Rottefella has been awarded the Honours Award for Design Excellence for Rottefella NTN Telemark ski binding.

The Rottefella NTN binding brings the sport of telemark skiing a great leap forward, setting at the same time a completely new standard for binding design,

Rottefella’s strategy in the telemark segment is to produce the best ski bindings for manoeuvrability. Rottefella’s new binding therefore had to include entirely new functions and a style that clearly signalised these user benefits and innovation.

The walking function is particularly innovative, since it gives the skier the chance to use his skis for alpine touring. The binding’s performance parallels that one otherwise associates with alpine skis, but one still enjoys the free sensation of a loose heel. The bindings are extremely easy to take off and put on. Robust materials solve the problem of breakage caused by heavy boots. The skier can thus challenge himself to perform better, without having to worry that the bindings will break. This can give the sport a new dimension for many skiers. The binding also gives the skier improved control and steering, which can boost recruitment to a sport that is considered difficult to master. There is also a lot of innovation in the actual design. The style chosen evokes associations with climbing and safety equipment, which signalises security and robustness. The jury also attaches importance to the fact that the user can to some extent repair and maintain the binding himself. The design has an air of power and rawness, thereby communicating the bindings’ strength.

Company: Rottefella AS

Design: Rottefella AS / Even Wøllo

Award / year: Honours Award for Design Excellence - 2007

Category: Winners