Mounting Your Own Heli Ski Bindings

Mounting your own ski bindings has long since been seen as a difficult and intimidating process. Even experienced heli skiing veterans sometimes prefer to take their gear to a shop, rather than do it at home. The process however is not overly complicated, and can be achieved with only a small selection of tools. It is the consequence of messing up the task that is the real reason people are so cautious about taking on the project themselves. So before you begin, make sure you are confident with your tools, and if in doubt, maybe practice with some old gear beforehand.

Begin by snapping one of the binding’s toe pieces onto a ski boot. Now center this boot on the skis using the midpoint markings in the place of normal installation. Center the boot along the width of the ski with the help of a ruler.

Now use a finely tipped marker to mark the position of the toe piece on the ski with a dot through the screw holes. Keep the binding and boot stable on the ski during the process – avoid them slipping around. When you’re finished you can take the boot out of the binding.

Taking your electric drill, choose a slightly smaller bit than the size of the screws that came with your bindings.

Before drilling ensure that you know to what length to drill down until. If unknown, this information can be found from your manufacturer or a ski professional. When you have the correct distance, drill into each marked spot with care.

Take some water-soluble glue, and squirt some into each hole. Do not fill the holes all the way up to the top. Next, lay on the toe pieces so that the holes line up. Now you can screw them down in place. Once the glue has dried completely check that the screws are held fast.

Again, snap your boot into the newly installed binding. Use your marker to mark at the base of the heel.

Now go through the same process for your heelpiece. Align it up with your markings, and center it on the skis using a ruler. Mark through the screw holes and remove the piece from the ski.

Drill another set of holes and repeat the gluing process. Once set solid, test out the boot in the binding. Now you can repeat the whole process for your other ski.

The whole process will not take very long at all, and as long as you are confident in drilling into your skis (a lot of people won’t be with their new skis!) then it’s actually one of the easier things to do. The inherent risks are obvious though, so if in any doubt go to your local ski shop.

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