Rottefella's Changes
and Improvements to its 08/09
NTN Binding
Introduction of a
shorter plate model for smaller feet tops list; new model apparently
created an opportunity to incorporate design improvements into
existing binding, numerous details also addressed in NTN's sophomore
season |
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Report by Mitch
Weber
September, 2008-- Rottefella's ground breaking NTN binding
will be available in two sizes this season, a "large"
for mondo boot size 26.5 - 32.0, and a new, much anticipated,
mondo 23.0 - 26.0 "small" version. With two standard
spring options in each size, NTN skiers will have four models
to choose from in NTN's sophomore year.
In designing the smaller binding
with its shorter flex plate, Rottefella made some modifications
to last year's binding in order to allow everything to fit, most
notably shortening the spring cartridge "Power Tubes,"
and changing the way they attach to the "hook," the
part of the binding that engages the boot's under-the-forefoot
"second heel." The new approach is said to make it
easier to adjust the
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springs, but more importantly it moves
the redesigned, shorter spring cartridges back approximately
15mm, probably a necessity in the shorter model and likely a
desirable change in the larger model as well. Rottefella says
that moving the rigid cartridges further out from under the area
below the boot bellows results in a "smoother and more even
flex," as does improving the angle at which the cable enters
the spring cartridges, smoothing things out even further, reducing
the amount of required spring travel and allowing the flexible
plate to bend more |
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naturally. In combination with
the reengineered Power Tubes, these changes are said to engage
the springs earlier as the heel is lifted, addressing a criticism
we first heard late last season.
A veteran tester pointed out to
us what he called a "dead spot" in the action of the
binding during transitions. Saying he could feel it while skiing,
off the snow he pointed out to me that his boot heel came up
a good inch or more before the springs began to tension. Big
Tim and I never noticed this ourselves. Chalking it up to a difference
in style (our friend's tele stance is a tad bit more spread out)
we also noted, somewhat ironically, that our respected friend
the veteran tester never skied better in his life than he did
over the course of several rather awesome days we spent together
last season on the NTN binding and in TX-Pro boots. But that's
a story for another day, and like so much in life, there is no
such thing as a universal experience on the NTN; it's safe to
assume that if our friend, the Adrian Monk of tele gear testers,
noticed this dead spot, others likely did as well, so credit
Rottefella for a refinement here.
In the wake of last season's NTN
debut, marred as it was by what one industry insider described
colorfully but accurately as a "perfect storm" of events,
there are stories still to be told, but for now it's time to
look ahead once more. With new NTN boots from Scarpa and Cripsi
already finding their way to dealer shelves, and with an exciting
new high-performance NTN boot from Garmont somewhere between
"just around the corner" and "not far off,"
the industry's commitment to NTN remains strong. And Rottefella
appears to have done its part in the off season as well, with
a number of improvements and refinements in addition to those
already mentioned. For more, check out the latest from our friends
in Norway...
2.5 MB PDF |