Ski leashes

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Ski leashes

Post by Snow_Dog_frassati »

How do the experienced BC skiers on here feel about leashes? I just got some for my skis as the brakes seem pretty sad on my ATK R12s and I was having visions of them skidding thousands of feet into the void. Has anyone ever crashed with them on? I think tomahawking with leashed skis would be a recipe for missing teeth at least. I've also heard they can increase your risk if a deep burial in an avalanche?
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Re: Ski leashes

Post by pvnisher »

I think you've just about got the gist of it.

If you're in an area with cliffs and icy pack and you fall, you're either going to lose a ski, lose some teeth, maybe both. Leash or no leash. Ha.

I don't use leashes, don't really see people use them, but I generally run with the powder crowd and less with the thousands of feet of exposure and cliffs crowd.
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Re: Ski leashes

Post by bergsteigen »

I’ve used leashes for years with my Dynafits that didn’t have brakes, but haven’t used them in a few years with skis with brakes. Loosing a ski over a cliff is why I used them. Plus saves you an hour of digging in deep powder, if they get lost. Look up MoneyMikes’s TR on Pyramid, he lost his ski at the crux, and he got lucky. Or Marc loosing his snowboard on top of Capitol (it stopped in time). Yes, I have also crashed with she skis popping off and bouncing down with me, no tomahawking though, so no damage. Plus I could ski once I stopped, instead of having to walk up/down the couloir at Silverton looking for a ski or two.

Like most things, it’s a personal choice/preference.
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Re: Ski leashes

Post by pvnisher »

What about something like an ice screamer?
Long enough to keep somewhat away in a tomahawk, but not elastic or coiled, and tightly wrapped until you yard sale?

Or is this a terrible late night idea?
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Re: Ski leashes

Post by Bean »

I don't like leashes but I use them on my brakeless skis. Incidentally my bigger skis have brakes and aren't likely to join me on any "must not fall and/or lose a ski" outings. B&D makes a leash that's long and has a fuse intended to break if you beater hudgely or get caught in an avalanche. But rule #1 of skiing in the backcountry is don't crash and rule #1b is don't tomahawk with leashes on so stick to those and you'll be fine.
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Re: Ski leashes

Post by jmanner »

Bean wrote: Mon Feb 22, 2021 6:56 am I don't like leashes but I use them on my brakeless skis. Incidentally my bigger skis have brakes and aren't likely to join me on any "must not fall and/or lose a ski" outings. B&D makes a leash that's long and has a fuse intended to break if you beater hudgely or get caught in an avalanche. But rule #1 of skiing in the backcountry is don't crash and rule #1b is don't tomahawk with leashes on so stick to those and you'll be fine.
I try to follow Mikes Rules... I use leashes on my none-break’d skimo skis. I have lost my skis only once and the leashes were very nice. I clip my leashes onto paracord , since that should break before my legs.
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Re: Ski leashes

Post by NathanRL »

Yeah, I have lighter skimo style leashes and the B&D ones for if there’s any hint of avy danger. The thought of losing a ski and having to boot down is too scary. IMO leashes wouldn’t be a bad idea even if you have brakes if you’re skiing something exposed.
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Re: Ski leashes

Post by Bean »

NathanRL wrote: Mon Feb 22, 2021 2:30 pm Yeah, I have lighter skimo style leashes and the B&D ones for if there’s any hint of avy danger. The thought of losing a ski and having to boot down is too scary. IMO leashes wouldn’t be a bad idea even if you have brakes if you’re skiing something exposed.
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Re: Ski leashes

Post by NathanRL »

Bean wrote: Mon Feb 22, 2021 3:21 pm
NathanRL wrote: Mon Feb 22, 2021 2:30 pm Yeah, I have lighter skimo style leashes and the B&D ones for if there’s any hint of avy danger. The thought of losing a ski and having to boot down is too scary. IMO leashes wouldn’t be a bad idea even if you have brakes if you’re skiing something exposed.
Image
Yeah, I mean losing a ski when putting one on.
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Re: Ski leashes

Post by BillMiddlebrook »

Bean wrote: Mon Feb 22, 2021 6:56 am I don't like leashes but I use them on my brakeless skis. Incidentally my bigger skis have brakes and aren't likely to join me on any "must not fall and/or lose a ski" outings. B&D makes a leash that's long and has a fuse intended to break if you beater hudgely or get caught in an avalanche. But rule #1 of skiing in the backcountry is don't crash and rule #1b is don't tomahawk with leashes on so stick to those and you'll be fine.
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I don't use leashes and all of my setups have brakes.
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Re: Ski leashes

Post by Snow_Dog_frassati »

NathanRL wrote: Mon Feb 22, 2021 11:51 pm
Bean wrote: Mon Feb 22, 2021 3:21 pm
NathanRL wrote: Mon Feb 22, 2021 2:30 pm Yeah, I have lighter skimo style leashes and the B&D ones for if there’s any hint of avy danger. The thought of losing a ski and having to boot down is too scary. IMO leashes wouldn’t be a bad idea even if you have brakes if you’re skiing something exposed.
Image
Yeah, I mean losing a ski when putting one on.
Honestly I think the time my clumsy ass is most likely to lose a ski would be putting it on
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Re: Ski leashes

Post by Vincopotamus »

Several years ago I was at Wolf Creek on a big pow day, using a brakeless setup with dynafit leashes. The snow was great so I was feeling sendy, but being an inept skier as usual, and I came out of my ski(s) over a half dozen times and was able to escape any self inflicted wounds from my 178 cm knives. Probably just lucky.

Also notable, another day I was riding the same setup at Loveland, leashes hooked to the lowest buckle on my boots like always. I lost a ski, and much to my dismay it came untethered from my boot and missiled several hundred vertical feet down into the trees. Fortunately, it didn’t hit anyone and I was miraculously able to find it quickly. That’s the only time they’ve come loose in 6 years but they do make me nervous now.
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