Marker M31 ski bindings

Question
Dear Windlover,

I have a pair of Atomic "B carv-x 9.14" size 160 skis with Marker M31 bindings.  I am wondering if my bindings are still OK.  I was not able to access the link you provided for the list that contains out of date bindings that shops will not work on.

Also, I am wondering if these skis are still right for me.  I know there has been changes in technology and wonder if it is worth it for me to upgrade to new skis.  I used to ski every weekend but that was 10 years ago.  Now I ski probably 5 or 6 times a year and am getting older and want to take advantage of anything that makes my skiing easier.  My husband is a true expert and he often leaves me in his dust.  I ski the same trails but am always falling behind (no fun).

Lastly, my son has started skiing and needs new skis and boots.  I thought of passing my skis down to him but not sure if that makes sense. Not sure how out-of-date my skis are at this point.  They are in like-new condition since I must have spent more time in the lodge than on the slopes since I got them.  I would guess they are perhaps 7 years old?  Can't really remember?

Answer
Hey Julie,

I've recently discovered that the list is no long available to the public for free. It costs $99 to join the NSSRA to get the list for free. I'm not a retailer and don't have a reason to pay for the list. So, you would need to call around to your local shops to see if they are members of the NSSRA (National Ski & Snowboard Retailers Association) and have the list of indemnified bindings. They should be willing to check your bindings to the list as it could provide a potential sale for them if the bindings are no longer covered by the manufacturer.

To be clear, just because a binding isn't covered by the manufacturer, that doesn't mean that there is anything wrong with the bindings. They just won't take any liability if something goes wrong with them. Kind of like a warranty expiring. If you have taken good care of your bindings and they work well, no reason you can't keep using them.

As for your skis being right for you, yea, technology has advanced and new skis always make us feel good. As for keeping up with your husband, it may or may not be the skis. Could just be that your hubby likes to go really fast and you don't want to go that fast. If you do want to go that fast, then having some higher performance skis might be just what you need. If you don't want to go that fast, talk to your husband about slowing down once in a while to spend some quality time with you. It will make both of your skiing experiences better. I like to go fast but I also really enjoy sharing the pace that my wife likes to ski. We are best friends when skiing, biking, windsurfing, etc, because we do it together.

As for your son using your gear, there should be no reason he can't use it for a few seasons. The boots may be an issue if they don't fit right but the skis should work fine for him to get him to the next level. Just be sure the bindings are adjusted for his size and weight.

Hope this helps.
Keep on skiing,
Windlover