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Mounting Point: Not a Huge Deal

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Dangler_Danger
Posts: 63 - Karma: 403
There are a ton of questions on NS regarding mount point and how much it matters. Although every ski is different and centimeters can make a significant difference, I would posit that small centimeter differences are less significant than most people realize. This image below aims to show a visual reference of various mount points. Image quality is not the best, but I think you can see what you need to. It is probably best to compare the white anti-friction devices at the toe piece of each binding. I aligned the skis at their midpoints instead of at one tip since they have different lengths.



- The top ski is a 187 cm Faction Prodigy 1.0, center mounted

- The middle ski is a 191 cm ON3P Jeffrey 108, mounted -2 cm from center.

- The bottom ski is a 190 cm Moment Deathwish, mounted at the recommended mount of -5 cm.


I don't have some mind-blowing revelation; however, I think the visual difference between the ON3P and Faction skis are truly insignificant, and the difference between the ON3P and Moment skis are more insignificant than I would have thought prior to lining them up.

There are multiple variables in the skis designs. However, in my experience skiing them, the Faction and ON3P skis feel extremely similar in "surfability" and how I feel balanced on the ski. I have no issue skiing switch on the ON3Ps, and feel that I could probably go back a few more centimeters and not notice much of a difference on rails and switch riding. I also have no issue skiing the Moment skis switch, and I do appreciate the feeling of more of the ski in front of me when I am moving at high speeds through variable snow and powder.

These are my primary reflections on this comparison:

- If your skis are not perfectly symmetrical, there probably isn't much of a reason to mount them at center. I remember that I felt a weird peer pressure to have center-mounted skis when I first got into park, but you really can't even tell a difference between center mounted and a couple centimeters back–visually or in performance. And, let's be honest, most of us are not skiing switch more than ~2% of the time.

- I've always been nervous about going with factory mounts because I pictured a ski that had WAY more in front of it than behind, but if the camber/rocker is designed for that mount point, it's worth considering. It's also likely less of a difference than you think.

I've rambled enough, so I'll end it here. I figured this was worth displaying and discussing with the NS community. What do you guys think?

Endnote: If you see a dude at 7 Springs or elsewhere with these skis, come say hi. He does not bite and will give you a stick of gum if you ask. Even if it happens to be someone else with the same skis, they're probably super cool and extremely popular.
Jun 6 2022 11:49AM
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powpatrol
Posts: 1682 - Karma: 10,917
i like the post and i like the skis what more can i say
Jun 6 2022 3:40PM
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abar.
Posts: 1062 - Karma: 6,889
Mounting at rec is probably underrated by ns users, if the ski is recommended to mount super far back just get a different ski. No one can tell the difference between 0 and -2 and if you move it more than 2cm off the line you're probably fucking up the sidecut anyway
Jun 6 2022 6:10PM
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mattytru
Posts: 2788 - Karma: 5,618
idk, i know that for rail riding i feel a difference between center-ish and 2cm back. however, i regularly slide rails on skis that are 1.5cm back and adapt to it just fine. there is still a difference in feel, though. i don't think there is really any doubt that center is best for pure rail skiing. but nobody skis ONLY rails, except for skis which are set up for urban or shitty pvc sessions. hence the -1.5cm i rock on most everyday/park skis.

i could give less of a shit about visual appearance: there have been some dope edits from clayton and maks over the years with noticeably back-mounted skis and i think it looks dope.

recently ive mounted my last few pow skis between -2 and -4 (still always forward of rec because freestyle) and enjoy how those ski much more than my 'everyday' skis (which are mounted to be able to ride park comfortably).

personal takeaways:

- closer to center IS better for rail skiing, less so for jumping or landing switch in particular but still somewhat nice

- moving further back toward recommended makes every other type of skiing better, besides skiing switch (esp. in pow)
Jun 7 2022 12:43AM
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asparagus
Posts: 2476 - Karma: 28,189
I thought I would always want centre mounted skis until I went out west
Jun 7 2022 12:45PM
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Burrito
Posts: 1864 - Karma: 930
I agree that the difference in feel between something like -1.5 at rec and true center is pretty minimal, but paying attention to the factory rec line is a good way to get a sense of how the manufacturer sees the ski being ridden if you don't have a chance to ride them yourselves before buying.

For example I still prefer to ski with a very balanced, relatively upright stance - a carryover from earlier years in the park (35yo now, rarely ski only park on any given day) - that lends itself to more forward mount points. If I'm considering a ski with a rec line at say more than 5cm back from true center chances are it's a ski that likes being driven with an aggressive, forward stance, and we're not going to get along particularly well. If it's under that (completely arbitrary) 5cm mount point, though, it's probably meant to be a pretty playful, balanced ski that has a chance to match my riding style pretty well.

For me looking at recommended mount is just another quick tool for evaluating a ski's ride before I'm able to test it in real life.
Jun 7 2022 1:18PM
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chrispounce
Posts: 1 - Karma: 24
I dont center mount for the performance I center mount because I am a poser and want people to think I am good at park
Jun 7 2022 1:43PM
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Kbob94
Posts: 1258 - Karma: 7,889
Awesome take! I definitely agree mount points don’t play as much of a roll as people think. Granted I think it all comes down to personal preference. For me and the weird mental games I play with myself I mount all pow skis at -2.5 from center. I will say that there are a few skis out there that have multiple mount points, eg freestyle or team vs factory recommend, those skis are a whole other can of worms that we could dive into. I think tho overall mount points aren’t as huge as people make them out to be. Especially if you like how it skis just send it with what you’re happy with
Jun 7 2022 3:13PM
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SchizoSkier
Posts: 2758 - Karma: 29,865
chrispounceI dont center mount for the performance I center mount because I am a poser and want people to think I am good at park



Jun 7 2022 4:01PM
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TRVP_ANGEL
Posts: 12503 - Karma: 116,105
@Jems absolutely furious because "he can tell the difference"
Jun 7 2022 5:59PM
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Jems
Posts: 7502 - Karma: 97,082
TRVP_ANGEL@Jems absolutely furious because "he can tell the difference"

i can tell the difference when i’m skiing switch
Jun 7 2022 8:16PM
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IsaacNW82
Posts: 769 - Karma: 6,693
Honestly I disagree. Most skis I've owned have been remounted for one reason or another (I usually buy skis used, ski them once and then remount them closer to center), or had demo bindings which allowed me to play with mounting. the difference between dead center and -2cm isn't massive but it is definitely noticeable back to back. I find the difference is mostly in front to back "balance point" in powder where it could dive tips or not, and how much support the tails have. Switch performance is impacted to a degree as well, and to a smaller extent swing weight.
Jun 8 2022 5:43PM
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animator
Posts: 4552 - Karma: 26,249
You make some good points here but visuals really don’t have too much relevancy unless we’re talking about the same ski. The example you give here shows 3 different skis with 3 different shapes, 3 different profiles, 3 different constructions and 3 different recommended mounts. Sure, lined up next to each other, it doesn’t LOOK super different, that doesn’t mean it won’t always FEEL different. In your case, maybe the Jeffrey’s and the Prodigy’s feel pretty similar, but that’s based on your skiing. Mount points definitely are a big deal because skis are designed (or at least should be) around that point.
Jun 9 2022 11:57PM
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