I remembered another ski product with its flaws - the original Adidas
ski bindings with the tiny little metal pin you had to thread through
the tiny little holes in the binding and the tab off the front of your
boot. When the hole in your boot iced up ... you had big problems. I
remember at the start of the Jr. race at Holmenkollen once in the mid
70's ... Marty Hall ended up helping me at the start line. He was
struggling to get the pin through my boot. The starter said 'GO' and
the whole stadium was watching while I stood at the starting line and
Marty struggled with my boot. Finally, 5-6 seconds after my start
time, Martly muscled the pin into place and I took off ... embarassed
by the hoots of the crowd, but relieved. One thing about the bindings
though ... I don't think there has ever been a lighter binding made.

Marty - if you ever read this ... If I never said it then ... "Thanks
for helping me get off the starting line!" You were the best!