Hello <BR> <BR>I've noticed that a number of Pros, most noticeably Chad Sharpe, seem to leave their binding open while riding rails. Can anyone tell me why they do this?

i would think its so they dont have to spend as much time getting in and out of the bindings while winching.

Hmmm...I always thought that they did that because they wore stiff bindings and loosening them would allow them to be able to press better.

^ Ding - we have a winner!

I dont think leaving your laces looser has to do anything with pressing better, when i hit rails i have my boots like i always wear them. If you leave them loose it makes pressing harder because they are less responsive, just my opinion

sure it does. looser laces = more flex side to side which lets you get your weight out over the tip/tail farther and easier.

On Stokemeter recently, Kyle Schmidt said he took off the velcro straps on his LF Soven's so they would release easier on bad falls.

loosening your laces definately adds more flex to the binding....idk how that wouldnt make sense to anyone

because you're not trying to press your bindings, you press your board.

but to press your board you need to get your weight over the nose. and since your shins don't bend in the middle, the bindings need to flex enough to let you get out there.

that way it looks like you're pressing a lot more than you really are

Hype's ERA boots were the preferred park boot b/c they were stiffer than most. But winching and rail riding is changing every day, looser bindings make it easier to press and def release on bails. Not to mention just getting in and out every 30 seconds.

I leave my Laces open a lot when we are winching, just for speed on and off. Other times I will loosen them up to press the shiat out out a rail.

A-dub nailed it, its a lot more of a visual trick.