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Powder/touring ski and binding concerns

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mopsy
Posts: 2 - Karma: 11
Been lurking around a bit here lately and after some advice on quiver updates.

I live in Whistler and ski resort almost everyday. I’ve been skiing for a few years but never as much as this season. Currently skiing a bent chetler 100 with shift bindings. All resort so far this year and haven’t even ventured into slack country yet.

I’m a 135lb female at 5’4. I would describe my skiing style as increasingly becoming more playful, looking for side hits and jumps and generally just having as much fun as I can no matter what the conditions. More of a straight-line than nice turn kinda gal. I’m not stoked on skiing a shift binding in the resort everyday now that I’m getting a little more sendy. I also want a powder oriented ski for those deeper days.

My current train of thinking is to get a ski that can be my powder ski and touring ski, run the shift binding on that. Something with good float that gives me confidence in trees, on steeps and jumping off (small) things when there’s fresh snow on the ground. I’m testing some 2020 vjj’s this week (second hand that I could potentially buy) - would those fit the bill? I know they will be a bit heavier that my current setup for touring, but I’m worried the new jj UL’s would be too flimsy, especially for the little touring I actually do.

Then I would put a regular alpine binding on my chets and feel a bit more confident throwing myself around on those in between storms, getting into the park etc.

Does that sound like I’m on the right track or should I really be going for a 3 ski quiver and have a dedicated touring setup? For sure $$ is a factor but this is also the thing I'm doing every day right now. I'm not sure if I will regret having a shift on my powder ski too.

Any thoughts and comments are much appreciated!
Jan 16 2021 8:32PM
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animator
Posts: 4552 - Karma: 26,250
mopsyBeen lurking around a bit here lately and after some advice on quiver updates.

I live in Whistler and ski resort almost everyday. I’ve been skiing for a few years but never as much as this season. Currently skiing a bent chetler 100 with shift bindings. All resort so far this year and haven’t even ventured into slack country yet.

I’m a 135lb female at 5’4. I would describe my skiing style as increasingly becoming more playful, looking for side hits and jumps and generally just having as much fun as I can no matter what the conditions. More of a straight-line than nice turn kinda gal. I’m not stoked on skiing a shift binding in the resort everyday now that I’m getting a little more sendy. I also want a powder oriented ski for those deeper days.

My current train of thinking is to get a ski that can be my powder ski and touring ski, run the shift binding on that. Something with good float that gives me confidence in trees, on steeps and jumping off (small) things when there’s fresh snow on the ground. I’m testing some 2020 vjj’s this week (second hand that I could potentially buy) - would those fit the bill? I know they will be a bit heavier that my current setup for touring, but I’m worried the new jj UL’s would be too flimsy, especially for the little touring I actually do.

Then I would put a regular alpine binding on my chets and feel a bit more confident throwing myself around on those in between storms, getting into the park etc.

Does that sound like I’m on the right track or should I really be going for a 3 ski quiver and have a dedicated touring setup? For sure $$ is a factor but this is also the thing I'm doing every day right now. I'm not sure if I will regret having a shift on my powder ski too.

Any thoughts and comments are much appreciated!


The shift skis and behaves just like an alpine binding, it meets the same safety standards whereas most pin bindings do not. I skied mine all last season in the backcountry, on refreeze, and in the park and they held up great for me! I would say you could keep the shift on the BC 100 and go for another touring/pow setup, or move the shift to a wider ski as a pow/touring quiver, and put an alpine binding on the BC 100. The Bents can definitely float pretty well for 100 underfoot too. If your priority right now is versatility, keep the set up you have. If you’re not touring a whole not it may not be worth it to invest in another ski, and an alpine binding on the BC100. If you have the money, and want to go for a fatter ski, throw the shift on that and put an Attack 13 or Pivot 12 on your Bents. The shift definitely can hold up to side hits/park jumps/cliff drops, I’m 5’11 and 195 pounds and didn’t experience any issues with mine.
Jan 16 2021 8:41PM
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ericforman
Posts: 722 - Karma: 6,212
Yea honestly bents are light enough to use as a touring ski with shifts.

I personally use the line vision 108 183 (5’10 150) with a shift as a dedicated touring set up for exactly what you describe. I also often use them for an uphill lap before the chairs start turning and it’s a riot. Idk what lengths they come in but the vision 108 + shift for feeling safe messing around is just a great combo. Havnt had any issues with them, but like you I’m nervous about it and have a second heavier ski with an sth2, which is a sweet binding.

I would get a second set up. May actually be cheaper in the long run because your shifts presumably are a lot less durable than an sth. But yea keeping shifts on bents ain’t crazy.
Jan 16 2021 10:23PM
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anders_a
Posts: 1680 - Karma: 5,603
yay for more skis! always good

but honestly at 135lbs the shift will probably work fine for you since your light

with my 230lbs I had trust issues on my BC100 + shifts but it worked out fine most of the time
Jan 17 2021 6:15AM
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TheWeaz
Posts: 803 - Karma: 1,903
In contrast I’m about 140, but slightly taller, ski pretty aggressively and hated my shifts, but if you aren’t having problems with them then they are probably fine for you.

on the topic of putting alpine bindings on your bents, basically every company makes something that will work at least as good as the shift if not better. My top choices for you would be a pivot 12 or 14, an aatack 13, or a salomon/ atomic sth 12, a lot of people talk about the higher din models of these but at your weight and height you don’t need the extra din and are unlikely to need the extra durability that the metal versions provide. Also these are all lighter than the higher din counterparts.

As for you pow ski, the VJJ isn’t exactly a ski that loves straightlines, it has a very short turn radius and a lot of tail rocker. You may in fact love it and start adding turns into your runs, but if you really like skiing straight these are not the best skis. Try them out and find out for yourself, sounds like you have the opportunity to do so.
Jan 17 2021 9:57AM
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sashko
Posts: 221 - Karma: 739
if you want one pair for both touring and resort powder days, I would look for a lightweight resort oriented ski (I ski 184-186 powder skis, in this size ski should weight 1.9-2.1kg). Something like moment deathwish (the regular one), candide 3.0, k2 reconer 112, line Pandora 110.

also, depending on a brake width on your shift, you could buy two sets of binding inserts (quiver killer or binding freedom) and use one pair of shift for both pair of skis.
Jan 17 2021 11:57AM
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mopsy
Posts: 2 - Karma: 11
Thanks everyone for sharing all your knowledge! Lots to think about and just going to try and many skis as I can for now.
Jan 17 2021 6:51PM
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