to dislike them does not mean try are not good. I currently run sth but have used jesters in the past. Really they are not that bad.
Sep 26 2013 6:40PM
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cannaguts666
Posts: 504 - Karma: 256
You can get any of the LibTech NAS with the snowboard graphics on them? Not just the black top sheet?
Sep 26 2013 6:46PM
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k2andcannoli
Posts: 644 - Karma: -36
I think the black topsheet is from some of the og first gen skis. They now have lots of topsheets, not custom though.
Sep 26 2013 6:49PM
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cannaguts666
Posts: 504 - Karma: 256
Huh on Lib Techs website it only shows black on all the topsheets with no other options. I want those fully functional fives with the skunk ape graphic.
Sep 26 2013 6:57PM
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k2andcannoli
Posts: 644 - Karma: -36
That must be the new graphics then...or lack of... idk shit about lib nemore we quit selling them at the shop.
Sep 26 2013 9:01PM
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BNG
Posts: 26 - Karma: 35
Regarding your general "what kind of person doesn't test a ski binding" Guessing form your epic planks icon you are american, but it's actually very uncommon outside of north america for shops to have ski binding testing equipment, and its only present in america because of your rampant obsession with suing everybody that pisses you off.

Regarding your: "Why not just hit it with a plank?" are you fucking kidding me, even if they are stiff/fused in some way, smashing them open with a plank will probably open them anyway, and achieve nothing except that prove you are a neanderthal that can hit things with other things.

Regarding your "buying marker is insane and a major gamble" that is bullshit for many reasons, but I think your main motivator is the fact that marker just aren't as on trend as they were a few years ago, which is when I bought them, as evidenced by the fact that they were originally set up on a pair of Elizabeths. The fact that pivots have replaces markers as the "cool" binding doesn't change the fact that shit tons of people did and still do use markers, and doesn't make pivots special in any way. In fact it's a very old design.

I also see that you started a thread a few years back to sell not one but two pairs of markers that you had bought and used for a season...... nice try you fucking goober.
Sep 27 2013 5:06AM
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crawley
Posts: 605 - Karma: 729
I don't use Markers because it seems like everybody who does ends up blowing their knees up. That's why I sold mine long ago, I tried them, realized they were crap, and went back to STHs. I can't believe you are defending marker after they clearly failed you.
Sep 27 2013 10:31AM
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jstorrs
Posts: 53 - Karma: 233
I would say it is time to burn everything and start over. Get yourself some new binders and some better skis.
Sep 27 2013 1:52PM
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seanahue.
Posts: 2142 - Karma: 3,371
damn all this talk about people blowing knees up has me worried about my switch from FKS to Jesters :(

on the other hand, I've already had pre-release/brake-drag issues with my FKS's in the past... torque-ing out off the lip and leaving a ski behind is a pretty good way to hurt yourself too

not gonna lie, after seeing lots of big name athletes on Marker last season I just figured "if they're good enough for them, they'll be fine for me"
Sep 27 2013 2:28PM
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jstorrs
Posts: 53 - Karma: 233
Don't be worried the Jester is a hell of a binder. You will love them.
Oct 7 2013 6:30PM
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HeathR
Posts: 4359 - Karma: 1,382
I had the same type of issues with some bindings. I ripped them out 3 times and never thought about it. I assumed it was because my EP Pros flexed so much. The 4th time I tweaked my knee when I ripped them out. When I thought back I realised they had never released. I was just lucky my knees were stronger then my skis. A twist test is a good idea on any binding that is a few years old.
Oct 7 2013 6:49PM
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Iliveinutah
Posts: 1250 - Karma: 5,147
go to a ski shop that sells marker, they can test if they are working for you probs would do it for free. i do that shit all the time where i work. but what do i know im just a certified marker binding specialist
Oct 7 2013 9:12PM
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