In message
Ace wrote:

On Mon, 14 Feb 2005 18:10:36 +0000, funkraum
wrote:

Ace wrote:
[...]
Not done Engelburg yet this season, and unlikely to do so now, as my
schedule's getting quite full. Didn't ski this weekend, due to
sprained ankle[1] and am off to Meiringen with some friends next
[...]
[1] OK, so now I've worked out why touring boots aren't recommended
for use with normal alpine bindings, OK?


Explain this one to me. How do your sprain your ankle without breaking
the boot ?

As Sue suggests, by twisting it. In this instance it was all my own
fault - having bought touring boots (Scarpa Denali TT) And used them
for about ten days with my Alpine bindings, I realised that a lot of
play had developed, presumably as a result of the rubber boot sole
compressing onto the Anti Friction doodah. So a few turns of the screw
pushed the fron biding down a bit and it was OK, but when I got home I
thought I'd set them up 'properly'.

In practise, I'd adjusted the toe binding such that it put a lot of
pressure on the boot sole, which was fine as far a ensuring no
unwanted movement, but I didn't think to do a sideways release test.
D'oh.

So when sking some breakable crust at my usual reckless pace[1] and
getting it slightly wrong, which would normally result in nothing
worse than feeling stupid, it felt like someone was unscrewing my
foot. I think that I was actually very lucky not to break anything.


Yep, using touring boots with ordinairy bindings is a bad idea, because
the vibram sole on the Denali tends not to allow a proper sideways,
twisting release. Proper touring bindings such as the Fritschi Diamir,
and Freeride, have a twisting plate under where the boot sole sits.

If you're going to routinely use touring boots I'd get Fritschi bindings
put on all of your skis. At present I have separate skis and boots for
touring and for lift-assisted downhill skiing so I need to make a
decision as to which set to take with me.

--
o/ \\ // || ,_ o Mike Clark, "An antibody engineer who also
\__,\\ // __o || / /\, likes the mountains"
" || _`\,_ // \\ \ | Cambridge Climbing and Caving Club
` || (_)/ (_) // \\ \_ URL:http://www.path.cam.ac.uk/~mrc7/cccc/