First - I got out on some Voile 172 Insanes with the Switchback binding on them. This is going to be a sweet setup. I was only able to make turns at Brighton on it and the conditions there totally suck right now (but everywhere in the Wasatch sucks right now). This is not a resort setup so I was not expecting to totally love them. Well, I did. The ski is great. Even with how light it is it was still able to hold an edge due to the new cap construction. The binding will be super sweet for touring. The free pivot is really smooth and easy to "switch" into. It performs a bit more neutral than I am used to, but I can get used to that. It is really light and I think it will be a great binding (now if I could only get a pair of my own).
Second - I had to do it. Even though I have been a skeptic this whole time, I had to try out the NTN system from Rottefella. Not that I necessary need a pair, I just wanted to see how it performed. I wanted to see if it lived up to the hype. I went to the Scarpa Boot booth and they hooked me up with some boots no problem (for those of you unfamiliar with the new system - it is a whole new telemark interface requiring a new boot as well). Then I went over to the Rottefella booth and asked for some skis. The dude asked me where I was from and I told him Voile. Amidst his grumpy face he told me that I can't test them. They are for retailers only. I asked if he expected all 8 pair (not to mention all the others that were on the mountain at the time) to be needed for the next 20 minutes while I took a run, and he still told me no. But I was determined. I waited across the way at the Voile booth until that guy left for his lunch break and I was going to go over and approach another guy and tell him I was from Wasatch Touring. The guy I approached didn't even ask me where I was from so I got a pair no problem. I was set up on the lime green binding - which is the second stiffest model of the NTN - and they were mounted on some K2 Work Stinx skis. The step in was pretty nice. I fumbled around on it at first, but I can see how it would be nice to have that capability. The releasable mechanism was also pretty cool, but I wasn't able to really test it out since I didn't experience any major falls on the way down. The whole setup was really heavy. That heavy binding on those heavy skis did not make me want this as my backcountry setup at all. I noticed how active the binding was even just making my way over to the lift line. It was even much more active than my current Black Diamond O1s. The ski down I was surprised with. I was actually really impressed with how they skied. They had a lot of control and a whole lot of power. I felt a lot of power even in my trailing ski. All in all I thought it was fun, but I am not sold on the whole idea. I will wait until BD comes out with their competing setup before I go making any decisions on where the future of my telemark skiing is going.
I had a good day up there. It was fun to be around all that. I will be working the booth for Voile on Saturday at the Salt Palace. That should be cool. I look forward to meeting some people and getting out there in the outdoor scene (not to mention getting to go around and check out all the latest gear!).
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