Bindings query

Hey gents.. new to the site.. western syd noob here

So im 5 days into my “riding” experience.. fortunately for me i had the chance to go all out

purchased
K2 Parkstar 157W
K2 forum bindings in L
lashed boots size11

My issues are a couple.

1) how hard should it be to remove boot from binding, feels as though the heel is “wedged” in?

2) from my rental board (+15/0 stance), with the parkstar i opted for a duck stance +15/-15.. I cant event link my turns properly.. feel as though i have seriously regressed.. on the positive..i only caught an edge once… enough to bruise my medial and cut my trip a day short!

I’ll be going back for 2 more days early sept. And will change the stance back to directional… wondering if there is more to the bindings…. thankfully i bought all local from APS. so if any issues i can go back there…

loving the sport and cant wait to get back out there!

1) Boots should really just pop out with minimal force. A little “wedging” in so to speak isnt too bad, as long as you arent getting pains whilst riding its fine.

2)Bindings angles are a personal preference, adjust them a few times till you find somethign you like. i ride +15/-12 (cant exactly remember which is which) Do not rie at 0 angles!  keep the duck stance

don’t have to go all the way back to zero. Try just pegging back the duck stance a bit…I ride +12/-8ish.

Your boots may be too big for the binding. The box usually has a chart telling you the range of boot size appropriate for the bindings size. Not every brand of boot matches the fit of every brand of binding perfectly either. My 32 lasheds are the largest boot my sized binding suggests and I have wear marks on the heel of my boot from the bindings.
As long as you feel that the tightness of that heel in the binding isn’t making your boot feel uncomfortable, that you don’t have excessive toe overhang, and the binding isn’t actually damaging the boot, then it’s probably fine.

Dial back the angle on the back foot to about -6 or -9 and it will allow you to position your body a bit more open for comfort and turn initiation.

What size was the board you were renting on? If your parkstar is a larger board, it has a slower response time and makes turning initiation and completion slower. The parkstar isn’t a stiff board and has a relatively mellow rocker, so the only other reason you may be having troubles is that you’ve gone back to bad habits like weighting the back foot or using your upper body to initiate a turn - get a lesson!

thanks gents..

Sam NZ - my next port of call was lessons.. ive had 2.. will get a couple more!

Hey Ja-mez, welcome to Boardworld.

Tighter bindings are better than looser bindings. It sounds like the bindings just have a tight heelcup. Size 11 boots in a large binding should be right. Unless it’s causing pressure or discomfort, I wouldn’t worry too much about it. A tight fit in the heelcup is not a bad problem to have.

I agree with dialing back your rear binding a bit. I would take it to -3 or -6 to start with. Having a more directional stance in the early stages of progression should help you initiate your turns. There’s a reason beginner setups use zero or very low negative angles on the rear binding; it enables easier turn initiation.

Have a read of this thread on stance and setup: https://www.boardworld.com.au/forums/viewthread/2597/

Let us know if you have any questions.

My main issue here is why you got talked into a wide board. Nobody needs a wide board unless they are pushing size 13+ boots.

That would make it much harder for you to turn. Your 157 probably has a pretty wide width on the normal board anyway.

If you are coming to Perisher in early September (9th - 16th) hit up the Sundeck and ask for the Boardworld crew (or look for drunken idiots putting stickers everywhere between lunch and about 2pm at the Sundeck) and we’ll help you out as we will be on our Shred week: https://www.boardworld.com.au/forums/viewthread/5539/

TJ.

  As to why i bought a wide board - I had a look around. after reading and getting a bit of advice in store. And was told by a few people to go a wide board… also had to do with weight 90+kg (height 178cm)... However. Interested to know.. I was also offered a “mid wide” DC board… The Parkstar certainly wasnt cheap and sold out almost everywhere ive been. So i cant imagine they were trying to offload it..

regarding the 9th. will definitely drop in on! planning to go down sometime in sept for a short stay. depending on when my footy wraps up!

regards
James

The wide isn’t a huge issue. You definitely didn’t need it but you shouldn’t notice a massive difference. I’ve never had toe over hang on a board - sometimes a very small heel overhang, but every board is a “wide” to me..