Abstract: A binding (301) for releasably holding a boot (308), including a latch (330), arranged to pivot between an open position and an engaged position for securing the boot relative to the binding, and a lock mechanism (340) to provide incremental locking of the latch, as the latch pivots toward the engaged position, in order to restrict movement of the latch back toward the open position. The incremental locking allows for ease of entry into the binding and minimal force to manually release the boot. The binding also has an automatic release mechanism (360) to allow the binding to reset in an open position when the binding releases the boot.

Abstract: A binding apparatus for a snowboard with which the boots of a snowboarder can be securely attached to the board while permitting release thereof upon application of a force greater than a preselected threshold. If a force of an undesirable magnitude in either a lift-out or torsional direction is applied to either of the snowboarder's boots with respect to the board, then that boot will be released by the binding, and the other binding will also automatically release the other boot. Both boots can also be manually released from the bindings, and one boot can be left secured to the board while the other is released for negotiating ski lifts and the like. The snowboard bindings permit easy step-in entry which will allow the boot to be secured to the binding even in the event of snow or the like being stuck between the boot and binding. A safety brake is also provided which prevents run-away of the board if it is detached from the rider.