I brought my skis to the shop where @Doug Briggs works (no Doug sightings, sadly) and asked for a tune, and also asked about greasing the bindings (Marker Griffon) to make them easier to step into. The shop guy said he could do that, but it would only last a couple of runs. He looked more closely and pointed out that the um ... the step-plate thingie and the brake plate thingie overlapped a bit. You could see some wear. He said it wasn't a huge problem, but could definitely contribute to my difficulty stepping into the Marker. I didn't have my boots with me, but he said that fixing it would likely require a remount. And I said, if I'm going to do a remount, I'd just as soon replace the Marker Griffon with another binding ... one that doesn't have a reputation (and my personal experience) for difficulty getting into them.
He mentioned there's a Griffon Pro that's metal instead of plastic, that he said just works better in all regards. I asked about the Salomon STwhatsit13; he countered by suggesting the Look or Rossi. They're a race shop and I suspect that's what they have on hand.
So, what should I do? Cheapest is to remount the Griffon I already have, of course. But my experience with them has been frustrating, and he did say that they are extremely finicky about wear on the boot (I really don't think my boots have much wear, but it seems like something I don't want to have to think about). I think I've heard that before. So if I'm going for a remount, maybe I would be happier with a different binding? Any validity to the Griffon Pro being better in this regard? I feel like the Looks / Rossis may have a very different feel than the Markers - would I like them?
These bindings would be for my Santa Anas, which are my daily drivers.
I could do nothing. I could have the bindings I already own be remounted. I could buy an expensive set of bindings that are a higher price point than the bindings I've used in the past, and if so, would need to choose which one. I assume I would need to choose a binding that this shop can work with and has experience with (given they pointed the issue out, I'd like to give them the business, if I go that route). Thoughts? @SkiEssentials deals?
He mentioned there's a Griffon Pro that's metal instead of plastic, that he said just works better in all regards. I asked about the Salomon STwhatsit13; he countered by suggesting the Look or Rossi. They're a race shop and I suspect that's what they have on hand.
So, what should I do? Cheapest is to remount the Griffon I already have, of course. But my experience with them has been frustrating, and he did say that they are extremely finicky about wear on the boot (I really don't think my boots have much wear, but it seems like something I don't want to have to think about). I think I've heard that before. So if I'm going for a remount, maybe I would be happier with a different binding? Any validity to the Griffon Pro being better in this regard? I feel like the Looks / Rossis may have a very different feel than the Markers - would I like them?
These bindings would be for my Santa Anas, which are my daily drivers.
I could do nothing. I could have the bindings I already own be remounted. I could buy an expensive set of bindings that are a higher price point than the bindings I've used in the past, and if so, would need to choose which one. I assume I would need to choose a binding that this shop can work with and has experience with (given they pointed the issue out, I'd like to give them the business, if I go that route). Thoughts? @SkiEssentials deals?