ACL / MCL-FRIENDLY. WITHOUT PRE-RELEASE.
The engineering behind ACL / MCL-Friendly Howell SkiBindings is actually simple (1).
During ‘slip-and-catch’ events that are the primary cause of skiing ACL and MCL ruptures — the center of the key component of the injury-producing forces enters the ski, laterally, immediately behind the projected-axis of the tibia. This special location where the center of the key slip-and-catch forces enter the ski is NOT sensed by ordinary 2-mode alpine ski bindings (NOT also by turntable-pivot bindings — no boot can release through the side-lugs of a pivot-turntable; NOT by ‘diagonal heel release’): there’s no possibility of release, no matter the setting. But this same specially-located slip-and-catch force produces a large abduction-moment centered within the ACL and MCL.
Pop — a $20,000-to-$50,000 injury that typically requires ACL replacement surgery; 8 to 10 months of aggressive physical rehab; lifetime osteoarthritis starting 5 years after injury. Even highly rehab’d World Cup ski racers never return to full athletic performance. On top of the severity — MCL and ACL injuries are the most frequent injury in skiing — and women incur 3-times more than men.
☀️ However, a binding with ADDITIONAL lateral-heel release can respond to the unique position of slip-and-catch forces IF properly tuned and IF the special lateral-heel release mechanism is compatible with the non-standardized geometry of the heel of the boot.
Ahhhhh.
HOWEVER — A BIG HOWEVER — a specially-tuned, properly-configured lateral-heel release mechanism that provides ACL and MCL friendly skiing MUST also NOT pre-release. Howell SkiBindings uniquely provide key know-how and key intellectual property to block pre-release without high settings in all 3-modes of release (2). Anti-pre-release is uniquely and decisively provided through Functional Decoupling between each of the 3-modes of release — plus Functional Decoupling between the other key structural-functions of ski-bindings — maximal edge-control and indifference to ski-flex. Other bindings don’t have Functional Decoupling because Howell-patents block them.
Double ahhhhh — an $800 investment in Howell SkiBindings provides all skiers with healthy, friendly skiing — though 100% prevention is impossible. ( $80 pre-order, 30%-off net upon shipment Oct 2023 )
Lifetime limited warranty.
Meanwhile, Howell SkiBindings will leverage 48-years of inside-ski-binding-industry experience — including 19-years of biomechanical research — to begin shipping Howell ACL/MCL-Friendly bindings October, 2023. ☀️
( Further meanwhile — a key workbench tool — the Howell ACL/MCL-Friendly Test Device — is available now for those who wish to test the interaction between any ski-binding and ACL / MCL integrity. See Catalog. The scientific validation presentation is also available, now $19. See Catalog. )
$80 pre-orders for bindings, placed now, receive 30%-off full-price plus FREE Shipping** in October, 2023.
Full-price pre-orders for bindings, placed now, receive FREE mounting, FREE testing & FREE shipping of skis, boots & bindings (both-ways).
All pre-orders are fully-refundable at any time.
To pre-order, click a photo of a binding-model (above), or a sub-link (below); activate the drag-down for the $80 pre-order; click-through the order-sequence.
Howell Venus DIN 2.5–8 Extra ACL / MCL-friendly for women. Patented.
Howell Mars DIN 5–16 Decisive ACL / MCL friendliness, anti-pre-release, powerful edge-control. Patented.
Howell Planet-B DIN 8–22 Titanium. CAUTION: EXTREME SKIERS & RACERS ONLY. Maximum retention / maximum edge-control. Patented.
Anti-pre-release. ACL / MCL friendly.
FLAT-OUT SKIING CONFIDENCE.
It was inevitable.
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(1) Validated by scientific-committee peer-reviewed biomechanical research promulgated, performed and/or presented by Rick Howell at:
IOC (International Olympic Committee) World Conference on Prevention of Injury and Illness in Sport, Monte Carlo, Monaco, 2017 (research performed and presented by Rick Howell). Slide show of Howell-presentation to the IOC is available: see Catalog;
ICSS (International Conference on Science in Skiing) Voukatti, Finland, 2019 (research performed and presented by Rick Howell);
SITEMSH (International Society for Snowsports Medicine) Flachu, Austria, 2016; Inawashiro, Japan, 2017 (research performed and presented by Rick Howell);
ESSKA (European Society of Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery and Arthroscopy) Barcelona, Spain, 2016 (research performed and presented by Rick Howell) — published in British Journal of Sports Medicine. See Catalog;
ISSS (International Society for Skiing Safety) Pontresina, Switzerland, 2003 (research promulgated by Rick Howell; performed and presented by University of Montréal PhD biomechanical researchers);
ISSS-Niigata, Japan, 2005; ISSS-Aviemore, Scotland, 2007; ISSS-San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina, 2013; ISSS-Cortina, Italy, 2015; ISSS-Innsbruck, Austria 2017; ISSS-Squaw Valley, California, USA, 2019 (research performed and presented by Rick Howell).
(2) Validated by 47-years of on-slope and laboratory research, scientific-committee peer-reviewed and presented at ISSS (International Society for Skiing Safety), San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina, 2013 (research performed and presented by Rick Howell).
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Howell SkiBindingsPO Box 1274 • Stowe, Vermont 05672 USA
1.802.793.4849 • rick.howell@howellskibindings.com
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Copyright © by Rick Howell and Howell SkiBindings, 2020. All rights reserved. U.S. Patent 9,463,370. Other patents-pending. Content subject to change without notice.
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* 'ACL/MCL-Friendly', 'Anti-Pre-Release', 'It was inevitable.', 'Howell SkiBindings', ’Howell SkiBinding’, ’Howell Ski Bindings’, ’Howell Bindings’, 'Howell Venus', 'Howell Mars', and 'Howell PlanetB' Howell Planet-B’, ‘Functional Decoupling’ — are (sm) Service Marks of Howell SkiBindings.
** $20 is automatically added to orders that are to be shipped outside of USA.