The Amstutz Spring
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Johnny
- Site Admin
- Posts: 2256
- Joined: Wed Dec 18, 2013 5:11 pm
- Location: Quebec / Vermont
- Ski style: Dancing with God with leathers / Racing against the machine with plastics
- Favorite Skis: Redsters, Radicals, XCD Comps, Objectives and S98s
- Favorite boots: Alpina Alaska XP, Alfa Guards, Scarpa TX Comp
- Occupation: Full-time ski bum
The Amstutz Spring
I discovered this a few years ago and it has been stuck in my head since then. They would destroy my soft Alaskas but they could be really fun on my super stiff Asolo Extremes. I know they are impossible to find, a piece of museum. But I might build one myself with a NTN tube and an old front locking binding... I can see a world of opportunities in this 86 years old invention. It could turn any cowboy boot or Chuck Taylors into a nice telemark binding...
In 1930, Walter Amstutz invented the famed Amstutz Spring. At the time, the standard heel strap of a ski binding allowed far too much up-and-down movement for good control in downhill skiing. Walter's Amstutz Spring attached to the back of the boot by a strap and to the top of the ski by a hook; the coil spring steadied the heel going downhill yet allowed it to move up enough to accomplish the kneeling required in a telemark turn and it was fairly convenient for brief spells of walking about as well. He sold 10,000 of them.
In 1930, Walter Amstutz invented the famed Amstutz Spring. At the time, the standard heel strap of a ski binding allowed far too much up-and-down movement for good control in downhill skiing. Walter's Amstutz Spring attached to the back of the boot by a strap and to the top of the ski by a hook; the coil spring steadied the heel going downhill yet allowed it to move up enough to accomplish the kneeling required in a telemark turn and it was fairly convenient for brief spells of walking about as well. He sold 10,000 of them.
/...\ Peace, Love, Telemark and Tofu /...\
"And if you like to risk your neck, we'll boom down Sutton in old Quebec..."
"And if you like to risk your neck, we'll boom down Sutton in old Quebec..."
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Johnny
- Site Admin
- Posts: 2256
- Joined: Wed Dec 18, 2013 5:11 pm
- Location: Quebec / Vermont
- Ski style: Dancing with God with leathers / Racing against the machine with plastics
- Favorite Skis: Redsters, Radicals, XCD Comps, Objectives and S98s
- Favorite boots: Alpina Alaska XP, Alfa Guards, Scarpa TX Comp
- Occupation: Full-time ski bum
Re: The Amstutz Spring
WOW! This store is my new paradise...! Woooaaaah...!
I was thinking more of an permanent hook on top of the boots... Sort of like a smiley plate on which you can hook your favorite springs and cartridges...
Not sure how it would react though... I try to imagine the feeling of a spring in the back of the boot, and it doesn't feel quite right... Who knows, it could be the next new cool-cool tele feel...
I was thinking more of an permanent hook on top of the boots... Sort of like a smiley plate on which you can hook your favorite springs and cartridges...
Not sure how it would react though... I try to imagine the feeling of a spring in the back of the boot, and it doesn't feel quite right... Who knows, it could be the next new cool-cool tele feel...
/...\ Peace, Love, Telemark and Tofu /...\
"And if you like to risk your neck, we'll boom down Sutton in old Quebec..."
"And if you like to risk your neck, we'll boom down Sutton in old Quebec..."
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lowangle al
- Posts: 2816
- Joined: Sat Jan 11, 2014 3:36 pm
- Location: Pocono Mts / Chugach Mts
- Ski style: BC with focus on downhill perfection
- Favorite Skis: powder skis
- Favorite boots: Scarpa T4
- Occupation: Retired cement mason. Current job is to take my recreation as serious as I did my past employment.
Re: The Amstutz Spring
I would attatch the spring to a power strap and wrap that around the cuff of the boot.
I always thought a that something that would limit how high you can raise your heel would help beginners. It also seems like it would create a lot of tip pressure. I'm surprised that this would interest you Johnny since you are not a fan of cable bindings.
I always thought a that something that would limit how high you can raise your heel would help beginners. It also seems like it would create a lot of tip pressure. I'm surprised that this would interest you Johnny since you are not a fan of cable bindings.
Re: The Amstutz Spring
A bit of a thread-drift....
As a kid in the early '50s, my dad fashioned some "cable bindings" to augment the leather toe strap on my Northland wooden skis. Three wood screws and a piece of rubber innertube, w/ one screw ahead of the toe and screws on the sides for heel retention. At the time I was skiing in rubber overboots, so any improvement was a bonus.
As a kid in the early '50s, my dad fashioned some "cable bindings" to augment the leather toe strap on my Northland wooden skis. Three wood screws and a piece of rubber innertube, w/ one screw ahead of the toe and screws on the sides for heel retention. At the time I was skiing in rubber overboots, so any improvement was a bonus.
"everybody's a genius" - albert einstein