Edge Control

    Edge Control is the function a ski-binding supplies when putting a ski up on edge — for turning.  A good binding must supply powerful edge-control so that there is a nearly 1-to-1 correspondence between skier-movement and ski-edging, starting the instant a skier initiates a turn and all throughout the turn.  Some turns must be performed on ice:  there must be no chatter caused by poor edge control of the binding.  Powerful edge control is necessary for skiing performance.

    In aeronautical terms, edge control is in the 'roll'-direction.  A binding supplies edge-control based on the width of the toe cup, the width of the heel cup, the width of the heel pad, the width of the anti-friction-device (AFD), and the magnitude of the hold-down force — the DIN-setting at the heel.  The toe cup cannot clamp down on the toe of the boot — because the torsional release function would not function — but for high-performance skiing and racing, the toe cup of the Howell 880 Pro and the Howell 888 Max are designed to block free-play in the roll direction in order to assist the heel with edge control. 

    Almost all pin bindings (some skiers call then 'tech bindings' — but they are hardly 'tech') do not come close to providing good edge-control on firm snow or ice.  Alpine bindings far out-perform almost all pin bindings when it comes to edge-control.

    The hold-down force supplied by all alpine ski-binding heel-units is cross-linked between the edge-control function and the forward-release function.  Therefore, to maximize edge-control — not only are the binding’s contact surfaces as wide as possible — so also is the leading-edge of the AFD located 4.75cm aft of the tip of the ski boot's toe projection to shorten the forward-release fulcrum — so that the hold-down force of the heel becomes higher than all other bindings even when the forward release-moment is the same as other bindings.  

    Additionally, the leading edge of the AFD of Howell SkiBinding is straight — so that during ski flex, the boot sole maintains full-contact across the full-width of the AFD.  

    Howell SkiBindings are the only bindings that block chatter during carved turns on ice — at chart-settings!  

To Order by $80 Reservation-Deposit:

Howell Venus   DIN 2.5-9   Extra female friendly.

Howell Mars   DIN 5-16   Decisive ACL friendliness, anti-pre-release, powerful edge-control.

Howell PlanetB   DIN 6-22   Titanium strength.  CAUTION:  EXTREME SKIERS & RACERS ONLY.

PO Box 1274    •   Stowe, Vermont 05672  USA
1.802.793.4849  •  rick.howell@howellskibindings.com  •  www.howellskibindings.com