How to Install Marker Ski Bindings

Installing your own Marker ski bindings requires an understanding of your own skiing and equipment, and how you can improve your performance by customizing the bindings. It is a challenging task best done by an experienced skier. Researching your particular Marker binding model will help you install them properly and be safe on the slopes.

What's Your Style? What's Your Equipment?

Knowing your type of skiing--your speed, degree of aggressiveness and preferred type of terrain--will inform how you install your Marker bindings.

Understand your equipment. Make sure you know what type of Marker bindings you have. Marker makes all types of bindings, from freeride skiing to performance, racing and kids' bindings. The placement and installation of the binding is related to its design. For example, be sure you are using freeride bindings if you maximize installation for freeriding.

Read up on your Marker bindings and skis. Performance ski equipment means potentially endless combinations of bindings, skis and boots. If you want to install your own bindings, first spend some time online reading about how your particular combination works together. Again, be sure you are putting racing bindings on racing skis. Backcountry skiing Internet forums are good places to read about the many combinations.

Binding Installation

Look for the "ball of foot" or "mid sole" mark on the sidewall of the ski. Then look for a corresponding mark on your boot and binding. The mid sole is the sweet spot of the ski and considered the traditional starting point to install bindings. For skiing requiring more control--such as tricks and jumps--many people move the bindings forward from this mark from one to a few centimeters. It's just enough to shift the skier's center of gravity toward the ski tips.

Line up the bindings and boots on the ski, positioned either on the mid sole mark or slightly forward. It may help to put the boot on to feel the placement.

Remove the boot carefully from the binding, making sure the binding does not move at all. Mark the screw holes on the skis.

Drill pilot holes in the marked spots. Be very careful to only drill as deep as you need to get the screw in. Also, check the instructions that came with the bindings for what size drill head to use.

Screw in the binding. Put your boot in it and be sure it is firmly installed. Do not overtighten the screws or you could affect your skiing and safety.

Adjust the tension setting of the binding--known as the DIN setting. This is the release point of the skis. Higher settings are for aggressive and fast skiers; lower settings are for more leisurely skiers. Each manufacturer has different DIN settings and you need to check a Marker chart specifically.

Tips

Skis and bindings are expensive, precision sports equipment. Reading up on your skis and Marker bindings before you drill any holes could help protect your equipment. Many technicians put epoxy in holes prior to screwing in the binding to waterproof the setting and protect the inside of the ski.

Warnings

Binding installation done improperly can result in serious accidents. Only take this on if you feel confident in your ability to do it correctly. Installing your own bindings will probably void the manufacturer's warranty. Note that on its website, Marker states it only provide instructions on mounting bindings to certified technicians.