An apparatus for selectively holding a footwear heel to a snow travel aid comprising a heel unit comprising a base mountable to the snow travel aid; and an upper portion having a connector (18,28) for connecting the apparatus to the heel; wherein the upper portion is slidably engageable in fore and aft directions with the base for controllable movement by a user of the upper portion relative to the base into: (i) a downhill position whereby the connector (18,28) would be connected to the heel, and (ii) a touring position spaced rearwardly from the downhill portion whereby the connector (18,28) would be disconnected from the heel; the apparatus further comprising a brake system for the ski travel aid comprising a brake platform, a brake link, a hook, and brake arms, wherein the brake link and the brake arms are pivotally attached to a bottom surface of the brake platform, wherein, in downhill position, the hook being positioned so that when brake platform is depressed toward the upper surface of a snow travel aid, the hook will not engage with the brake platform, and wherein, in touring position, when the brake platform is forced downward to raise brake arms from the snow surface, a latch portion of the brake link will engage said hook and the brake platform will be retained with brake arms elevated from the snow. wherein the upper portion is slidably engageable in fore and aft directions with the base for controllable movement by a user of the upper portion relative to the base into: (i) a downhill position whereby the connector (18,28) would be connected to the heel, and (ii) a touring position spaced rearwardly from the downhill portion whereby the connector (18,28) would be disconnected from the heel; (i) a downhill position whereby the connector (18,28) would be connected to the heel, and (ii) a touring position spaced rearwardly from the downhill portion whereby the connector (18,28) would be disconnected from the heel; the apparatus further comprising a brake system for the ski travel aid comprising a brake platform, a brake link, a hook, and brake arms, wherein the brake link and the brake arms are pivotally attached to a bottom surface of the brake platform, wherein, in downhill position, the hook being positioned so that when brake platform is depressed toward the upper surface of a snow travel aid, the hook will not engage with the brake platform, and wherein, in touring position, when the brake platform is forced downward to raise brake arms from the snow surface, a latch portion of the brake link will engage said hook and the brake platform will be retained with brake arms elevated from the snow. a brake platform, a brake link, a hook, and brake arms, wherein the brake link and the brake arms are pivotally attached to a bottom surface of the brake platform, wherein, in downhill position, the hook being positioned so that when brake platform is depressed toward the upper surface of a snow travel aid, the hook will not engage with the brake platform, and wherein, in touring position, when the brake platform is forced downward to raise brake arms from the snow surface, a latch portion of the brake link will engage said hook and the brake platform will be retained with brake arms elevated from the snow.