How to Choose a Ski Binding Mount Point

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The recommended mount point on your skis isn’t just an arbitrary point where the binding is mounted, nor is it a standardized point where all skis of that same length are mounted. The recommended mount point is where bindings work best for a specific ski. Taking into account the end use case and extensive testing, ski manufacturers determine which mount point performs best for a given ski. So with that in mind, it’s easy to see why the recommended mount point will work best for the majority of skiers and skis. It will most likely deliver the best overall performance of that ski. That said, there are variations on the mount point that should be considered, depending on what you want from a particular ski and the type of skier you are.

As mentioned, all skis have a recommended mount point. From that point, which is usually delineated by a line across the width of the ski, manufacturers will also typically include additional mounting points fore and aft of the main line in increments of 1 cm, 1.5 cm, or 2.0 cm. These lines are intended to match the centerline along the bottom of the boot once the binding is mounted. That recommended mount point will perform extremely well for the majority of skiers, but moving the binding mount point only a centimeter or so fore or aft can dramatically affect the way a ski performs.

Moving the mount point forward to a more center-mounted position will give the ski less stability overall, decrease powder floatation (due to less surface area out over the front of the binding), and will not allow the skier to lean into the ski with a more aggressive stance. This is one of a few reasons you might hear a skier talking about the “tips folding on them.” Overall, a center-mounted binding will give the ski a less traditional feel and make it less versatile as an all-mountain ski. What you do gain by moving the mounting position forward, however, is a more playful, pivoty feel that rewards a more balanced, upright stance. This gives you more leverage over the ski and makes it easier to spin, slash, and hockey-stop, and it will generally make the ski more playful. This is why center-mounted skis are preferred by park and freestyle skiers.

While we’re on the subject, it should be noted that true center-mounted skis, which were pretty much standard among park skiers for years, have become less pervasive in recent years. The reason is pretty simple: the disadvantages (for the most part) outweigh the advantages for the majority of skiers who might ski a variety of terrain throughout a typical ski day. This is also due to the fact that moving the mounting point forward—without opting for a full center mount—will help bring some of those more playful characteristics out of the ski without making it a one-trick pony. For example, if you have a ski that feels overpowering or difficult to initiate a turn with, moving the binding mount point forward 1.5 centimeters from the recommended line will help give that ski a more pivoty, easy-to-turn feel, without causing the tips to fold or dive on you when you’re carving groomers or skiing deep powder, respectively.

Once you take into account how moving the binding mount point forward affects how a ski performs, it’s easy to see how moving the mount point back will have the opposite effect. Doing so gives the ski a more traditional alpine feel by putting more ski (read: surface area) out over the front of the binding. What does this mean to you out on the mountain? Well, you can expect more stability at speed, some extra float in powder, and a more receptive platform when leaning forward into your boots and shovels of your skis. Basically, if you’re a more aggressive skier who likes to seek out the fall line, ski fast, and really lean into the shovels of your skis, you may want to consider mounting your bindings back—depending on the ski, of course.

There are also some drawbacks to mounting skis behind the recommended line. It can make turn initiation more difficult and make a ski feel overpowering to an intermediate or beginner skier. It’s helpful to ask yourself a few questions before mounting bindings aft of the recommended point. First, what type of ski are you mounting and how will that change how it performs? If it’s a stiff, powerful ski, then the recommended mount point most likely takes that into account and may actually already be back a bit given its intended use and user.

Before straying from that point, you should ask yourself if you are a strong enough skier to simply overpower that ski at the recommended line? Conversely, if it’s a softer powder ski with a more freeride-inspired design, you should be asking yourself if you want a slightly more traditional feel from that ski, and whether or not it even makes sense to deviate from the recommended line for that particular ski? Are you going to get that more traditional alpine feel from that ski? Are you better off getting a different ski altogether?

Answering what binding mount point is right for you is frustratingly simple: it just depends. Knowing who you are as a skier, what the overall intent of the ski is, and what you want from that particular ski are all good places to start if you decide to stray from the recommended mounting point. However, the best way to know for sure is to simply demo a ski at different mount points to see what mount point you get along with best.

Here at Jans, we give you the option to test different mount points, and we’ll actually apply the demo costs of the ski over to the total retail price of that ski. That means you can spend as much time as you’d like with a ski before purchasing and mounting it without having to pay extra money to find out. And, if you just aren’t sure, or you simply don’t have the ability to demo the skis at a different mount point, it’s always helpful to talk to a ski tech to see what they recommend. At Rennstall, our expert ski technicians have mounted thousands of skis through the years, and they’re an excellent resource to help guide you on the final question you’ll have to answer before your new setup is ready to ski. And if you’re still in doubt after all that, just remember the recommended mount point is always a safe bet.