Fritschi Diamir Freeride Binding Failure

After a relatively minor tumble (OK, I admit I may have hit a covert
rock quite hard) on the side of the piste under the Herse chair at
Grands Montets, my ski detached (as I would have wished) but one of my
Fritschi Diamir Freeride bindings broke - the long screw which holds
the rear of the binding in position had sheared. (Apparently this "can
happen" my man in the shop said later.)

I was left with one unusable ski. Fortunately I was only a couple of
metres or so from the piste, had a mobile phone and a friendly pisteur
was sent out to bring me a spare ski which arrived after 30 mins or so
of boot stamping and hand clapping. As an aside, skiing down on 2
completely different makes of skis was interesting and brings a new
slant to a side-by-side comparison.

It did make me wonder what I would have done if I was further afield
though. I guess I could have strapped the binding round my boot
somehow as an emergency fix. Any better solutions (other than carrying
a full set of spares)? Maybe I'll pack a pair of snow-shoes next time.
And wear a helmet.

Sammy

"Sammy" wrote:

[...]
Any better solutions (other than carrying
a full set of spares)? Maybe I'll pack a pair of snow-shoes next time.
And wear a helmet.


I have not carried spares myself. But snow-shoes are always annoying,
both to use and to carry. Bigfeet would be smaller and more useful
for downhill.

Thanks for the response funkraum, I was beginning to think I was in the
wrong NG for this skiing related question.
Apparently I should carry a big roll of duct tape and several strong
plastic straps at all times.
Sammy

Sammy
Maybe I'll pack a pair of snow-shoes next time.

what about putting skins on some real short skis and using them for
climb, access? this would mean you can have a full strength binding on
your downhill skis?


Jon.

In article .com,
wrote:
Thanks for the response funkraum, I was beginning to think I was in the
wrong NG for this skiing related question.
Apparently I should carry a big roll of duct tape and several strong
plastic straps at all times.


Actually, your post might've received more response in r.s.backcountry.
Those bindings are more commonly used in those settings.

By the way, I don't think you need such a big roll of duct tape. I
would've probably put my skins on, used tape and, perhaps, straps to
secure the binding as well as possible, and done gently executed
descending kick turns to bleed vertical. Maybe even release the heel
locks as well, although this is pretty hard on the toe piece.

cheers,
john (Having a few hopes and prayers helps too, I'd imagine.)

"Sammy" wrote:

Thanks for the response funkraum, I was beginning to think I was in the
wrong NG for this skiing related question.
Apparently I should carry a big roll of duct tape and several strong
plastic straps at all times.


The main problem with being solo and out in the wild is having enough
redundant equipment to preserve your ability to maneuver.

- Smash your sun spectacles and you might be OK, except snow-blind the
next day.

- Lose your glove and you might get back but you might lose your hand
the next day.

- Drop a crampon down the mountain and you might get back - but you
might die there.

Broken ski or binding could be fatal if you had skied into a crevasse
field and relied on skis to get out. If not it could be just a long
and annoying walk / wade through thick snow.

General spares like short lengths of rope, parachute cord or slings is
useful but as ever in the Alpine equation, it adds weight to the
weight versus speed trade-off.

Even in downhill only. The more kit you carry in your sack, the
shorter time your quadriceps will last while skiing.

Hi Sammy

but one of my
Fritschi Diamir Freeride bindings broke - the long screw which holds
the rear of the binding in position had sheared. (Apparently this "can
happen" my man in the shop said later.)
I met last weekend a man backcountry in the Tuxer Alps; he was walking
down the mountain with the skies over the shoulder. Nearly the same
Problem. The screw had become loose and the heel-piece was sliding along
the center bar.

[...]. I guess I could have strapped the binding round my boot
somehow as an emergency fix.
I always recommend to carry a short "Reepschnur" (thin rope) in the
daypack. It can solve many problems.

Florian

Thanks Florian. Sounds like the same failure with the heel-piece
sliding like that. Booker Bense on r.s.backcountry recommended the
following (not sure if the link will survive the copy and paste):

_ Duct tape and nylon cable ties, take the boot off your foot and
jury-rig some kind of attachment to the ski. Carry enough to do
it at least twice, since the first one will eventually fall
apart. Long Voile ski straps[1] can also be quite handy and are
much tougher than about other kind of strap you can buy.

_ A few feet of duct tape wrapped around your ski pole also makes
a handy second grip for sidehill traversing.
_ Booker C. Bense

[1]- http://tinyurl.com/6ad48

Sammy

On 24 Jan 2005 09:46:02 -0800, "Sammy" wrote:

Thanks Florian. Sounds like the same failure with the heel-piece
sliding like that. Booker Bense on r.s.backcountry recommended the
following (not sure if the link will survive the copy and paste):

_ Duct tape and nylon cable ties, take the boot off your foot and
jury-rig some kind of attachment to the ski. Carry enough to do
it at least twice, since the first one will eventually fall
apart. Long Voile ski straps[1] can also be quite handy and are
much tougher than about other kind of strap you can buy.

_ A few feet of duct tape wrapped around your ski pole also makes
a handy second grip for sidehill traversing.
_ Booker C. Bense

All good advice, I'm sure. Ski club reps are required to carry,
amongst other things, garden/piano wire, pliers, duct tape, para-cord
and even a needle & thread. Many new reps ask the question "what's the
garden wire for?" - this is just one of several examples.

Personally I've never had to jury-rig a binding, and I hope I'll never
have to, but I have used said wire to temporarily[1] refix a snow
basket.

[1] Lasted three months, as did the second 'temporary' repair :-}

--
Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
Ski Club of Great Britain - http://www.skiclub.co.uk
All opinions expressed are personal and in no way represent those of the Ski Club.