The Royal Family
A short while back, Marker introduced the Royal Family of bindings that started with the Duke. The Royal Family addressed the direction skiing was going: wider skis, more interest in off-piste skiing and more interest in touring with skins into the backcountry. This year the Royal Family gets a bit bigger with the addition of the Jester Pro featuring a higher DIN setting and heavy duty torsion bar. Also, Squire will be offered in a Schizo version (fore-aft adjustable).
The Duke and The Baron – touring bindings with a hike mechanism. The Duke has a max DIN setting of 16, The Baron max setting is 13 for skiers as light as 80 pounds.
These bindings combine an advanced, compact multi-release toe and heelpiece with a wide stance for modern wide skis. Most bindings are designed for a minimum ski width of 63mm. Royal Family bindings have a low, neutral stand height and Marker claims the Duke and Baron have the shortest frames of any AT (Alpine Touring) binding on the market.
Then there is the “hike” feature that permits the heel to lift for skinning up to the big lines. At the summit, the binding locks down and transforms into a full alpine binding for the ride back. A new feature for this year is the same hiking feature as the touring bindings with 7° and 13° positions.
A special crampon accessory is available for terrain where skins don’t grip enough.
The Jester and Griffon – these bindings are essentially the Duke and Baron but without the hike feature for touring. They are lower of course (only 19mm above the ski compared to 34 for Duke/Baron) and lighter. New for this year is a height-adjustable toe for alpine boots.
Jester Pro is also new this year. Marker says it is the ultimate binding for competitive free skiers. The toe features a horizontal torsion bar reinforcement and the AFD is fixed to increase retention and power transmission.
Jester Schizo and Griffon Schizo - The clever people at Marker noticed something else about new age skiers — they may spend the morning outside the ropes but the afternoon in the park but the best binding position for the park is not necessarily the best position for powder. Enter the Schizo. The Schizo moves a full 3cm forward or back from center with no need to re-adjust forward pressure. This allows the skier to dial in his stance position for changing conditions or to go from the park to all-mountain skiing. The Schizo mechanism utilizes the Jester and Griffon bindings that do not have the hiking feature. If you get the feeling you’ve heard this all before in the similar-sounding Schizofrantic binding arrangement on K2 skis it’s because Marker is part of the big K2 family of wintersports companies.
The bindings come in a choice of color combinations.
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Jester Schizo |
Griffon Schizo |
The Squire
Squire is aimed at mid-range freeskiers. DIN range is 3-11 for recommended weight of 65 - 240 pounds (30 – 110 kg). It is a light binding built for a minimum ski width of 76mm. It also features the same compact triple-pivot toepiece of the other Royal Family bindings complete with toe-height adjustment to accommodate any size boot sole. Two color choices for Squire. New for this year is the Squire Schizo that offers the same adjustment feature as Jester and Griffon.
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Squire Green |
Squire Red |
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Squire Schizo |
The Free Ten
Same DIN and weight recommendations as Squire, but Free Ten does not have height adjustable toe.
It does have two choices of brakes, 85mm and 100mm for wide skis.
Traditional bindings
Marker has been making bindings since 1952 (founded by Hannes Marker) so of course they also produce a full line of conventional bindings that range from rental to World Cup competition. There are several special features worth noting:
- If the binding features “EPS” it means it has the Edge Pressure System that directs pressure out over the edge of the ski more effectively.
- The twin cam heels have a unique “soft entry” feature for easy step in when on difficult footing such as soft snow.
- Most toe pieces have a multi-directional release mode called Biometric. Biometric works to reduce release values by 25% to 50% in the critical backward-twisting direction, depending on the skier’s settings.
RACE
Comp 16.0 EPS
DIN range 6 – 16, EPS system
Recommended skier weight no lighter than 130 pounds (59 kg)
Comp 20.0 EPS
DIN range 11 – 20, EPS system
Recommended skier weight no lighter than 130 pounds.
Magnesium sole-holders (also on 16.0)
M12.0 TC Comp EPS
DIN range 4 – 12, EPS system
Recommended skier weight 65 – 250 pounds
PERFORMANCE
Marker says this collection combines great performance with attractive cosmetics.
11.0 Glide Control D System (New)
DIN range 3.0 – 11.0
Recommended skier weight 65 – 240 pounds.
M 10.0 CCsi
DIN range 3.0 – 10.0
Recommended skier weight 65 – 230 pounds
M 10.0 EPS
DIN range 3.0 – 10.0
Recommended skier weight 65 – 230 pounds
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