2009 - 2010 Season Brings Convenience to Snowboard
Bindings!
Your days of sitting in the snow buckling
up are over
By Travis Kerr
The
days of sitting in the cold snow at the top of the mountain
just to strap in your rear foot are ending quickly. Several
companies have pushed convenience and speed to the top of their
list for this season’s snowboard bindings. Whether
you are tired of sitting in the cold, can’t keep up with
your skier friends, or just want to ride more, these bindings
can make your wishes a reality.
 Flow
Snowboarding: Flow has been making “fast”
bindings since 1996. On Flow bindings the ankle and toe
straps are linked into one piece that covers the top of the
foot similar to classic binding straps before toe-cups.
The large strap spreads out pressure along the whole foot alleviating
pressure points and circulation issues. The speed is all
in the highback. Flow’s highbacks are hinged with
a cable that makes them fold back and let the rider slide their
foot in from the rear (Very similar to a rear-entry ski boot).
That lets you keep your straps adjusted in one position, slide
your foot in, and snap up the highback – That’s
it. Flow uses this technology in every binding they make
ranging from entry level to expert level including their lines
for women and children.
 K2
Snowboarding – Auto Series: The Auto
series from K2 is a very unique binding system. The toe-strap
and ankle-strap are separate independently adjustable pieces,
but linked together through the chassis of the binding.
Once adjusted properly when you tighten or loosen the ankle
strap the toe strap does the same thing. This allows the
rider to buckle only the ankle strap and the toe strap will
automatically tighten and the same when you release it.
This definitely speeds up the process of strapping in, but the
binding looks just as normal as any other two strap binding
on the market.
 Ride
Snowboards – Contraband Series: The
Ride Contraband is a new beast of a binding in a class of its’
own. The “V-strap” design hit the industry
hard last year selling out in most shops by Christmas.
In the Contraband Series, Ride replaced their toecaps with a
buckle-free, durable, rubber strap that wraps around the side
and front of the foot and meets with the ankle strap at the
buckle. Once adjusted simply insert foot, tighten the
one buckle on the ankle strap, and you’re off! The
“V-strap” is clear recognized and serves as a great
conversation piece for lift lines. Thanks to Ride’s
aluminum chassis this binding is even lighter than the rest
of their line. The original Contraband is a great freestyle
binding, the New Nitrane Contraband is stiffer for all-mountain
performance, and the New Bandita Contraband is designed specifically
for women.
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Travis Kerr,
originally from New Jersey, now lives in Vermont where
he manages the Pure
Snowboard Shop. He's been boarding half his
24 years. |
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