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From: lowell@fluke.UUCP (Lowell Skoog)
Newsgroups: net.rec.ski
Subject: Re: Left ski and right ski?
Message-ID: <937@vax1.fluke.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 18-Mar-85 14:24:02 EST
Article-I.D.: vax1.937
Posted: Mon Mar 18 14:24:02 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 20-Mar-85 06:28:48 EST
Organization: John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc., Everett, WA
Lines: 30

Most ski companies make no distinction between left and right skis during 
production.  There's a good chance that both your skis came out of the same 
mold.  Then they were matched according to flex.

This leaves the bindings.  Most, if not all, of the bindings made today are 
designed according to DIN (German) standards.  This means they are compatible 
with your DIN standard boots, and that they are symmetrical--there is no left 
or right binding.

If your boots have different lengths, then it may be necessary to adjust the 
fore-aft position of the heel pieces differently.  This is usually done by 
moving a toothed clamp--not by drilling the binding holes differently--so you
can easily check it.  If they are different then you do have a left and right 
ski.  Most likely, however, your heel pieces are adjusted identically, and the 
minor variations in boot length are accomodated by the binding springs.

The last consideration is the toe and heel hold-down adjustment.  This is also
easy to check.  Unless your boots are worn very differently (do you hop 
through the parking lot?) this adjustment will probably be the same for both
skis.

You will find that ski shops are very cautious on this subject.  They will
refuse to mount your bindings unless they have both your boots, so they can
make fine adjustments.  They don't want to be sued.

As for me, I regularly switch my skis from one foot to the other.  This way 
they get beat up evenly.  

				    Lowell Skoog
				    Somewhere at Crystal Mtn, Washington