Saturday, August 31, 2019

The more things change…

In its Fall 2019 preview, the American SKI magazine is featuring “the 6 Best Ski Bindings of 2020” under the caption “If you date your skis but marry your boots, your bindings better be your best friend.”

Yes, bindings are important, but beside the fact that the major binding manufacturers listed have been steadily enhancing or evolving their products, one had remained virtually unchanged since 1962 when it was first introduced.

That’s right, except for a cool paint job, a slanted heel piece, a hefty price and a ski brake available in three widths, the venerable Nevada II toe and Grand Prix has remained pretty much the same for more than 55 years. Is it good or bad?

First, I’d say it's remarkable that Jean Beyl’s invention is still state of the art today as it was more than half a century ago. This makes his legacy an everlasting one, just like our “Forever” stamps!

Yet, it's a tragic shame that we haven't made much progress in safety ski binding.

It’s in fact pretty disappointing that creativity seems to have deserted that small, but so important facet of the sport. It also speaks volumes about the platitude of the ski industry. If needed, this is another example of stagnation at its best. Wake up, ski business!

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