Nava System
Encyclopedia
The Nava System was a ski binding
offered for sale in the 1980s. The system used a combination of flexible sole plate to keep the boot centered, and a spring-loaded plastic arm that was used to transmit sideways motions of the leg to the ski. This eliminated the need for a hard shell on the boot; the Nava boot was soft and resembled a knee-high winter boot. In spite of numerous endorsements by racing stars, the system never caught on and sales ended by the late 1980s.
The design eventually found its way to Pier Luigi Nava, an avid skier whose company produced motorcycle helmet
s. Using injection moulding
construction techniques used for the helmets, Nava was able to develop a polyurethane boot plate that replaced the former metal models. Metal plate bindings were popular in the 1970s, but the hard plate was difficult to walk on and subject to wear; Nava's soft plate eliminated both problems.
Nava first showed the system in April 1983 in Italy, and started sales in the winter of 83/84, and Canada in 1985. Frank Vener, an American who marketed a number of European brands in the US, started Nava Leisure USA and started sales in February 1986. The system sold for $450 in the US, easily at the high end of the market.
Early reviews were generally positive. In addition to the comfort of the system, reviewers also noted how easy it was to ski all day long without the discomfort of normal boots, let alone the additional ability to walk normally in the boots off the slopes. However, it was also noted that system did not function well if one skied backwards, and also failed to transmit fore-and-aft forces that are sometimes used, especially in bumps.
The company hoped that the high price would not be a barrier to skiers who were tired of putting up with sore legs and feet. This did not turn out to be the case. After two years of sales efforts in the US, the Nava system disappeared.
The other function transmits sideways motions of the leg, rotations around the sole, to the ski. This allows the skier to rotate the ski onto its edge, initiating a turn. With conventional boots and bindings, this is accomplished by using a very stiff plastic locked around the lower leg. When the leg is rotated, the cuff transmits the rotation through the bindings to the ski.
The Nava System eliminated the stiff cuff and replaced it with a stiff "control arm" that connected to the upper leg. It extended straight up from the rear of the binding and was topped with a semi-circular cuff that fit the back of the thigh. When the leg was rotated to the side, the cuff transmitted this motion through the arm to the binding. The boot was eliminated from needing to transmit the forces. Nava claimed this resulted in more direct control.
To enter the binding, the skier rotated the arm rearward, stepped into the binding, and released the arm so it rotated forward onto the calf. When the skier removed the bindings, or fell and was ejected, the arm rotated all the way to the ski, and the top section became a brake.
Ski binding
A ski binding is an attachment which anchors a ski boot to the ski. There are different types of bindings for different types of skiing.-Universal designs:...
offered for sale in the 1980s. The system used a combination of flexible sole plate to keep the boot centered, and a spring-loaded plastic arm that was used to transmit sideways motions of the leg to the ski. This eliminated the need for a hard shell on the boot; the Nava boot was soft and resembled a knee-high winter boot. In spite of numerous endorsements by racing stars, the system never caught on and sales ended by the late 1980s.
History
The system was invented in the early 1970s by an Italian architect and skier, Antonio Faullin. He patented the design and sold the production rights in the mid-1970s. No production commenced, and the design was subsequently sold off to a number of manufacturers.The design eventually found its way to Pier Luigi Nava, an avid skier whose company produced motorcycle helmet
Motorcycle helmet
A motorcycle helmet is a type of protective headgear used by motorcycle riders. The primary goal of a motorcycle helmet is motorcycle safety - to protect the rider's head during impact, thus preventing or reducing head injury or saving the rider's life...
s. Using injection moulding
Injection moulding
Injection molding is a manufacturing process for producing parts from both thermoplastic and thermosetting plastic materials. Material is fed into a heated barrel, mixed, and forced into a mold cavity where it cools and hardens to the configuration of the cavity...
construction techniques used for the helmets, Nava was able to develop a polyurethane boot plate that replaced the former metal models. Metal plate bindings were popular in the 1970s, but the hard plate was difficult to walk on and subject to wear; Nava's soft plate eliminated both problems.
Nava first showed the system in April 1983 in Italy, and started sales in the winter of 83/84, and Canada in 1985. Frank Vener, an American who marketed a number of European brands in the US, started Nava Leisure USA and started sales in February 1986. The system sold for $450 in the US, easily at the high end of the market.
Early reviews were generally positive. In addition to the comfort of the system, reviewers also noted how easy it was to ski all day long without the discomfort of normal boots, let alone the additional ability to walk normally in the boots off the slopes. However, it was also noted that system did not function well if one skied backwards, and also failed to transmit fore-and-aft forces that are sometimes used, especially in bumps.
The company hoped that the high price would not be a barrier to skiers who were tired of putting up with sore legs and feet. This did not turn out to be the case. After two years of sales efforts in the US, the Nava system disappeared.
Description
A ski binding has to provide two types of support. One is a locking function that keeps the ski under the boot, but releases when too much strain is placed on the binding (as in the case of a fall). In the Nava System, this was provided by the sole plate and the ski bindings, in the same general way as any modern binding.The other function transmits sideways motions of the leg, rotations around the sole, to the ski. This allows the skier to rotate the ski onto its edge, initiating a turn. With conventional boots and bindings, this is accomplished by using a very stiff plastic locked around the lower leg. When the leg is rotated, the cuff transmits the rotation through the bindings to the ski.
The Nava System eliminated the stiff cuff and replaced it with a stiff "control arm" that connected to the upper leg. It extended straight up from the rear of the binding and was topped with a semi-circular cuff that fit the back of the thigh. When the leg was rotated to the side, the cuff transmitted this motion through the arm to the binding. The boot was eliminated from needing to transmit the forces. Nava claimed this resulted in more direct control.
To enter the binding, the skier rotated the arm rearward, stepped into the binding, and released the arm so it rotated forward onto the calf. When the skier removed the bindings, or fell and was ejected, the arm rotated all the way to the ski, and the top section became a brake.