Ski brakes catching

[nhskier1969]

Has anyone had their ski brakes catch together while skiing? I bought new skis this year and the brakes caught together several times, once in the woods. I ski on a 108 under foot ski with a Look pivot binding. Problem with this binding is the brake and binding are one piece so I can't replace the brake. Has anyone had luck bending brakes? Looking for any suggestions, its pretty scary when falling face first in the woods because of the brakes catching.

Thanks,

 

[thetrailboss]

I haven't had that issue, but my brakes do sometimes get stuck and don't retract all the way. You are right that you can bend the brake legs a bit. I need to do that on mine.

 

[Edd]

Never had that happen on quite a few pairs of skis but that sounds scary.

 

[dblskifanatic]

Your brakes must be considerably wider than the ski. It is best not to go more than 10 mm wider than the underfoot width. Actually very close to the underfoot with is best like for 108 then maybe 110

• Ideally, the brake width will be slightly wider than the waist width of your ski, but the two widths should be as close as possible. However, brakes are designed to stretch about 8mm, so the brake width can also be slightly narrower than the ski's waist width. Conversely, you never want the brake width to be more than 12mm wider than the waist width of the ski. If there is too much overhang, brakes can get caught on your snow pants, hook onto each other, etc.

 

[nhskier1969]

Your brakes must be considerably wider than the ski. It is best not to go more than 10 mm wider than the underfoot width. Actually very close to the underfoot with is best like for 108 then maybe 110

The brakes are 110mm.

 

[drjeff]

Keep your skis minimum knee width apart... it's not the 80's... knees together doesn't work with modern ski widths... problem solved

 

[BenedictGomez]

Keep your skis minimum knee width apart... it's not the 80's... knees together doesn't work with modern ski widths... problem solved

I was waiting for this reply. N=5. I would have lost taking the under.

 

[machski]

The other question you need to ask and then verify is what type of soles do you have on your ski boots? Some sole/binding combos don't work and that would include the brake design. Some of the touring style boots may present issues in non touring bindings. I would look at you boot locked in your binding and see if there is any issue with the brake plate being fully pressed down. Then obviously look at the arms and see if they are splayed out too wide from the heel of the binding.

 

[nhskier1969]

Keep your skis minimum knee width apart... it's not the 80's... knees together doesn't work with modern ski widths... problem solved

Easier said than done, especially in the trees.

 

[nhskier1969]

The other question you need to ask and then verify is what type of soles do you have on your ski boots? Some sole/binding combos don't work and that would include the brake design. Some of the touring style boots may present issues in non touring bindings. I would look at you boot locked in your binding and see if there is any issue with the brake plate being fully pressed down. Then obviously look at the arms and see if they are splayed out too wide from the heel of the binding.

I have touring gear. I don't have any problems with my Salomon shift touring bindings.

 

[Dickc]

Has anyone had their ski brakes catch together while skiing? I bought new skis this year and the brakes caught together several times, once in the woods. I ski on a 108 under foot ski with a Look pivot binding. Problem with this binding is the brake and binding are one piece so I can't replace the brake. Has anyone had luck bending brakes? Looking for any suggestions, its pretty scary when falling face first in the woods because of the brakes catching.

Thanks,

Take them to a trusted competent ski shop and have the boot/binding interface examined. Something may not be right and a good shop can identify what is wrong, and may have easy fixes, and WILL know about bending the brake arms. It might be something very simple. It might cost $25 bucks for a check, but its way cheaper than skiing into a tree!

 

[nhskier1969]

I have touring gear. I don't have any problems with my Salomon shift touring bindings.

I meant to say my other pair of skis have touring bindings

 

[machski]

I meant to say my other pair of skis have touring bindings

So I take it you are skiing your Look mounts with touring boots then? If so, it's worth taking a look at them locked in on the bench. I didn't mean to say you'd have problems with a touring setup, obviously a touring boot and binding are designed for one another.

 

[dblskifanatic]

So I saw earlier that you have brakes that are 110 on a ski that is 108 underfoot. I am surprised that you are able to hook them. Are they bent out maybe. when locked in does the brake lift high? Like the post above mentioned - take your ski and lock in your boot and look at the brakes position. I have never had that happen and the brake width seems perfect.

 

[Hawk]

The problem is the Look Bindings. I hate those things. Go with Salomon or Marker and you won't have any issues. It is crazy to think you have to change your skiing style to accommodate a binding.

The other option is to Saws-all off one side of one binding and it won't catch anymore. ;-)

 

[JDMRoma]

make sure your forward pressure is set correctly ! Ive had the ski brakes move when its not set right !

 

[Mt_Wawasee]

2019 atomic redsters (165). happened multiple times over last two years. And although I don't ski
like the 80's as mentioned above, I do ski like the 60's/70's so knees are locked as they should be.

ski shop was able to bend the brakes a bit and that seems to help

 

[Altaski]

Has anyone had their ski brakes catch together while skiing? I bought new skis this year and the brakes caught together several times, once in the woods. I ski on a 108 under foot ski with a Look pivot binding. Problem with this binding is the brake and binding are one piece so I can't replace the brake. Has anyone had luck bending brakes? Looking for any suggestions, its pretty scary when falling face first in the woods because of the brakes catching.

Thanks,

I Have! I went to Mt Bachelor in Oregon and demoed some Volkl Kendo 88 skis. I wanted to buy them. The ski tech said to get Solomon Warden 11 bindings. I inquired about others which he said he was out of stock, and besides, you don't need a more expensive binding as the Warden 11 has your DIN setting of 8. What he FAILED to do was tell me the feature differences of the Warden 13 which he also had. This is the one he talked me out of due to price alone. The one thing he forgot was to inform me of ski brake types! The Warden 11 brakes fold straight up, leaving about half an inch out past the edge of the ski. This one is for intermeadiate skiers, not to be used much on steep hills as the brake can catch on your other ski or pants and cause an uncontrolled crash. It's because the downhill ski is quite a bit lower than the uphill ski when transitioning in a turn. The Warden 13 brakes fold in against the heal piece. This keeps the brake tucked in so it can't catch on the other ski or pant leg.

I found out the hard way with the improperly recommended Warden 11 since I am and disclosed expert skier and hurt my shoulder bad. Just had an MRI done.

 

[deadheadskier]

I have this issue with my Pivots and have to consciously ski that set of skis with a wider stance in bumps than I prefer.

For as great as Pivots are, their brake design blows. They should redesign them and also offer them in 10mm increments, not 20mm.

 

[Altaski]

Keep your skis minimum knee width apart... it's not the 80's... knees together doesn't work with modern ski widths... problem solved

Just get bindings that the brakes fold up and in against the heel.