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Oh dear god Elliot! The sales on ski equipment made me do a VERY BAD THING!!! I found the Völkl Mantra 102s for $480. AAAAAAAAND….i found the matching Marker Jester 16 bindings for $220!!! $700 for a pair of Volkl Mantra 102s WITH bindings (good ones)! I’ll have to pay to get the bindings mounted, $100 local, so a complete set for $800….I’m happy. And broke.

I am looking for a ski for early season.. One that can make very quick turns.. I will be on groomers but can turn to crud really fast with a ton of people.. I looked at the SE review on the Deacon 80 and this review came up.. I think 170 is probably my target length.. I am glad that you talked about the risers.. My race skis had risers and I thought they were there so that my boots wouldn't hit the snow when I am making a turn... I also saw a review on how demo bindings have risers and how you can make wider skis carve if you have the risers.. I have been thinking about that and my wider skis with risers do seam to be able to get on edge quicker.. My Stockli SR 105 do not have risers and they still really carve well but it takes more effort.. The other thing about those skis is even though they have a larger turn radius they do get squirrely and they will get squirrely at high speeds if I am skiing them flat.. I really need to pay attention on the catwalks.. I don't think that has anything to do with the risers because I have a wide shorter turn radius ski with risers that gets squirrely if it is not on edge..

Has someone told you already, you could be Waldorf or Statler easily 😂😂😂

I got the look pivots on a great sale late this spring, and can't wait to try them

I like watching Downhill, but doing it or Super G doesn't appeal to me, the high impact crashes like yourself that is. Watching GS & Slalom is my favorite, and GS would be my best discipline I think. Quick turns whether on the groomed, trees, or moguls, w/some Sends mixed in is my favorite! Nothing wrong w/long arching carves or straight lining of course. Thanks for keeping our minds in the Ski Game even though I was mtn biking today. Watching your reactions was fun crashes like that give me the willies too yikes!

Sobering for sure. Agree on the low reward to risk ratio personally. Totally agree on the vibratory sensation and sound of skiing on ice. 😮

I can't watch the slowmo on this. It just hurts. I've broken something like 50 bones, I have a rough idea of the pain he must be in. I just cringe.

Thanks Elliott. I watched the officials inject the WC Kandahar downhill course at Chamonix. It was brutal to ski after the race - like really rough textured ice. And I thought the east Coast was tough for race courses.

Agree that his legs were compromised further up the track. It says he broke both legs. It also says American, Steve Nyman, Crashed in this race. Not sure if American Travis Ganong won this race but this French racer is #20 and Ganong was in the lead. Rare for a downhiller 20 or after to win.

Wengen and Kitzbuhel. In my observation, Europeans wouldn't give them up.

After the fence stopped him and he slumped, I was trying to see if one of his legs looked twisted in an unnatural direction, like just below the knee. The footage is difficult to see.

I hate watching crash videos too, in particular downhill super fast ones where the skier is flipping and flopping 😬 These are a good opportunity to appreciate the risks and dangers involved though, and it's good to mix in some technique analysis too. Thanks Elliot! Happy 4th!

Thanks For Watching, hope all my American Watchers have a great and Safe 4th of July!

this video convinced me to go for trailer hitch ski rack. Thank you so much for the great info

Elasticity is the key with the pivot Look. More elastic travel gives the binding better shock absorbing capability and boot to binding retention. The heel has great upward travel as does the toe, The toe is old Geze technology with a universal type joint which allows the most travel in all direction including up. So Din for Din Look is a much safer choice than brand x. The best part is the short mount pattern from toe to heel allowing a more natural flex counter flex of the ski. In other words less of the ski is stiffened by the long binding placement of conventional step ins. The screws on a pivot heel are under the heel not behind it, Plus edge to edge it has superior transfer due to the number of boot to binding contact points at especially the heel. So it is safer while giving outstanding turn initiation. Plus it is light weight. There is always that esoteric logo consciousness in skiing equipment choice. What do I want to be seen on? The latest fad, hip looking thing? Or the best performing given my personal criteria? With skis they are all flat on the bottom and turned up at the end. Constructions vary but not by much. Geometry and sidewall stiffness give the ski most of its personality then flex. You can feel differences in skis. Not so much bindings. But on paper, by design and in the real world use by skiers who really get after it there is only one choice. Look pivot.

I would like to see you demo some Dynastar. All are made in France. And of course Kastle!

Critics be damned. I’d love to be able to ski close to your ability. But I just turned 75 so that’s not happening. Maybe your dad should be my role model.

Thanks for this session! Love the comments and advice on balance. For a critical reviewer you are amazingly non-judgmental. Great topic.

Unless one is independently wealthy, most of the world is going to have to live to some degree and some manner "pleasing others, meeting expectations" in order to make a living and function. Some manage this path without much fuss. Others delete themselves from the earth.

'Compartmentalizing' is very important, I fail to see the need to Troll YT content makers. I don't like the channel I move along. While Ski Monster isn't my taste, I'm not going to waste either of our time w/negativity. Sure while my friends & I raze each other if we eat sh!t on the mtn, we're always supporting each other & pushing each other's skiing abilities. As a 53 yr skiing w/guys half my age who're faster & better, it's quite a thrill. Being the best of the non-Tahoe skiers in my group inspires & motivates me!

I'd never seen 'Backseat Donnie' as Mosley calls him until I was laid up w/a skiing injury late Jan and discovered him. His hilarious videos did help get me thru an injured stuck at home wknd! I saw him and some of his buddies skiing shirtless in overalls at Squaw in May, but I missed the Warren Miller crew :(

with pats on here saddleback and sugarloaf should 100% be on this list. i have nothing against pats it is the mountain i grew up on and i love it but it is no where near the level of other mountains that didn't make the list. Its just simply to small and the only actual difficult trail is hurricane the other ones are really mid.

Feels like social media is almost as big or even a bigger part of their persona than their performance. Just being well rounded and public facing and super dialed all the way through is so stressed nowadays. That's gotta be tough, especially given the young age at which a lot of athletes find themselves in the spotlight. It's a good reminder we have little business commenting on the steps, or missteps, of young athletes. Hopefully sponsors are supporting the mental health of their athletes in a big way, the bar has maybe never been higher for them

Thanks for watching everyone! Let me know what you think of Ski Athletes being all over Social Media?

Not a skier but I subscribed 😊

Elliott, the Look Pivots have 10mm of adjustment. Next year the V2.0 will allow 20mm of adjustment.

The Wrangler doesn't have any metal in it, surprised it holds up as well as the Maverick.. Did you ski it in any firm conditions?

So Look pivots have more elastic travel than any other binding. They also have more contact points between the boot and binding. Finally they also have a shorter mounting points related to the distance between where the front and rear portion of the binding is physical attached to the ski. This provides a different flex pattern compared to other bindings.

FWIW, Cinco De Mayo was a huge spring dump in the Sierra this spring. Deep ( like 3 ft to 6 ft in the drifts ) heavy snow, I was on 120mm Voile V8's. Not sure any ski would not have struggled on that day.

Thanks for your reply Elliott ~ I did go with the Meier Wranglers. Should receive them in Sept or Oct - cool that they're making them to order. Again, thanks so much and I made sure to let them know that you sent me.

You missed the Pivots main feature. You can twist your foot out. It separated lateral forces from twisting forces. Check out the old school MRR Marker explodamat. Same thing. Best binding ever ng ever

Hey I never expected my question to make it into one of the videos! Thanks a ton man for taking the time to respond and give your insights into the matter. It helps a ton. I ended up going with a pair of Tyrollia Attack 14's. I have the 11's on my Skiblades but also have a pair of Pivot 15's on my skis from last year. I bought a pair of new Mirus Cors on sale and had been dancing around if I should get Pivots or Attacks for them and came to the conclusion that with my current skill set the money spent on the Pivots just wouldn't be justified so I snagged the Attacks for 200$. Hopefully I made the right choice. I guess we will find out this season! Thanks again Elliott!

Look Pivots- park and free-ride guys love them for less pre-releases and better ski feel but expensive. Tyrolia Protectors- safest for your knees, smooth ride, expensive, high stand height and a bit heavy. Marker Griffon- industry standard, solid connection to the ski but hard to get into especially in deep snow due to the one piece heel mechanism. Atomic Strive and variants- 2nd best connection to ski, 2nd best elastic travel, 2nd lowest stand height. Tyrolia Attack- cheap, light, easy to get into, lowest stand height but a bit less precise ski feel. All good options really. My choice would be Protectors for piste applications, Pivots in the park, and Strive for all-mountain. Feel free to add your thoughts!

Oh geez this is so bad it’s funny. Totally agree with you Elliot!

Hey Elliot, viewer from Australia here, very much enjoying the content and jealous of you yanks having access to so many mountains and so close to your homes. Question: have you ever looked at boot liner sleeves ( for example found at Patriot premium ski footbeds ) or any other boot additives to help with comfort/performance?

Tune shop tech here: Get pivots, they will outlast your skis they are the best on the market

Pivot 14’s and below aren’t all metal, just an FYI. You’ll see when you try em out when you pre release in a hairy situation and if you get back to a better-balanced position, you’ll snap back into the binding, it’s a very odd feeling. Also, the new Pivots are releasing later this year. Shops have begun posting pics on IG.

Really enjoy your videos. Thank you. I was wondering how you would rate these skis (Atomic Maverick 88 TI) for the East coast? I realize that is a generic question but you are very familiar with east coast conditions. I mostly stay on groomers but I am considering these skis because of their groomer performance and ability in the glades, off trail etc... Short background. I really enjoyed Kendo 88 this season on the east coast but I agree with your video about how they are difficult to change turns quickly (definitely noticed this when I went into the glades). The enforcer 94 was fun but a little too much of a ski for me. They were fun but exhausting (possibly because of bad form etc...). I tried the QST 92 and 98 in Alaska for more powder (not super deep on the days I went but enough to enjoy some float) and I loved them but then I tried them on the east coast and they were tough for me to be comfortable on (once again, could be due to bad technique). I would say I am almost an Intermediate skier but that is my opinion haha. Thank you.

Funny you mention picking up an 88 or 92 width ski, watching your channel awhile now has caused me to consider this. I do enjoy carving and a Ti88 sounds like a good idea if we're stuck w/a wk of bulletproof. I did have a pair of 21/22 Head Kore 93s but lost 1 in the woods in deep powder; I am going to hunt for it soon!

Thanks Elliot! I think you've convinced me the QST 106 or the Rossi Sender 110, I've noted how much you LOVE QST 106 and I do like that it's Sendy. I'm a Tahoe skier SugarBowl & Palisades are my home mtns. The Revolt 104's a lot of fun very playful w/the twin tips yet I could straight line powder in them, until +3ft anyways! I have a young friend who rips them in corn snow, I love them in the mashed pot, it's pretty much a ripper ski except in anything hard. It's my 53rd bday today thanks for the shout out!

Got two sets, new in the box. Rossi FKS 18s.

ALRIIIIGHT! I have to admit i like that opening to your videos.

7:15 Basically Pivots should feel rather smooth, due to the amount of elastic travel, and more friendly in a rougher terrain. Also some people say that the drill pattern for mounting the binding is quite tight, so the binding allows ski to flex more naturally. Also, too little elastic travel and you can have unexpected binding releases in some situations. I personally had one incident in the spring slush this year, when my Salomon Shifts were set with slightly too low DIN, and I left one ski into a slush bump due to heel release. For example same low DIN on a Marker Griffon would have been just fine.

Nice summary of the topic. Most of us are probably fine on almost any binding on the market. Slight nod to pivots since I have not ever had to adjust the DIN due to prerelease like I have with other bindings, but there's a lot of factors at play there so who knows. fyi- bobleisure used to have deals on pivots, might still occasionally. Mine showed up dinged but were "only" 250

As a certified binding mechanic I always recommend high quality products from all the manufacturers that being said those made of alloy metals last the longest for those high end skiers that put them through hell and the recreational skiers that have 30 to 40 skier days per year buy junk buy twice 🇨🇦

Love the Piviots. Been skiing Look for 30+ years.

Ive had the look 12 binding from 2010, they lasted really long with good performance. They broke after I was training for nose butters, the metal base plate broke from metal fatigue. So they lasted 13 years or around 150 ski days. Ive bought the look pivot 15 last year and they feel good. Have not had any real crashes to test them out tho, but build quality seems good. I regret getting the colorful almost pride looking ones, hard to match with rest of ski gear, so I would just go for gold or black ones.

Atomic strives are a MUCH more affordable and stylish pair of bindings. They also have a very close amount of elastic travel that the pivots are known for.

I love the pivots and SPX. im a wanna be free ride skier doing spin tricks in most conditions at fast speeds. Pivots 15/18s have veritcal toe release aswell. I have had pivot 15s outlive the skis they are on. i ski look spxs aswell on my beater park skis and i have some griffons on my wildcat 108s. if you get a powday to try some revolts get some 114s to try. my favorite snowbird/alta ski.

I’m sure mine is not a popular opinion but I don’t see the plus side of the look pivot bindings. There is nothing about a normal binding that does not allow the lower leg to “pivot” at any pivot point necessary and not just the Look pivots “one” pivot point. I see it as a constriction. Also, similar to other bindings, it does not allow the heel to eject straight sideways, except that pivot arm is to the side of the boot blocking it worse than a normal binding in an attempt to eject sideways.