Salomon Skiing SP 900 Equipe Racing
Salomon Skiing SP 900 Equipe Racing
USER REVIEWS
[Dec 20, 2003]
DruMatthias
Double Diamond
Strength:
The Propulse series in general, especially the first generations as are shown here work well in combination with straight skis, and that's about it. The point of the Propulse wasn't so much to dampen vibrations as it was to enhance the camber of the ski, making it more rigid, and therefore supposedly aiding in holding an edge from tip to tail throughout a turn specifically. Makes sense right? Rigid center (under foot) + straight ski = full, consistent edge length contact from stiffened camber. Here's why they're terrible for shaped skis (read weaknesses).
Weakness:
Since the main purpose was to stiffen up the camber of the ski, the very force that a shaped ski has to be allowed to flex in order for the hourglass shape to take full (or any) effect in greatly improving a person's turning ability. If the camber is stiffened as the ski enters the turn, looking for give, or flex in the center of the ski to force the tip and tail to create a 'shoveling' effect, scooping out a turn with minimal effort, then a binding like the ProPulse works directly against a shaped ski's purpose. You end up fight a stiffened center with a created, excess amount of camber, rather than using a flat mount binding (plate or no) which allows the inherent flex of the ski to actually flex, letting the ski do the work for the rider, rather than the other way around, like straight skis do. I have not physically used this binding myself, and fortunately, I didn't have to sell them as they pre-dated my ski shop years by 2-3, but I have repaired and thrown away more pairs than I can remember (and I have a good memory). My best friend was one of the unfortunate people I new personally that bought one of the final pairs of these as they were being blown out at cheap prices due to their anti-shaped ski effect, which is what he put them on, making the ski all the worse...Wanna follow my logic? Here's how they work properly (read strengths). Similar Products Used: I've used/own S900's 977 Composites and Equipes (currently on both my twin tips) and S912s from 2 years ago. They all rock with very little change in the effect and release of the binders, despite the several year span between them all. My advice, if you're keeping them on a straight ski, great. Just don't take them off and remount them to a shaped ski just to save a few dollars and believe that it will work the same way in your head. It won't, simple as that. You're better off with an old pair of Salomons or Markers (or whatever else) with/without lifters, even ones older than the ProPulses if your intention is to get with the times and go shaped. Think about it, and choose wisely! |