As most of you blogsters know, Dynafit Manaslu skis began last winter with a useful insert system specifically configured for mounting Dynafit bindings without a jig or drill. I just heard from Salewa NA and they’ve improved explication of this system with the following stickers.
Main thing to remember about the Dynafit “pre drilled” skis is you usually do not need to drill the inserts, you just fire a screw in and make sure you don’t over-torque. Indeed, you make SURE you do not over-torque. Note these inserts are not designed for constant swapping of bindings, as the type of screws used for binding mounting eventually eat up any threads they make in the holes (unlike machine screws and threaded metal inserts.) More, it’s not uncommon for an insert to become a “spinner” during screw removal thus necessitating time consuming and expensive repairs.
During binding installations, note that sometimes the insert bores are clogged with resin from the factory molding process, check for that with a small sharp probe. If you find some of the holes clogged, drill out with standard binding mount bit.
Manaslu binding insert stickers above.
Verbiage from Dynafit follows:
Manaslu insert system increases binding holding strength by 25% and allows simple and quick mounting of Dynafit bindings. Again, it’s a Nylon plug inserted into the Pawlonia and Synthetic stringers in the ski’s core. The plug is larger diameter than the pre cut holes in the Titanal top plate. The Nylon holds the binding screws 25% better than wood or synthetic core would…..and allows the bindings to be simply screwed onto the ski…with the Titanal top plate and hole selection….serving in place of a JIG. This is NOT an insert system like K2 and Voile that you can use over and over to change bindings daily.
More regarding WildSnow.com. It appears we’re playing with the big boys. Turns out a mainstream magazine has a sticker on the Manaslu that says it’s an editor’s choice, and, a WildSnow.com top choice! We love it. Only I’d hope anyone looking at Manaslus has already surfed WildSnow and learned about the ski here — but if not, the sticker will remind them where to head for the best info on the web.
WildSnow.com publisher emeritus and founder Lou (Louis Dawson) has a 50+ years career in climbing, backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering. He was the first person in history to ski down all 54 Colorado 14,000-foot peaks, has authored numerous books about about backcountry skiing, and has skied from the summit of Denali in Alaska, North America’s highest mountain.