Meidjo Release, Maybe, Maybe NOT

[connyro]

Earlier this season I crashed in the same exact way that you described in your original post: loose snow on top of who knows what, twisted to the side due to tip getting hung up in heavy stuff. I landed on my back after realizing what was going on and attempting to collapse and disengage my non-twisting leg to relieve the stress. My knee popped out a little and was funky for the next month but nothing that kept me from skiing. Like you, it happened on a mellow slope near the bottom where I usually let my guard down. I remember thinking to myself that with a little more speed and less situational awareness, I would have hurt myself badly. I was skiing long skis with hammerhead bindings, so not supposed to be releasable.
Hope you heal well and get back at it when healed.

[Manney]

Dunno what time of day, but the phrase situational awareness reminded me of something read this morning…

NSP, MD commented on frequency of accidents between 3-5 pm. So predictable, guy used to do his sessions earlier, grab his rescue bag, and be on the hills patrolling by late afternoon. Claimed fatigue, sun angles and changing temps to blame. Probably hill, location dependent. Interesting thought tho.

[DG99]

In contrast, both serious accidents happened on gentle terrain with loose snow.
I think the gentle terrain gave a false sense of safety, but maybe more importantly, kept the skis in an orientation where they had more leverage on my legs.

That’s a good point. Lower angles aren’t necessarily safe. It’s the speed, momentum, force and a crash that gets you, not really slope angle. Deep stiff snow doesn’t help either.

My “strategy” came because I was skiing parallel mostly anyways on steeper slopes, and enjoy the ease of alpine skiing anyhow. And like that DIN release. Less time in non-releasable tele bindings (or questionable releasable), especially at a resort when there’s a lot of descent going on. Plus I think I fall less on alpine…. maybe. Lower angle or mixed terrain OTOH I find awkward on AT gear, much more fun on tele (Voile Switchbacks).

Anyways seems I’m hedging my bets on injury, kind of as a side effect.

[Montana St Alum]

Rotational speed, or how great an instantaneous impulse is Vs. a slow torque that is applied may play a factor. When I alpine skied, I used a DIN about 7 for rotational release. At that setting, I could rotate to take off a ski if I did it fast, but there was no way I could slowly rotate out of the ski.

[Manney]

Lots on the binding Stephen was using… what tension setting? what ski, length? ski edges tuned, detuned… recently?

Edit… Really interesting discussion on this forum. Stumbled on it when searching for “Meiji 3.0 release”. Don’t own those but looked at them a lot.

https://www.backcountrytalk.com/forum/b ... se-testing

[randoskier]

Sorry to hear that Stephen.

A good doctor would not have asked- “When was the last time you ate?” He would have asked- "When was the last time you had a beer?" Then offered you one.

I think you will return to skiing and telemark skiing at that; but all the pins and needles take some time to do their magic, and then have to be extracted. My wife got three pins ( 3pins!) in her foot in a complex fracture (Lisfranc) at 61 years old and she was skiing 100% again the the very next season (and she's a girl). She did the same with torn meniscus surgery 4 years before.

I am sure you will ski next season too.

Feel better brother and keep the faith.

[Stephen]

Thanks for all the positive encouragement!
Even though I don’t know people on a face to face basis, the support does make a difference.
I think all of us value our athletic mobility and recognize the impact the lose of that has on someone else (empathy). With all the negativity in the news cycle, it’s nice to be reminded of the better part of humanity!

Armada Tracer 118mm 195cm skis might have worked against me in this case.
I had been digging these skis, but didn’t need them that day.
Any of my ~180s would probably have been just as good for the conditions and better re: leverage.
I may have contributed to the situation by forgetting to switch my boots from walk to ski mode.
I know some people prefer walk mode for skiing, but think either way, the key thing is consistency.
I was not particularly enthusiastic about the “mission” for the day. Once I was up there, it was looking great, but, to be honest, the day just didn’t have that crystal focus.
Weather started out a little funky, I thought about postponing the trip one day, but didn’t.
Can’t second guess every choice.

[Manney]

One step ahead of me. Was going to ask about mode. That would have made a difference in binding release pressure by the sound of it. Maybe your experience will help others. Convince them that “use as directed” is meant to enhance the experience. Written by ppl, manufacturers who do know their product, use, and lims. Not being harsh on you… you might have just forgot to switch modes. Can happen to any of us..

Don’t beat yourself up on ski choice. Modern ski. Not straight cut 215s or anything. Maybe better suited to other conditions… But we all get to choose our lines. Easy to get mentally sidetracked after repeatedly long ski sessions. Almost zombie mode unless the conditions are exceptionally good or bad. Like driving a truck on the same route, over and over.

[Stephen]

One step ahead of me. Was going to ask about mode. That would have made a difference in binding release pressure by the sound of it. Maybe your experience will help others. Convince them that “use as directed” is meant to enhance the experience. Written by ppl, manufacturers who do know their product, use, and lims. Not being harsh on you… you might have just forgot to switch modes. Can happen to any of us..

Possible misunderstanding here…
I was talking about the BOOTS being is walk mode, not the BINDINGS.
I think skiing boots in WALK mode is fine, if that’s what one prefers.
In my case, the difference in boot action (compared to what I’m used to, with them being is ski mode for skiing, and walk mode for skinning) MAY have thrown off my coordination, without my noticing it.
Or, I may just be clumsy…

[Manney]

Bad patch of snow. Could happen to anyone.