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Exclusive: Hey Look, Thanks for Listening and Bringing Back the Pivot 15

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One of the earliest promotions here at Pugski.com was to "Bring Back the Pivot 15." We started this campaign in 2016 to accomplish a few things. First, we wanted to showcase the talent and artwork of Dave Petersen; we also wanted to have fun with collector, historian, and Look aficionado Bill Talbot and his love of the Pivot 15 binding. But our main focus was to show Look that there is a loyal following for a product that it had discontinued more than a decade before.


Within hours of launching the original campaign, I received a phone call from Rossignol Group’s senior management. They thanked us for supporting the brand and told me they would be tracking the outreach. The visibility of the promotion was impressive, not only on Pugski.com but also on Facebook and other ski-related sites; the campaign went global and running with the hashtag we created, #bringbackthe15.

We saw that Look was taking the concept seriously two years ago when it brought back one of our designs, the yellow-to-orange Forza motif, on both the Pivot 14 and Pivot 18. The Forza was an immediate sales success, and we couldn’t go a day on the slopes without seeing a few pairs out on the hill. One of our loyal readers who works as a retailer commented that whenever someone asked specifically for the Forza, he knew they had heard about it on Pugski.com.

Why the push to bring back a binding that was discontinued a decade ago? One that might only sell into the hundreds, not nearly the volume of some of the more popular bindings? Simple: people are willing to pay for quality and durability in a proven all-metal housing. Look already offers the Pivot 14; with a similar setting of 5-14, it retails for $70 less than the upcoming Pivot 15, which will retail for $399, the same price as the burlier-springed Pivot 18. We have said many times, "When you are buying a better binding, you are buying not a bigger spring but a better housing”; since the 15 and 18 have identical all-metal housings, it makes sense that their prices would be identical.

The vast majority of adult skiers have a binding setting below 8, which is where the Pivot 18 starts; the Pivot 15 will be the answer for those skiers who may not weigh a lot or have a higher-than-average binding setting but still want the best-built option available. Look understands that the highest performance does not need to be limited to those who require the biggest spring; this is why the Pivot 15, with a reasonable setting of 6-15, had such a loyal following and was hoarded by better skiers all over the world.


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Gold

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Forza 2.0
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Raw​

For 2020-21, Look will be offering the Pivot 15 in three colorways. It will continue the Forza 2.0 motif with an all-new purple-to-fuscia fade with yellow accents, Gold to be paired with Dynastar’s upcoming M-Pro series, and Raw, an unpainted version to highlight Rossignol’s new Black Ops collection. Like the Pivot 18 that carries over, the reintroduced 15 will be GripWalk-compatible and come in 95, 115, and 130mm brake widths.

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We look forward to seeing these new offerings out on the hill. It is very satisfying to know that Pugski.com and our readers' voices were heard and that Look as a brand listened to its customer base. Now, call your favorite retailer and let them know, "If you stock it, they will come."
About author
Philpug
I started skiing in the mid-70s in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania; from then on, I found myself entrenched in the industry. I have worked in various ski shops from suburban to ski town to resort, giving me a well-rounded perspective on what skiers want from their gear. That experience was parlayed into my time as a Gear Review Editor and also consulting with manufacturers as a product tester. Along with being a Masterfit-trained bootfitter I am a fully certified self proclaimed Gear Guru. Not only do I keep up with the cutting edge of ski gear technology, but I am an avid gear collector and have an extensive array of bindings as well as many vintage skis.

Replies

It's amazing how good technology and design can last. The first set of bindings I ever purchased, in 1977 I think, were Look 77's. Other than a few minor enhancements the bindings are largely the same now as then, especially the turn-table heel piece.
Yes, the new binding is an evolution of the original Nevada, longitudinal toe with turntable heel.
 
This is a great binding, I’ve used the the old Rossignol FKS 15 for years, which is basically a duplicate of this new Look. The only shortcomings on this binding I’ve found is that they can be tougher to center the pivot and engage your boot in deeper snow conditions after a release. Also, it appears from the photos that they still haven’t addressed the problem of the heal piece getting torn up when you put your ski pole tip in it to release the binding, how about a metal cap on top to prevent this wear and tear? Anyhow, all things considered, the best binding I’ve ever used!
 
This is a great binding... Also, it appears from the photos that they still haven’t addressed the problem of the heal piece getting torn up when you put your ski pole tip in it to release the binding, how about a metal cap on top to prevent this wear and tear? Anyhow, all things considered, the best binding I’ve ever used!
We have been in discussion with Look regarding the heel cup. It has been mentioned more than once. It was a change on the SPX heel and I am hoping that we will see it on the next generation Pivot.
 
We have been in discussion with Look regarding the heel cup. It has been mentioned more than once. It was a change on the SPX heel and I am hoping that we will see it on the next generation Pivot.
Progress with Look is glacial. Tbh, I never thought they’d do this 15.

Now, maybe they could do it with the race heel. Make the 18 with a 15 spring. That way race kids won’t be trashing a binding in a season. And we’ll get a much better step in.

I have zero hope on this one. I did have Brian at Forerunner offer to make me a set once.
 
Progress with Look is glacial. Tbh, I never thought they’d do this 15.

Now, maybe they could do it with the race heel. Make the 18 with a 15 spring. That way race kids won’t be trashing a binding in a season. And we’ll get a much better step in.

I have zero hope on this one. I did have Brian at Forerunner offer to make me a set once.
There was a PX15 heel that was the same heel as the 18...like the Pivot. But they chose to go with the SPX heel. It was as bad ass and burly as the 18 but ig you think about it...anyone who needs that much heel, is running the binding well above 10-12...which is in the range of the 8-18 range the PX18 is. The lighter skiers are fine with the SPX15, which does have the single pivot toe but slightly lighter heel.
 
If you fall with DIN set at 15 - does your leg rip off or does it actually release?
 
If you fall with DIN set at 15 - does your leg rip off or does it actually release?
In the case with the Pivot 15, if you set it at 15 (or any binding at max setting), you are limiting the spring range because it is condensed, you would be better off being in the Pivot 18.

I would have someone double check your math if you are coming out with a 15 according to the settings chart, also, please post the chart that you are using that gives an initial setting of 15.
 

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