binding DIN for 4 year old

hi

a little advice for a guy to whom "binding" means ratcheting straps.

started my "little" 4 year old girl skiing this year.  She's big for her age - 2 inches short of 4 feet tall and 48 pounds.

Skiings been progressing nicely.  She has 80cm skis and her boots and bindings are in good shape.  To start her out I backed off the DIN nearly all the way.  That was fine for the first 3 or 4 magic carpet and bunny hill days.  The past two times though she's been bumped up to the 5 and 6 year old group (and I take her with me on more challenging runs too).  Now that she's skiing faster on slightly steeper greens and picking her way down blues she's blowing out of her skis more and more.

Makes sense as she's controlling more torque.  I upped the DIN front and back on her bindings to 1.  Is that excessive? Or can I go up a little more?

And I shouldn't worry about her finishing out her first season on the little 80 cm skis, right?  Barring the hideous possibility that she becomes a snowblader short is okay for beginners?

Thanks very much,

Hank

www.dinsetting.com/ or there are a bunch of charts out there.  If in doubt, get the shop to set them and save yourself the guilt should anything happen as a result of over tightening.  They will reference the charts anyway but could detect a problem with the binding that your untrained eyes do not.

At the size she is the skis you have her on are likely on the small side too.  My 4 yr old started on 90's at age 3 and he's smaller than your girl at age 4 and skiing these again this year.  He's at the limit of these now too.

However, anytime on skis is good time even with gear a little small and its all about racking up the hours.

My guess would be around 1.5 DIN based on a boo less than 250mm which is around what I have my guy set at too and he doesn't pop unless there is a decent "kerblamo" as he puts it. A longer boot reduces the DIN setting as the same release force can now generate more torque on the boot/knee so you need to dial it back appropriately based on chart.

I think it should be pointed out that a ski shop will also torque test the binding, and set it to the right amount of force rather than an arbitrary number. A 1 setting could really be a 2 since they do not take the time to manufacture the springs so precise. Not as important for a tiny din like a 1, but I would still reccomend the torque test.

Useful info gents thank you

While standing on snow your child (or anyone for that matter) should be able to angulate to their edge and twist out if the binding. If you stand on the tails they should be able to take a hard step (really hard maybe) and step out of the heel. If they cannot do those release checks then too tight. World Cup racers on icy courses mileage may vary.