The new Rottefella XPLORE OFFTRACK Binding system

[The GCW]

As I asked:
"SO, I've been wondering about a locking heal on the Rotte's NNNBC. -wouldn't that be great?"

bgregoire, responded,
"No, not really, then how would you telemark?"

Answer: don't connect the heal.

bgregoire,
When using a Dynafit binding, the toe is connected and the heal is free. The toe has different settings of that front toe lever... but the concept is similar to the new Rotte' syestem, perhaps.

It's not a far fetched difference to conceive an addition technological advancement to include a form of heal lock.

This is a link regarding an advancement in Nordic skiing front toe pieces and involving Rottefella's design and seems appropriate to include some of those type considerations. -Especially acknowledging similarities which already exist.

It's an awesome inclusion for different types of people who enjoy getting out on the snow trail.

For telemark skiers, it is awesome because You will be pleased by not engaging the heal.

For skiers who don't telemark... it is awesome because they will be pleased to potentially use a system which may in the future offer sublime KICK & GLIDE realities with engaging the heal for modest downhill enjoyment.

[fisheater]

You are aware that you can have ball of foot flex and heel lock with the Meidjo with optional heel lock?
Also once you lock the heel is locked, the risk of injury is increased. Therefore the binding you propose should probably be releasable.
Lastly this is a forum of Nordic skiers. We enjoy free heel skiing. There isn’t a lot of corporate investment in our sport, and now Rottefella is introducing a new system for us, Nordic skiers. We are pretty happy.
I personally have no complaint there is not a fixed heel option. I know many Telemarkers have been clamoring for a new lighter weight Telemark boot, but all the investment is for AT gear. Maybe you will find a more sympathetic ear on the AT Forum. I don’t wish you any Ill will, I just really hope Rottefella spends money on Nordic gear. Dynafit is doing well, maybe they can put together a consortium for even lighter AT gear.

[Ullr]

Here is an interesting test of the system: https://braasport.no/blogg/fjell/forste ... -off-track

Some highlights for non Norwegian readers:

Binding

• Similarities to Dynafit P49

• 3 flexes: flat, soft and hard

• Easy in and out

• Easy to change flexes

• More control than the BC or 75mm systems downhill

• Did not miss heel cable

Boots (Alfa Free)

• Hidden anklesupports

• Very stiff with tightened BOAs. Similar feeling to ski-skate boots

• Stiffer than other BC/75mm boots on the market today

• Much torsional stiffness

[bgregoire]

Thanks Ullr for the link and english summary. This is good. What were are hoping and expecting mostly. Looking awesome.

[WVbcskier]

For those concerned about the spring loaded boot pins a similar system has been used in an ultralight Dynafit race boot/binding combo for a few years now. Yes that’s an AT setting and I’ve never personally used it, just pointing out (as the Norwegian article above) that it’s not entirely new so probably is more reliable than most might think. This is not like other Dynafit systems with the pins on the binding and the sockets in the boot as someone seems to be confusing above. As a solid AT backcountry skier who also noodles around the mountains on XC (3 pin and NNNBC) I find this setup very intriguing for a gap bridging system where I’d like something more than XC but feel like AT is overkill and thus far I’ve found most relevant systems to be just too heavy. My lightweight AT setup is pounds lighter than lightweight tele setups even vaguely approaching similar skiability. I also greatly prefer a free pivot for extended uphills.

[Rodbelan]

The thing is... this video (with Cecilie and A Gamme) is not eloquent at all (closer to marketing BS, selling dreams...) I'll wait to see more. Not saying that the stuff seems like crap, on the contrary...

[Television]

The thing is... this video (with Cecilie and A Gamme) is not eloquent at all (closer to marketing BS, selling dreams...) I'll wait to see more. Not saying that the stuff seems like crap, on the contrary...

I'm assuming it was not a wet dream you had there buddy. Fully sub-zero.

[Krummholz]

I did a zoom in on the mechanical operation of the binding. When the release is pushed down you can see the wires on the side of the binding push the toe pin in to its receiver, releasing the boot. I wonder how much force it takes to release the pins from the binding with a ski pole when your upside down in a tree well. Something I hope I never have to try with my 3 pins.



Taken from the fftv.no video

[boby13]

Found the Rottefella 2021-2022 catalog
https://issuu.com/rottefella/docs/katal ... 22_-_issue

Looks like the weight is not 530g per pair but 374g per pair!

Also there's a mounting jig, so we have a peek of the mounting pattern.

[oggopoggo]

GCW,
There have been some intermediary designs. Moonlight TTS had the option of the AT heel and on the TTS 'telemark only' they had the "Loipis heel locator" alignment of the free heel to pins. The first Scarpa tech boot had the bellows for the AT market and finding their market with telemark skiers, removed the tech heel to prevent people from locking down the heel.

When you "telemark" with an AT boot as they exist today it's like walking with a limp because you can't properly weight from your tip toes. That said, it would have been nice to have a telemark system the weight of an AT system all these years. As you know, from this site there are all kinds of ideas, many great, that never went to market or indirectly such as the Ramer mountaineering binding that led directly to the Dynafit binding. Some guys have to cobble together their own ideas rather than wait.