Ski Leashes / Straps
I tend to favor ski leashes over brakes for my skis mounted with Dynafit
bindings. This is due primarily to the fact that Dynafit doesn't make brake kits that are wide enough for most of my
skis. However, ski straps also provide a very handy tool for helping you step into your Dynafit bindings. You
can pull on the the strap, and put maneuver the ski with it, putting a little upward pressure that helps to align the
toe of the boot with the toe clamps.
Ski straps can be dangerous in avalanche terrain, however, because
if your skis remain attached to you in an avalanche, they can pull you down, causing you to be more deeply buried in
the slide. Most commercially available ski straps that I've seen are so strong that they would not be likely
to release in an avalanche.
Another problem I have with typical ski straps is that they are too short. You have to
undo them whenever you need to get out of your bindings to skin up or remove skins. Also, in a fall, short leashes keep
your skis right next to you, beating you with the skis as they fly around.
My solution to these issues was to make my own straps. I used a long powder cord from EK
(their "powder cat" cord) for the strap.
To attach it to my boot, I use a plastic snap hook. The snap
hook is strong enough to keep hold of the ski during a fall, but weak enough that the strong forces of an avalanche would
break it and release me from my skis. (That's the theory, at least. I've never actually been in an avalanche to
test this theory.)
The snap hook attaches to the toe of the boot with a simple piece of cord run through the toe
where the tounge piece is connected.
When I'm skiing, I just tuck the excess powder cord into the cuffs of my pants or into my gaiters,
so it stays out of the way. The powder cords are long enough that I can keep them attached when I've got the skis removed
for skinning up etc. This is good, because it prevents loss of the ski when you aren't wearing it.
I've used this system for quite a while, and have found it to be the most convenient solution
to the problem of keeping my skis under control if they release.
