New AT binding system

I remember how we all laughed at our pals new snow toy and told him it had no future. "A Snurfer? Who would want to ride on the snow on a single board standing up"?

I remember how we all laughed at our pals new snow toy and told him it had no future. "A Snurfer? Who would want to ride on the snow on a single board standing up"?

I don't see the two having much in common.
Currently, their system requires a mod to the boot sole to add tech fittings.
Also. The only Alpine binding this works with is a Look FKS.
Currently K2 is the only boot manufacture that is making a boot that is compatible with the system out of the box.

Taking everything about this product into consideration, if you compare this to all the other options that a person has to choose from on the market, this qualifies as a niche product at best.

As well executed as it looked in person, IMO it represents overkill for the average skier, with some inherent weak spots.

[amending my post to add the following information]

It's compatible with the following bindings, which to my eye all fall within the same zone of use/application...

- Tyrolia Peak T. H. 15
- Tyrolia X T. H. 18
- 4FRNT Deadbolt 15 and 18
- Head Mojo 15 and 18
- Rossignol FKS 15 and 18
- Look Pivot 15 and 18

I remember how we all laughed at our pals new snow toy and told him it had no future. "A Snurfer? Who would want to ride on the snow on a single board standing up"?

And that's still a good question.

I talked to these guys at length on the floor of the OR show back in January.
The point of the system is to be able to have an efficient tour up, with a "high DIN, full metal jacket" (think Look FKS 180 or Salomon 916Lab) binding for the down, in big terrain. These guys compete in Freeride comps and are concerned about binding failure and premature release and do not consider bindings like the Duke or the Tracker to be up to the task.
Paraphrasing what I was told.

I suppose that if your binding is breaking apart while the DIN is cranked to 16 that is an issue

No fooling huh?
Certainly doesn't apply to me.
Anything that I would be skiing that requires a full metal jacket binding with high DIN is well above my pay grade...

What I do think is interesting about the concept however is the interchangeable toe.
If they made this set up so it could work with another binding, and boots that are more common, I think they might be onto something.

Take the New Marker Lord SP for instance...
It's just a standard binding (based on the Jester platform) with no tour function, however the toe has two ranges of adjustment, having the distinction of being the first alpine binding specifically designed to work with both a DIN sole and a rockered touring sole.

If the Lord SP was compatible with this system, it would blow away most "frame" style bindings IMO for side country touring. It would tour better, be lighter weight and compatible with a very broad range of boots that are available now.

I remember how we all laughed at our pals new snow toy and told him it had no future. "A Snurfer? Who would want to ride on the snow on a single board standing up"?

I don't see the two having much in common.

My point was that the Snurfer was a primitive tool of limited use that has developed into today's big mountain and split boards. A personal life lesson for me about poo-pooing new ideas. I'll bet there are at least 1000 skiers willing to pay $1000 for the most "Bomber" setup for getting a bit higher/farther from the lift or heli drop to ski a steep line. Some may Earn Your Turns, ski like a gazelle and rate the joy in 10k's of vert.  Others try to beat the mountain into submission with their skis while dropping pillows or hucking 40 footers and they want to do it with a DIN of 16 and a ride up.

I am on a quest this year to overcome my own personal cognitive dissonance.