Big Seller: Safety Bindings

Ski stores throughout the West and Midwest report that their fastest selling items are release bindings—special attachments that hold the boot firmly to the ski, but release under the pressure of a severe header. There are three main types: heel release—like the Tyrolia {above)—in which the heel pops out in a forward fall and the toe springs out in a twist; toe release—like the Ski Free—in which the toe comes out first and the heel follows; and the clamp type—like the Cubco—which can be adjusted to any tension but requires special plates on the toe and heel of the boot. New Englanders have cooled toward the new-fangled gadgets after the Ski Patrol at Stowe reported 50% of ski accidents happened to people wearing safety bindings. The report added, however, that poor adjustment caused the injuries. Therefore if the novice gets his bindings set by an experienced workman and has an expert check the tension for different snow conditions, he can be reasonably sure of getting by without breaking a leg.