Is this riser-plate bullshit really needed on these old sollys?

**DaffyJeffy** · 02-22-2015, 11:40 AM

I've been skiing Salomon Lords this year and I really like'em. I like'em so much I bought my wife a pair of Salomon Ladys (same exact ski with a girly topsheet). I was rummaging around in my pile of hoarded solly bindings looking for a pair suitable for my 125lb, 5'4" wife. This is what I found: Old (I'm thinking early 2000s?) S810 with a 3-10din.

I'm 99% sure the riser-plates are unnecessary. I see no mechanical reason why they would be needed but I know the experts on here have vast knowledge on vintage bindings so I thought I'd run it by you guys first.

I'm not at all concerned about the indemnification issue - I've been working on my own gear since the 80s.

Also, I'm sure some smartass will say "why don't you just get her some new bindings?". Well, I don't have the money (I live at a ski resort and skiing is my priority, not collecting money and shiney things). Brand new bindings are not an option. If someone on here has something suitable they want to sell, please chime in. Thanks!

**rod9301** · 02-22-2015, 12:20 PM

The riser plates do two things:

Prevent hittting the outside of your boot on the snow, at very high edge angles, this losing an edge. Probably not important.

Puts the combined gravity and centrifugal force closer to the ski edge, which improves edge hold.

For a detailed explanation, ron lemaster has a great book, ultimate skiing.

**DropCliffsNotBombs** · 02-22-2015, 12:24 PM

You can mount those without the riser plates if you want to but there are some problems:
1. The lifter has a ramp built into it, so your boot will be flat or toe-high without it.
2. ALL of the screws will be too long. And that binding has four totally different screw types so matching them up out of a misc. screw bin will be difficult.

**DropCliffsNotBombs** · 02-22-2015, 12:34 PM

Originally Posted by rod9301

The riser plates do two things:

Prevent hittting the outside of your boot on the snow, at very high edge angles, this losing an edge. Probably not important.

Puts the combined gravity and centrifugal force closer to the ski edge, which improves edge hold.

For a detailed explanation, ron lemaster has a great book, ultimate skiing.

I think what rod9301 means to say here is that lifter plates simply provide more leverage when edging and prevents booting out.
Yes, they do. But no, it doesn't matter anymore on most modern skis.

**mntlion** · 02-22-2015, 01:27 PM

Originally Posted by DropCliffsNotBombs

ALL of the screws will be too long. And that binding has four totally different screw types so matching them up out of a misc. screw bin will be difficult.

yes, you can also grind ALL the screws shorter, if you dont have more/can't find more screws

**DaffyJeffy** · 02-22-2015, 01:54 PM

Yep, I know I'll have to grind the screws to length - no big deal there.

Good catch on the ramp angle, I didn't notice that! I put my calipers on the front riser and there is only a difference of .015" from the front to the back (oddly the slight slope angles back toward the heel-piece...weird). I can't imagine .015 is significant so I could mount the toe directly to the ski. The heel-piece is another story: It ramps forward, decreasing in height by .160" (almost 3/16"). I could take some white plastic (kitchen cutting board material) and make some shims on my tablesaw with a taper jig I suppose.

I would only be getting her 1/2" closer to the ski for all this work however. I'm wondering if it's worth it. If you aren't familiar with Salomon Ladys (Lords). They are a partial-twin tip 128/87/115 all-mountain skis with a bit of early rise rocker. What do you guys think? Would this set-up suck? I absolutely hate skiing with risers. I want bindings flat as can be (like old solly 957s). I think this is because I'm a mogul skier and any rise seems to slow the ski down edge to edge. Makes me feel like I'm skiing in high heels. But that's always been my personal bias.

**ZomblibulaX** · 02-22-2015, 01:57 PM

Or, you could just mount them with the plates. Even if your wife doesn't angulate like Ted Ligety, those risers are pretty unlikely to be detrimental to her skiing. Ditching the risers might improve ski feel a little bit, but its only 14mm. I say mount them as is.