You might think that ski manufacturers would have some standard for determining where your feet will stand on your skis relative to their length. As far as I can tell, you would be wrong, because they vary dramatically…and manufacturers will even vary the recommended mounting point from year to year!
- Mounting bindings too far forward on a ski makes it feel “short” and unstable for its length, makes skating awkward, and possibly increases the risk of ACL injury.
- Mounting bindings too far back on a ski makes it feel “long” and sluggish for its length, decreases rebound, and when taken to an extreme, makes it difficult to hold a carved turn.
After years of experimentation with many different skis and with bindings that allow fore-aft adjustment, I’ve found that one method consistently produces good results for me with almost every ski:
Ball of Foot at Center of Running Surface (BOF/CORS)
Known as BOF/CORS, or just BOF, as in “I mounted these at BOF”. I did not invent this technique: I’m sharing it because it works so well for me.
For those who aren’t sure what I mean by “running surface”, here’s an illustration (marked as “running length”). It’s the part of the ski that contacts the snow when you’re standing on it.
Diagram is from skibuilders.com, a great resource for anyone interested in ski technology and construction. Click the picture to visit their site.
Continue reading “HOWTO: Mount Alpine Skis Using The “Ball Of Foot at Center of Running Surface” Method” »
