Advice Needed: Mounting Telemark Bindings position

[vasja]

Hi everyone,

I’m new to telemark skiing and could really use some advice about mounting bindings.

I’ll be using Scarpa TX Pro (2025) boots with Meidjo 3 SR bindings on either a pair of K2 Mindbender 90s or Elan Ripstick 96s (still deciding between the two - any recommendation???).

For those of you with experience, how do you typically mount your telemark bindings? Do you go with the manufacturer’s recommended mounting point (midsole of the boot at the ski’s recommended line), or do you adjust slightly backward or forward for telemark?

I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences—especially if you’ve used a similar setup. Any advice on how the mounting position might affect the ski’s performance would be super helpful!

Thanks in advance!

[Montana St Alum]

I mount boot center over the manufacturer's recommended mounting point. I would never mount aft of that point. I have in the past, and it really slows the responsiveness of the skis. I have mounted forward of that point once, on a pair of Dynastar M-Cross 88's (with a crazy tight 12M turn radius), but that was to optimize them for pure carving. I haven't found that to be necessary on any other ski I've owned.

The variations in degree and positioning of the narrowest part of modern alpine skis is such that the manufacturers have gotten really good at positioning boots for best performance, and with the stiffness of boots like the Tx Pro are such that they can take advantage of that.

OTOH, I think I recall Woodserson mounting aft on the Ripsticks, so he may have input on them.

I'm also on the 2025 Tx Pro and some of my skis are mounted with Meidjos, some with the Outlaw X.

Also, the first 2 or 3 days on the new Tx Pro will make you feel as though you can't drop a knee. The bellows will break in and you will get used to them. Don't panic!

[Stephen]

@vasja, are you in the US?
I might have something you’d be interested in.

[Inspiredcapers]

Theres a thread from last year regarding mouning the Elan Ripstick 96
viewtopic.php?t=5719
I’m currently leaning towards this for mounting mine…

[lowangle al]

I'm a boot center on the makers boot center mark guy.

[phoenix]

I suggest looking at the discussion Inspiredcapers provided the link to. It's quite informative, with lots of good input from experienced skiers here, directly relating to your questions. Short summary as I see it: the majority of folks advocate boot center on recommended line. A smaller contingent prefer sonething closer to ball of foot on recommended line for tele mounts. Much depends on personal preference, and individual ski design. Reasoning for these will be found following the course of discussion in that earlier thread.

[sharykin]

Василий, по поводу установки креплений есть следующие соображения:

Можно, конечно, установить их по заводской метке - середина ботинка над центром лыжи, но, поскольку meidjo довольно активные крепления, то носок задней лыжи будет несколько перегружен. Поэтому. лучше сдвинуть крепления немного назад, на 25...30мм, не более.

[Montana St Alum]

Василий, по поводу установки креплений есть следующие соображения:

Можно, конечно, установить их по заводской метке - середина ботинка над центром лыжи, но, поскольку meidjo довольно активные крепления, то носок задней лыжи будет несколько перегружен. Поэтому. лучше сдвинуть крепления немного назад, на 25...30мм, не более.

"Vasily, there are the following considerations about the installation of bindings:

You can, of course, install them according to the factory mark - the middle of the boot is above the center of the ski, but since meidjo bindings are quite active, the toe of the rear ski will be somewhat overloaded. Therefore. It is better to move the fasteners a little back, by 25...30mm, no more."

There is no way to apply as much forward pressure with any telemark binding, to the front of a ski, as you can with a 130 stiffness alpine boot and an alpine binding (with the heel held down). You just can't apply that amount of leverage.

Its why you can buy a sreel crowbar, but not a bamboo crowbar!