Fritschi Diamir Freeride Plus

Name : Fritschi Diamir Freeride Plus

Manufacturer Web site : http://www.fritschi.ch

DIN release range: 4 - 12

Weight: 2040 g

Binding sizes (boot sole length): small 245-300 mm, medium 280-335 mm, large 325-365 mm

Fritschi have updated their Diamir Freeride for 2007 adding the suffix “Plus” to the name. The Freeride Plus aims to offer the possibility of an alpine binding performance in a touring binding, this means a greater DIN range in effect to allow for more dynamic skiing. Compared to the original Diamir Freeride there’s a new Power Transmission Control (PTC) system and a redesigned front hinge. Basically, the upgrades are supposed to improve downhill performance. The new model keeps the same DIN range of 4-12 with the weight slightly up from 1990g to 2040g. The Fritschi Diamir Freeride Plus won the ski binding category at the ISPO European Ski Awards 2006

The basic principle for a touring binding is that heel section of the binding can be released allowing the foot to hinge at the toe mount. The heel part of the binding can then be moved to stop at different heights to control the angle between the sole of the boot and the ski/slope, basically the higher the stop then the steeper angle of the slope to be climbed. The pivot at the toe allows the skier to slide the ski forward until the sole is flat onto the binding, this is a fairly natural movement similar to walking and relatively simple to master. Climbing skins are fixed to the base of the ski, the bristles stop the ski sliding backward but lay flat in the forward or uphill direction.

On steeper or icy ground and on traverses crampons can be attached, I’ve some Diamir Axion 82’s. The clever feature with these crampons is that they can be fitted before needing to be used, fitting crampons too soon is awkward as you get some resistance when ascending but trying to fit crampons at the last minute is dangerous. Here you can see the crampon in deactivated and then activated mode.

For downhill skiing in general use the binding feels just fine, movements feel directly transferred to the ski so the PTC mechanism seems to work. But, modern alpine bindings are clever things and are engineered to provide instant response and feedback for the skier while minimizing some of shocks coming back from the ski. Measured against this type of modern Alpine binding the Diamir Freeride Plus has some issues, in the most vital area of transmitting the skiers movements from the boot to the ski the performance is good and the feedback is sufficient, the problem is that some excess forces are transmitted back from the ski to the skier. This basically means that when moving at speed on hard surfaces, like an icy frozen piste for example, a lot of chatter is transmitted back to the skier which is tiring and takes some strength to absorb. This is more pronounced with very stiff skis of course.

I’ve got two pairs of Freerides and I’ve had them in daily use now for over two seasons. One pair is mounted on some Stöckli Stormrider XL’s and the other on some Black Diamond Voodoo’s. I think they ski just fine, since the Marker Duke came out there’s been various criticisms of the Freerides that they somehow lack in performance, I just don’t find this is the case, I spend most of time skiing off-piste or ski touring and these bindings just work fine for me. At 2040g they’re at the heavy end of touring bindings but that compares well with the Explore, although the Explore is a lighter binding if you add the brake, as most people do, then the weight comes closer. Doing regular ascents with a binding like the Duke that weighs in at 2600g just doesn’t appeal.

I use my Freerides with AT boots all the time, on the Voodoos I use Garmont Megarides, the flex of the ski and boot matches nicely, while on the Stormriders I use a pair of Garmont Endorphins which are quite a bit stiffer. Mostly I like the weight of the Voodoos and Megarides, it’s a couple of kg lighter than the other combination.
The Good : Behaves much like an alpine binding in most conditions.

The Bad : some increased chatter from the ski/binding which can be tiring

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