Montgomery, VT (Saturday, October 12, 2002) - A new step-in telemark ski binding is being developed by a budding industrialist in this small Vermont town, located at the foot of Jay Peak. "I strongly dislike the telemark bindings currently available on the market," says telemark skier and inventor Louis Dandurand, "so I decided to come up with a better product."

Dandurand complains that telemark ski bindings with heel cables bind the heel of the ski boot during a telemark turn. This transfers a lot of force to the shovel of the ski changing the turning characteristics of the ski. The other current alternative is to use the traditional front throw three-pin binding, but these are antiquated and just as cumbersome to fasten as the cable or heel throw bindings, according to Dandurand. Also, Dandurand feels that the step-in telemark bindings that have been developed thus far are clunky and unusable.

Dandurand, who is an emergency physician and former Jay Peak ski patroller, started to think of a new telemark binding that would be simple, durable, with a minimum number of parts; and step-in design with an integrated ski brake that would alleviate the archaic practice of using runaway straps. "I had this idea in my head for a year or two", says Dandurand, "so I built a cardboard model one afternoon and took it to a local machine shop and asked... what do you think?" To Dandurand's delight, they agreed to work on the project.

Burnt Mountain Designs' new Bulldog step-in telemark binding.

With the use of a programmable CNC machine that cuts parts from solid blocks of metal, a ski binding was born. Meticulous drawings and design done by Dandurand, followed by some fanatic perfectionism by Cold Hollow Precision Machine Shop, and numerous hours of consultation with machinists Dave and Mat Tryhorne, produced a first prototype that was finished late last season.

"I skied with the new binding on my right ski and the old three-pin front throw on my left ski", remembers Dandurand, "I got some funny looks from some other low riders, but this new binding really worked well."

It needed a few design changes such as an integrated ski brake, redesign of the three-pin pressure plate under the sole of the boot, and some minor changes to the crossbar over the front of the ski boot. But, once those were done, Dandurand had developed a new binding that has a total of seven main parts that he says is light and durable, has step-in design with a ski brake and a built-in one-inch riser, and a grip that holds the toe of the ski boot in "like a bulldog." The binding is also designed with a smooth top surface that prevents snow from sticking between the sole of the boot and the binding on those wet, snowy days.

"I am very happy with the final product" says Dandurand, "I think it will be a big hit with those forlorned low riders that are still skiing on bindings designed in the 'dark ages'."

Dandurand has just returned from an R&D trip to Portillo, Chile. "Telebulldogs rule!" he enthused. "Step up and click, no mess. Firm hold on the toe of the boot, no slop (even with my 3 year old boots with worn out pin holes), smooth ride on ice cream (spring snow) and good carving on groomed surface. They're a solid piece of equipment."

"We're making a couple minor modifications," Dandurand continued, "beefing up the rear crossbar and adding an adjustment feature to the front hinge mechanism to allow for variation in boot sole thickness."

Dandurand's design may be seen at Firsttrax ski and bike shop in Montgomery Center, Vermont.