In skiing, a
ski binding is an attachment which anchors the ski boot to the
ski, and exists in several variations:
- The cable binding, where the toe section of the boot is anchored, and an adjustable cable around the heel (for which there is a groove in the heel of the shoe) securs the boot. Used for cross-country (to a certain extent), Telemark and ski jumping.
- The Rottefella, where a lip at the toe section of the boot is clamped to the ski. Used for cross-country skiing.
- The NNN (New Nordic Norm), where a bar in the toe of the shoe is hooked into a catch in the binding. Used for cross-country skiing.
- The Alpine safety binding, where the shoe is firmly clamped to the ski at the toe and the heel, but to prevent damage, a mechanism yields if the forces at the binding points are over a certain preset value. Used for Alpine skiing.