Mounting Locations

I am setting up my new backcountry boards. Surface live free with fritschi freeride pro. I have mounted many bindings but usually for downhill racing. Wondering where I should locate my new AT bindings for nice mix between uphill and downhill travel. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

Here's my 2 cents...

Any ski with tail rocker, I usually suggest mounting the boot center more forward from "traditional". A few reasons....I believe that having a ski with tail rocker, allows you to get in the back seat a bit easier, and therefore moving the binding position forward, you have a slightly less chance getting in the back seat.

Also, while skinning, you get most skin power and grip from the front of your binding to the tail of the ski. So, if you have more tail, you get a little better traction uphill.

And last but definitely not least, if you like to go off cliffs, having more tail is way easier to stomp landings. I'm serious. And less tip is much easier to swing around and maneuver in the trees. Less hang ups.

So much of this is just personal skiing style, and how you like to drive the skis, but in general, big pow ski, ~+2cm forward.

The primary concern when mounting should be downhill performance. I wouldn't sweat the uphill; there's plenty of time to do that on the skintrack.

The only scenario I can think of is with tiny boots and an abnormally rearward mounting point where uphill travel (kickturns) could be compromised by mount location.

Just mount the boots whereever you'd want them for skiing downhill in whatever conditions you expect to encounter .

Any ski with significant tail rocker is already going to have extra length behind the boot, making uphill kickturns a PITA - moving the mount point further forward will make it even worse. I haven't seen a pair of Live Lifes in several years, and I can't remember what the rocker profile looks like (it may have changed).

Depending on rocker/camber profile and skier weight, most of your grip comes from just in front of your binding to about a foot in back of your heel - beyond a certain point, more tail doesn't result in more grip (check out rando race skins which often end well ahead of the tail).

I would also go with whatever you think will ski best - if you don't know for sure, why not go with the manufacturer's recommendation? Chances are they put some thought into it before putting a mark on the ski.

Thanks! Ended up going with a +2 from center (where I have my free skis mounted). Now all I need to do is pray for the white stuff to start falling!
-Cheers

Something worth considering is the amount of ski length in front of the boot toe. In order for the ski to float in the pow, it must have sufficient length to get the job done. Nothing worse than dealing with skis that want to dive or pearl on pow days because the mounting point is too far forward.