Ski binding: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

In skiing, a ski binding is an attachment which anchors the ski boot to the ski. There are different types of bindings for different types of skis:

Cross Country, Telemark

• The NNN (New Nordic Norm), where a bar in the toe of the shoe is hooked into a catch in the binding. Also exists in the more rugged BC (Back Country) variant. Two small ridges run along the binding, corresponding with slits in the boot.

• SNS Profil (Salomon Nordic System; Marketed by Salomon) Looks VERY similar to NNN binding except it has one large ridge and the bar is narrower.

The NNN and the SNS are very easy to mistake for each other but are incompatible.

NNN (New Nordic Norm)
View of binding looking towards the catch in the front	View of boot looking at the tip of the sole
SNS (Salomon Nordic System)
	View of boot looking from the heel of the sole

• 75MM (3-pin) This is the original, classic system found on cross country skis. In this system the binding has three small pins that stick up. The toe of the boot and has three holes that line up with the pins. The boot is then clamped down by a bail. This is the traditional system; and is more affordable for beginners.

• The cable binding (aka Kandahar binding), where the toe section of the boot is anchored, and an adjustable cable around the heel (for which there is a groove in the heel of the shoe) secures the boot. Used for cross-country (to a certain extent), Telemark and ski jumping.

• The Alpine safety binding, where the shoe is firmly clamped to the ski at the toe and the heel, but to prevent damage, a mechanism yields if the forces at the binding points are over a certain preset value. Used for Alpine skiing.

Modern ski bindings are based on the Fennoscandian model of the 19th century. The bindings of Telemark ski and cross-country skis were developed from the Ugro-Lapp type. See History of skiing.