Integrated Ski Systems

Ski technology has undergone rapid advances in the past few years. Sidecuts, the big breakthrough around the new millennium, have become more customized, tailored for various terrain and conditions. But the biggest recent advancement in skiing is the development of skis and bindings that have been integrated into one system which allows the ski to flex freely along its entire length. Previously, bindings were fixed in the heel and toe, which prevented your ski from flexing underfoot. Now, many of the new integrated bindings feature a rail that allows the binding to float along the ski’s top skin, sliding forward and backward as you turn, which frees the ski to flex along its entire length.

While this engineering may sound a bit scary, these new integrated bindings need to move only about a centimeter for the entire ski to flex freely. The bindings actually spread ever so slightly when you enter a turn, allowing the ski to flex unrestrained. You’re unlikely to feel the bindings move at all, but you will notice that they are highly sensitive, delivering a smoother ride and better control.

As one ski writer put it, “The whole ski becomes a sweet spot, transforming your ski from the equivalent of a wooden Wilson tennis racquet into a graphite Prince.”

These remarkable integrated systems guarantee your skis and bindings will be compatible and perform their very best. And that’s what a great day on the slopes is all about.