new scarpa boot guess

[jasonq]

maybe jan 22 scarpa announces something new?

if so, what's your guess?

here is my guess

[bobbytooslow]

What's the significance of Jan 22? ISPO?


My guess:




(Just kidding, it will surely have at least 3 buckles, zero carbon, and weigh at least 1500g.)

[jtb]

Want the second but expect the first. I doubt it will get me to replace a boot quiver of F3's and TXP's, but we'll see. For those without an existing NTN/TTN/TTS boot quiver, something that has the tourability of the F3 and the downhill performance of the TXP should cover the market pretty well. Basically a modern TX I guess.

I would like a lower cuff, get rid of the power strap, or maybe combine it with the top buckle like the Dynafit PDG. But that probably won't happen. So looking at the Maestrale for cuff options is a smart guess.

[bobbytooslow]

I actually hope it's something exactly like what Jason sketched up. I'd buy it.

Enough beef to handle ~30 lift serve days a year, good enough ROM for touring days when I actually want some performance on the descents, and a flex pattern suited for tech toes. Kinda like the role the T2X tried to fill. When I'm skinning for vert, I'll be on F1's + TTS anyway, but something like the drawing would pare my boot quiver down to 2 (not counting wacky test mules and redundant pairs waiting in mothballs).

[mo pow]

I guess he is saying January 22 because that is the day before the start of the big ISPO tradeshow in Munich.

[dschane]

Who says it's just one thing new; maybe we get the Maestrale with bellows (I like it) and an F1 with bellows, or an Alien? F'ck it, bellow them all!

[cesare]

(Just kidding, it will surely have at least 3 buckles, zero carbon, and weigh at least 1500g.)

I agree. But if indeed that's what it is, i will be suitably underwhelmed as many of us have achieved that already by cannibalizing parts in our garages.

What ever happened to "whole new paradigm"?

[dschane]

I almost hate to admit it, but I believe that while NTN keeps you pretty locked in for alpine turns, there are times when being all the way locked in has it's place. Certainly nice to have the option! But I suppose that means your copping out a wee bit there....

Meh, whatever gets you down safely is worth its weight in platinum.

I agree with Cesare, but I would also say (and as I've complained in the past) that I am yet to find a bellowed-alpine boot that skis as well as any telemark/NTN boot. There's some about the flex, sole, etc. that isn't as progressively smooth through a deep and aggressive tele turn. So, if Scarpa makes one that is like an F1 or Alien, I'll buy that. And out of fear that they'll Tx it again, maybe I get two!

[bobbytooslow]

The tech heel stuff raises an interesting question: Do we need a proprietary tech heel interface for telemark boots?

Sounds ridiculous, but hear me out. Scarpa won't put standard AT tech fittings in their tele boot heels anymore because people will use them in standard AT bindings with no "puck" under the forefoot, thereby causing BSL shortening, premature release, and dangerous crashes. I don't foresee that problem going away, and I don't see Scarpa pulling a 180.

But the manufacturers could agree to change the interface slightly -- maybe just a wider heel pin spacing or something -- so that it functioned the same way, but only worked in bindings purpose-built for it. Consider it an addendum to the NTN/TTN standard. Bindings sold with the new tech heel interface -- NTN, TTN, TTS even -- would then be assured to have componentry in place to prevent the bellows from flexing.

I know, it sounds like a lot of work. But is there a better path forward (besides groveling on the internet)?

[dschane]

I know, it sounds like a lot of work. But is there a better path forward (besides groveling on the internet)?

I don't which will happen sooner, your suggestion or lobbying every ski state to modify their current legislation that grants immunity to ski areas for ski injuries to include ski boot manufacturers who support the tech tele world with tech heel inserts. I'll get the petition started . . . .

[jasonq]

crazy idea...
scarpa clearly can put rear tech fittings in. And scarpa clearly can do it with an insert in the mold to allow either with or without to be made in a production run.

What if scarpa sold Mgear a special boot with tech fittings with Mgear branding, and wrote the contract with Mgear that they assume all product liability. or any other company that wanted to brand a hybrid boot.

[bobbytooslow]

crazy idea...

Yup. I take that as a compliment.

scarpa clearly can put rear tech fittings in. And scarpa clearly can do it with an insert in the mold to allow either with or without to be made in a production run.

Yup. Which means they likely could also create and place an insert into the mold which accommodates a different heel-pin spacing.

What if scarpa sold Mgear a special boot with tech fittings with Mgear branding, and wrote the contract with Mgear that they assume all product liability. or any other company that wanted to brand a hybrid boot.

Yup, this is another good possible way forward.

[jtb]

Or mold in the mounting area, but force people to buy the insert separately, with a warning that modifying boots that didn't come with inserts voids the warranty and any assumption of liability... kind of like aftermarket auto parts sold for off road use only. IIRC they did this for some TXP's that didn't come with the insert but had an easily removable plug where one could be installed.

[bobbytooslow]

if Scarpa doesn't go for the tech fittings front and back that's a huge loss. I think the hybrid/frankentele world is a huge opportunity for telemark to grow and develop, add new members, keep gear progression moving.

Yes, I think this is a really good point. If 1/4 of Meidjo buyers are getting the tech heel currently, many of them are doing it based on their own research and purchasing (ie they REALLY want it). People aren't necessarily just getting talked into the full meal-deal at ski shops (unless it's a rare shop that carries Meidjo and Crispi, maybe?). If that avenue actually existed, what would the percentage be? 50%? Greater?

So, heck yeah, a complete boot/binding system that can do freeheel and occasional fixed-heel turns would probably be a big seller, and a solid way to help grow the sport (or at least keep people from fleeing the sport). But unless Scarpa has a complete change of heart, the industry needs to find another way to make the boot end of the equation easily obtainable. Hence my suggestion for a system similar to (but incompatible with) the current AT system.

[jasonq]

serious thread drift, but... how about another crazy idea.

the meidjo heel only control vertical release, it pivots freely, and uses the red wings in the spring box for lateral release. How about a heel piece that control vertical release with something on top of the heel plateau, but allowed the heel to slide sideways freely? doesn't seem like that requires a heel fitting to me. easier with a heel fitting, sure, since all the meidjo heel really is is a typical low tech heel with the lateral release spring removed. But it doesn't seem required.