Abstract:
Combination ski-snowboard devices reversibly configured in both: a ski configuration comprising two skis each with both an inside and outside edge and a ski binding mounting systems, and in a snowboard configuration having two outside edges and two binding mounting systems. Methods for converting ski-snowboard devices from a snowboard configuration to a ski configuration and from a ski configuration to a snowboard configuration. A reconfigurable binding provides an interchangeable all-in-one binding for at least alpine touring, snowboard, split board and alpine ski mode. One aspect of the reconfigurable binding discloses binding connection adaptable for use in alpine touring and traditional ski mode. Another aspect of the reconfigurable binding discloses a bolt/pin pattern configuration for split board and snowboard mode.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/751,007, filed on Jan. 25, 2013, entitled “Reconfigurable Snowboard/Downhill Skis” which claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/591,818, filed Jan. 27, 2012, entitled “Alpine Split Board” and U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/681,069, filed Aug. 8, 2012, entitled “Alpine Split Board,” both of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    The present disclosure relates to snow-sport equipment and more specifically to a combination snowboard and downhill ski. 
         [0004]    2. Introduction 
         [0005]    A wide variety of riding products exist for mountain snow sport enthusiasts. Downhill skiing has a long history of innovation and a great variety of ski designs have been developed over the years. Generally downhill skis are substantially flat axial planks with a binding used to couple with a ski boot. Each axial side of the individual skis has a sharpened metal edge that gives the skier the ability to turn and control his speed during downhill descent. Oftentimes the axial side of the individual skis have a parabolic sidecut, meaning the tip and tail of the ski are wider then the middle of the axial distance. The parabolic shape gives the skier more control over turning because the sidecut naturally encourages parabolic motion downhill as a skier applies pressure to the given edge. 
         [0006]    Like downhill ski technology, there are many solutions for cross-country skiing and backcountry/alpine trekking One common design feature for cross-country skiing and backcountry/alpine trekking skis include a binding that holds the toe of the boot securely in place while allowing the heel of the boot to rise and fall in a rhythmic motion. The rhythmic motion facilitates gliding as opposed to a marching motion that is used when snowshoeing. 
         [0007]    More recently, snowboarding has enjoyed huge popularity and snowboard design has progressed steadily. Like downhill skis, snowboards are typically designed with substantially parabolic edges to facilitate turning. For functional and safety reasons, snowboards also typically employ bindings that semi-permanently hold the snowboarders boot to the board, forcing the rider to strap in and strap out of the bindings one or two feet when a rider wants to traverse flat or upward portions of the mountain or trail. Likewise, unstrapping one foot from a snowboard and “skating” eliminates the advantage of having a large surface area under a rider&#39;s feet, causing the rider&#39;s feet to sink into the snow and requiring more effort. 
         [0008]    In addition to skis and snowboards for use in specific skiing/riding styles, splitboards, which allow use of a single device for more than one ski/ride style, have gained a somewhat recent popularity. A splitboard is a reconfigurable snowboard/alpine-trekking ski combination designed with various clasps and multi-purpose binding configurations to allow a user to physically split a snowboard down its length into two skis, reconfigure the bindings, and use the skis for cross country skiing or backcountry trekking However, splitboards do not have inside edges suitable for downhill skiing. Due to the lack of edges and a function-limiting straight inside edge, splitboard skis are unusable for downhill skiing. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0009]    Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or can be learned by practice of the herein disclosed principles. The features and advantages of the disclosure can be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and other features of the disclosure will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or can be learned by the practice of the principles set forth herein. 
         [0010]    Disclosed are various embodiments of a combination ski-snowboard device interchangeably configured in one of: a ski configuration comprising two skis each with both an inside and outside edge and a ski binding mounting systems, and in a snowboard configuration having two outside edges and two binding mounting systems. 
         [0011]    Some embodiments involve a ski-snowboard combination device involving a first gliding board having and first edge having a substantially concave shape, a second gliding board having a first edge having a substantially concave shape, and a fastening device configured to reversibly affix the inside edge of the first gliding board to the inside edge of the second gliding board, thereby forming an opening with two convex sides. 
         [0012]    In some embodiments, the ski-snowboard combination device comprises a ski binding mounting system coupled with each of the gliding boards and one half of a snowboard binding system, thereby allowing the ski-snowboard to be converted between ski and snowboard configurations. 
         [0013]    In some embodiments, the ski binding mounting systems involve a bottom plate coupled with a gliding board, an aperture in the bottom plate, and a top plate having a disk disposed on the bottom-side surface of the top plate. The disk releasably couples with the aperture of the bottom plate and releases in the event of a threshold level of torque applied to the disk and a topside surface of the top plate is configured with a boot. In some embodiments, the bottom plate includes a torque-sensitive release mechanism, a set screw accessible from the outside of the bottom plate in mechanical communication with the torque-sensitive release mechanism and configured for adjusting the threshold torque, an release setting gauge visible from the outside of the bottom plate for displaying a quantified representation of the threshold torque. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and other advantages and features of the disclosure can be obtained, a more particular description of the principles briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only exemplary embodiments of the disclosure and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the principles herein are described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1A  illustrates isometric top and side views of a combination snowboard/skis in a snowboard configuration according to some embodiments of the present technology; 
           [0016]      FIG. 1B  illustrates isometric top and side views of the combination snowboard/skis from  FIG. 1A  in a ski configuration according to some embodiments of the present technology; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  illustrates various isometric views of an exemplary binding for coupling with a combination snowboard/skis according to some embodiments of the present technology;  FIG. 3A  illustrates isometric top and side views of a combination snowboard/skis in a ski configuration according to some embodiments of the present technology; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3B  illustrates isometric top and side views of the combination snowboard/skis from  FIG. 3A  in a snowboard configuration according to some embodiments of the present technology; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4A  illustrates a method of converting combination snowboard/skis from a snowboard configuration to a ski configuration according to some embodiments of the present technology; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4B  illustrates a method of converting combination snowboard/skis from a ski configuration to a snowboarding configuration according to some embodiments of the present technology; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  illustrates two isometric views of a plate binding system according to some embodiments of the present technology; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  illustrates an exploded view of a bottom plate of a plate binding system according to some embodiments of the present technology; 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  illustrates a side view of an exemplary binding for coupling with a combination snowboard/skis in a ski configuration and a snowboarding configuration, as well as a conventional alpine ski, and conventional snowboard according to some embodiments of the present technology; 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary binding for coupling with a combination snowboard/skis in a ski configuration and a snowboarding configuration, as well as a conventional alpine ski, and conventional snowboard according to some embodiments of the present technology; 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  illustrates rear view of an exemplary binding for coupling with a combination snowboard/skis in a ski configuration and a snowboarding configuration, as well as a conventional alpine ski, and conventional snowboard according to some embodiments of the present technology; 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  illustrates top view of an exemplary binding for coupling with a combination snowboard/skis in a ski configuration and a snowboarding configuration, as well as a conventional alpine ski, and conventional snowboard according to some embodiments of the present technology. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]    Various embodiments of the disclosure are discussed in detail below. While specific implementations are discussed, it should be understood that this is done for illustration purposes only. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other components and configurations may be used without parting from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. 
         [0028]    Disclosed is a gliding board that is adapted to split apart to become a pair of downhill skis and further adapted to come together to become a snowboard and which supports boots in both the skier position as well as the snowboarder&#39;s position. Some embodiments of the combination snowboard/skis include especially designed connection hardware that facilitates switching between snowboarding mode and skiing mode. Additionally, some embodiments include binding configurations designed to allow snowboarding mode, downhill skiing mode, cross-country skiing, and telemark (alpine touring) skiing. 
         [0029]      FIG. 1A  illustrates isometric top and side views of a combination snowboard/skis in a snowboard configuration according to some embodiments of the present technology. The combination snowboard/skis comprises three zones: a tip zone  199 , a tail zone  197 , and a central zone  198 . In some embodiments, at least the tip zone  199  is curved up. In some embodiments, both the tip zone  199  and the tail zone  197  are curved upwards. The combination snowboard/skis comprises two gliding boards  111 ,  112  coupled together with a tip connector  114 , a tail connector  115 , and two ski connection clip pairings  116 ,  116 ′ and  117 ,  117 ′. According to  FIG. 1A , a set of bindings  130 ,  140  are coupled with the combination snowboard/skis via a snowboard binding system (not shown), explained below. Additionally, the individual gliding boards  111 ,  112  each include a ski binding plate system  121 ,  122  for coupling with the bindings  130 ,  140 . 
         [0030]    The individual gliding boards  111 ,  112  each include two sharpened metal edges  111   a ,  111   b ,  112   a ,  112   b . In some embodiments, all of the edges  111   a ,  111   b ,  112   a ,  112   b  comprise a substantially parabolic shape. In the snowboard configuration, edges  111   a  and  112   a  comprise the snowboard&#39;s outer edge configured to facilitate turning the snowboard. Also, the edges  111   b  and  112   b  form a small channel  160 . In some embodiments, an insert (not shown) is configured to fill the channel  160  and couple with the gliding boards  111 ,  112 . In some other embodiments, the one or both of the gliding boards  111 ,  112  are configured with a movable flange (not shown) to fill the channel  160 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 1B  illustrates isometric top and side views of the combination snowboard/skis from  FIG. 1A  in a ski configuration according to some embodiments of the present technology. The ski configuration illustrated in  FIG. 1B  involves the position of the gliding boards  111 ,  112  swapped such that the curved portions of the tip zone  199  and the tail zone  197  are positioned on the inside edge of a skier&#39;s stance. In some other embodiments, the gliding boards  111 ,  112  are positioned such that the curved portions of the tip zone  199  and the tail zone  197  are positioned on the outside edge of a skier&#39;s stance. 
         [0032]    In the snowboard configuration, the set of bindings  130 ,  140  were coupled with the combination snowboard/skis via a snowboard binding system comprising two snowboard binding plate systems  151 ,  152 . 
         [0033]    The snowboard binding plate systems  151 ,  152  are each configured with a sub-plate positioned substantially across from another sub-plate on each gliding board  111 ,  112 , respectively. As shown, the snowboard binding plate systems  151  comprise sub-plates  151  a and  151   b;  likewise, the snowboard binding plate system  152  comprises sub-plates  152   a  and  152   b . In some embodiments of the present technology, the position of the sub-plates  151   a ,  151   b ,  152   a , and  152   b  are reconfigurable to allow individual riders to customize their binding positions. For example, in some embodiments, a series of drill holes (not shown) are drilled into the gliding boards  111 ,  112  and the sub-plates  151   a ,  151   b ,  152   a ,  152   b  coupled with the gliding boards  111 ,  112  via the drill holes in a plurality of combinations and arrangements. In some other embodiments, the sub-plates  151   a ,  151   b ,  152   a ,  152   b  are in a substantially fixed position and the rider tailors the riding position using a puck system in the sub-plates  151   a ,  151   b ,  152   a ,  152   b  or in the bindings themselves. Additionally, some embodiments of the present technology involve binding plate systems that are configured such that the binding system separates in the event of a threshold level of torque being applied, thereby causing the skier&#39;s/rider&#39;s feet to come free from the board(s) in circumstances that could cause injury to the rider. 
         [0034]    In the ski configuration, the set of bindings  130 ,  140  are coupled with the combination snowboard/skis via the ski binding plate systems  121 ,  122 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 2  illustrates various isometric views of an exemplary binding  200  for coupling with a combination snowboard/skis according to some embodiments of the present technology. As shown, the binding  200  includes a slider track  210  configured to slide over the ski binding plate systems (e.g.  FIGS. 1A-1B , reference nos.  121 ,  122 ) in the ski position and configured to slide over the sub-plates (e.g.  FIG. 1B , reference nos.  151   a  and  151   b ,  152   a  and  152   b ) in the snowboard position. The toe edge of the binding  200  includes a stopper plate  220  to prevent the binding  200  from sliding off the slider tracks  210  in one direction of sliding motion. To prevent the binding  200  from sliding off the slider tracks  210  in the reverse direction of sliding motion, the binding  200  configured to accept a locking slide pin (not shown). 
         [0036]    In some embodiments of the present technology, the binding  200  is configured with a lockable calf back  216 . The lockable calf back  216  can fold down for convenience and can lock in a rigid upright configuration. Additionally, the binding  200  can include a reconfigurable top strap  249  that can be positioned in a mid-ankle position (as shown) to hold a rider&#39;s boot in an ankle-flexing snowboard stance and positioned on the calf back  216  to hold a skier&#39;s boot in a high-ankle rigid ski stance. 
         [0037]    As explained above, the combination snowboard/skis illustrated in  FIGS. 1A-1B  have a tip zone  199  and a tail zone  197  which, when in the snowboard configuration, are joined to form a complete semi-circular shape that is typically associated with a snowboard. In ski embodiments of the present technology, the combination snowboard/skis are configured such that the tip zone and the tail zone which, when in the ski configuration, comprise two individual half-semi-circular ski tips. 
         [0038]      FIG. 3A  illustrates isometric top and side views of a combination snowboard/skis in a ski configuration according to some embodiments of the present technology. The combination snowboard/skis comprises two gliding boards  311 ,  312 . The combination snowboard/skis comprises three zones: a tip zone  399 , a tail zone  397 , and a central zone  398 . As shown, the tip zone  399  and the tail zone  397  of each gliding board  311 ,  312  comprise two individual semi-circular ski tips typically associated with skis. In some embodiments, at least the tip zone  399  is curved up. In some embodiments, both the tip zone  399  and the tail zone  397  are curved up. 
         [0039]    Gliding board  311  is configured with clips  316 ,  317  and gliding board  312  is configured with clips  316 ′,  317 ′, where clips  316 ,  316 ′ and clips  317 ,  317 ′ are configured to connect the gliding boards  311 ,  312  when in the snowboard configuration (illustrated below.) 
         [0040]    As shown in  FIG. 3A , a set of bindings  330 ,  340  are coupled with the gliding boards  311 ,  312  via ski binding plate systems  321 ,  322 . Additionally, the combination snowboard/skis include two snowboard binding plate systems  351 ,  352 . The snowboard binding plate systems  351 ,  352  are each configured with a sub-plate positioned substantially across from another sub-plate on each gliding board  311 ,  312 . As shown, the snowboard binding plate system  351  comprises sub-plates  351   a  and  351   b;  likewise, the snowboard binding plate system  352  comprises sub-plates  352   a  and  352   b . In some embodiments of the present technology, the position of the sub-plates  351   a ,  351   b ,  352   a , and  352   b  are reconfigurable to allow individual riders to customize their binding positions. For example, in some embodiments, a series of drill hole (not shown) are drilled into the gliding boards  311 ,  312  and the sub-plates  351   a ,  351   b ,  352   a ,  352   b  coupled with the gliding boards  311 ,  312  via the drill holes in a plurality of combinations and arrangements. In some other embodiments, the sub-plates  351   a ,  351   b ,  352   a ,  352   b  are in a substantially fixed position and the rider tailors the riding position using a puck system in the sub-plates  351   a ,  351   b ,  352   a ,  352   b  or in the bindings themselves. 
         [0041]    The individual gliding boards  311 ,  312  each include two sharpened metal edges  311   a  and  311   b ,  312   a  and  312   b , respectively. In some embodiments, all of the edges  311   a ,  311   b ,  312   a ,  312   b  comprise a substantially parabolic shape. 
         [0042]      FIG. 3B  illustrates isometric top and side views of the combination snowboard/skis from  FIG. 3A  in a snowboard configuration according to some embodiments of the present technology. In the ski configuration, the set of bindings  330 ,  340  were coupled with the gliding boards  311 ,  312  via ski binding plate systems  321 ,  322 . According to  FIG. 3B , the set of bindings  330 ,  340  are coupled with the gliding boards via the plate systems  351 ,  352 . In the snowboard configuration, edges  311   a  and  312   a  comprise the snowboard&#39;s outer edge configured to facilitate turning the snowboard. Also, the edges  311   b  and  312   b  form a small channel  360 . 
         [0043]    The gliding boards  311 ,  312  are coupled in the snowboard configuration with clips  316 ,  317 ,  316 ′, and  317 ′. In some embodiments of the present technology, the tips and tails of the gliding boards  311 ,  312  are also coupled with each other with a jacket, clip, etc. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the tips and tails of the gliding boards  311 ,  312  are coupled via structural, semi-circular jackets  375 ,  377 . The jackets  375 ,  377  fit over the tip  399  and the tail zone  397  of the gliding boards  311 ,  312  as well as forming tips and tails with a full semi-circular shape typically associated with snowboards. In some embodiments, the jackets  375 ,  377  are configured to be partially separated from the tips and tails of the gliding boards  311 ,  312  and to be folded over and clipped to one or both of the gliding boards  311 ,  312 . In some other embodiments, the jackets  375 ,  377  are configured to be completely separated from the tips and tails of the gliding boards  311 ,  312 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 4A  illustrates a method  400  of converting combination snowboard/skis from a snowboard configuration to a ski configuration according to some embodiments of the present technology. The method  400  begins with removing the bindings from the snowboard binding plate systems  402 , decoupling the tip connector and tail connector  404 , and decoupling the ski connection clip pairings  406 . In cases using a structural semi-circular jacket, the method  400  involves removing and storing the jacket  408 . 
         [0045]    Next, the method  400  involves positioning the skis in a proper downhill configuration  410 . For example, some embodiments involve swapping the position of the gliding boards relative to the axial length of the boards such that the curved portion of the tips and tails are positioned on the inside edge of the skier&#39;s stance, see  FIG. 1B . Next, the method  400  involves attaching the bindings to ski binding plate systems  412 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 4B  illustrates a method  450  of converting combination snowboard/skis from a ski configuration to a snowboarding configuration according to some embodiments of the present technology. 
         [0047]    The method  450  begins with removing the bindings from the ski binding plate systems  452  and positioning the gliding boards into a snowboard configuration position  454 . In cases using a structural and semi-circular jacket, the method  450  involves positioning the jacket  456  over the tips and tails of the gliding boards. Next, the method involves coupling the tip connector and tail connector  458 , and coupling the ski connection clip pairings  460 . Finally, the method  450  involves attaching the bindings to ski binding plate systems  462 . 
         [0048]    As explained above, some embodiments of the present technology involve binding plate systems that are reconfigurable and are configured such that the binding system separates in the event of a threshold level of torque being applied, thereby causing the skier&#39;s/rider&#39;s feet to come free from the board(s) in dangerous circumstances. 
         [0049]      FIG. 5  illustrates two isometric views of a plate binding system  500  according to some embodiments of the present technology. The plate binding system  500  comprises a top plate  510  with a disk (not shown) extending from its bottom surface and bottom plate  520  having a disk-receiving aperture  525 . The top plate  510  is configured to slide into the slider tracks  210  of the bindings  200  shown in  FIG. 2  above, thereby coupling the binding  200  to the plate system  500 . The bottom plate  520  comprises drill holes  515  for attaching the plate binding system  500  to the gliding boards. 
         [0050]    The disk (not shown) extending from the bottom surface of the top plate  510  is releasably coupled inside the aperture  525  of the bottom plate  520  via a plurality of pins  353 . The bottom plate  520  also includes a release-setting gauge  530  that displays a setting for the currently selected torque threshold required to separate the disk from the aperture  525 . The bottom plate  520  also includes a set screw (shown in  FIG. 6  below) for adjusting the sensitivity of the release settings. 
         [0051]      FIG. 6  illustrates an exploded view of a bottom plate  600  of a plate binding system according to some embodiments of the present technology. As shown, the bottom plate  600  comprises a torque-sensitive release mechanism  620  housed within a cavity created by space between cover  610  and cover  630 . The torque-sensitive release mechanism  620  is sealed in the cavity via a plurality of pins  660  and screws  670 . Also housed in the cavity are a settings piston  650  and a piston guide  680 . The settings piston  650  is coupled with and a set screw  640  that is manipulated from outside the cavity. Also, the settings piston  650  is configured to adjust the torque sensitivity settings for the torque-sensitive mechanism  620  upon rotation of the set screw  640 . 
         [0052]      FIGS. 7-10  illustrate additional views of an exemplary reconfigurable binding. The binding  700  shown in  FIG. 7-10  is substantially similar to the binding shown in  FIG. 2 , however, the binding shown in  FIGS. 7-10  includes additional features for using the binding with a conventional snowboard or a conventional ski. Binding  700  is configured to receive a conventional snowboard rider style boot. A heel member  710  is designed to accept the rear portion of the rider boot. The rear portion of the rider boot can be placed over cavity formed by the heel member  710 , lockable shin wing  708 , and the reconfigurable binding base  702 . The heel member  710  is connected to the lockable shin wing  708  on one side and the binding base  702  on the other side. In some embodiments, the heel member  710  is moveable as the rider&#39;s heel moves in the alpine touring mode. The heel member  710  can slide upwards and downwards as the rider climbs up the uphill to facilitate walking 
         [0053]    The feet strap  712  enables a rider boot to enter and exit the reconfigurable binding conveniently. In one embodiment, the feet strap  712  is hinged on one side of the reconfigurable binding and has a latch and hook on the other side of the reconfigurable binding. The latch and the hook enable the rider to tighten or shorten the length of the feet strap  712  to hold the rider boot securely. In other embodiment, the feet strap  712  includes a strap buckle which can be conveniently utilized to tighten the feet strap. 
         [0054]    The reconfigurable binding  700  includes a binding base  702  mounted on the gliding board. The binding base includes opening  720  which is configured to receive a cotter pin that secures the reconfigurable binding  700  to the ski binding plate system  121 ,  122  in alpine touring ski mode. The binding base also includes opening  722 , which is configured to receive a cotter pin that secures the reconfigurable binding  700  to two snowboard binding plate systems  151 ,  152 . 
         [0055]    The reconfigurable binding  700  includes side rails  704  underneath the reconfigurable binding  700 . The side rails  704  are configured to slide into a plate rail on the gliding board, thereby coupling the reconfigurable binding  700  to the gliding board. 
         [0056]    The reconfigurable binding  700  includes alpine touring connections  706 A  706 B. The alpine touring connection  706 A is positioned in the front of the feet and includes opening  720 . The alpine touring connection  706 B is positioned in the heel area and engages onto the heel of the rider boot. The alpine touring connection  706 B can comprise a series of pins and springs to engage with the movement of the heel of the rider. In alpine touring configuration, when the rider climbs or walks up the mountain, the pins can move along with the rider to disengage the heel of the rider from the binding base  702  for a great degree of freedom. 
         [0057]    The reconfigurable binding includes opening  722  for holding the reconfigurable binding in place when the rider is using the reconfigurable binding as a split board. In this configuration a rider will place their boot into the reconfigurable binding. The binding is secured to two snowboard binding plate systems  151 ,  152  via side rails  704 , and a pin that is received within opening  722 . The pin also serves to secure the heel of the binding into a fixed position. 
         [0058]    Reconfigurable binding is also configured to engage with a traditional alpine ski binding for times when a user doesn&#39;t want to use the alpine split board, but instead would like to use traditional alpine skies. In such instances it can be inconvenient to have to change from snowboarding boots into alpine ski boots. The reconfigurable binding  700  removes this impediment by functioning as an alpine ski boot itself. The alpine touring connection  706 A has a front edge having a protruding shape to be received by a toe portion of a conventional alpine ski binding. The alpine touring connection  706 A can be shaped as a toe-shaped to match a shape of the front portion of the ski boot. The rear portion of the alpine touring connection  706 B is shaped to be configured to be received by a heel portion of a conventional alpine ski binding. In some embodiments, the height  705  for the front part of the alpine touring connection  706 A is shorter than the height  707  of the rear part of the alpine touring connection  706 B. This dimension is to be compatible with the traditional alpine ski boots. 
         [0059]    The reconfigurable binding  700  can be further configured with a lockable shin wing  708  for “side to side” control in ski mode. The lockable shin wing  708  has a high back that wraps around the shin, thus the skier can have more lateral movement when making turns. The lockable shin wing  708  can fold down for convenience and can lock in a rigid upright configuration. When the skier makes left or right turns, the skier can lean on the lockable shin wing  708  as the entire lockable shin wing  708  will lean with the skier. The lockable shin wing  708  can give more coverage and leverage around shin. 
         [0060]    A shin strap slot  714  can be coupled with the lockable shin wing  714  to give more support to the skier. The shin strap can come out of the shin strap slot  714  to have the lockable shin wing to be tightly fixed to the skier&#39;s shin. The shin strap can be positioned on a calf position to hold a skier&#39;s boot in a high-ankle rigid ski stance. The shin strap can be any elastic or stretchable band. The shin strap may be adhered to the other side of the shin strap by any velcroed material or clip. When the shin strap is not in use, the shin strap can remain in the inside of the lockable shin wing  714 . 
         [0061]      FIG. 10  shows a top view of reconfigurable binding  700 . As part of binding base  702 , a series of holes  718  are formed which provide a universal attachment mechanism for interfacing with a traditional snowboard binding. In some embodiments, binding base  702  forms a single opening for receiving an offset multi-disk  716  that provides the universal attachment mechanism for interfacing with one of a plurality of common snowboard bindings. 
         [0062]    As described herein, the reconfigurable binding can be used with the alpine split board described herein when the alpine split board is in both split board mode (i.e., snow board configuration and ski mode). The reconfigurable binding is further adapted to be able to be received within a conventional downhill ski binding, wherein the reconfigurable binding functions as part of the rider&#39;s boot. Finally, the reconfigurable binding can further be used a binding for a traditional snowboard and alpine touring. 
         [0063]    The various embodiments described above are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize various modifications and changes that may be made to the principles described herein without following the example embodiments and applications illustrated and described herein, and without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.