Snowboard binding and boot

A snowboard binding comprising:

• a base;
• a binding engagement member at the rear of the base in a central region between sides of the base, the binding engagement member constructed and arranged to at least partially secure a boot to the base, the binding engagement member having a first pawl having a first engagement surface to engage a serration on a snowboard boot, the first pawl having a first pivot axis;
• and
• a release handle movable in a first direction to rotate the first pawl about the first pivot axis in a first rotation direction;
• wherein rotation of the first pawl in the first rotation direction does not move the release handle.

A binding to secure a snowboard boot to a snowboard, the binding comprising:

• a base;
• a binding engagement apparatus mounted to the base, the binding engagement apparatus including a first pawl having a first engagement surface to engage a serration on a rearwardly-facing portion of a snowboard boot, and a second pawl having a second engagement surface to engage a serration on a rearwardly-facing portion of a snowboard boot, the first and second pawls being biased toward an engagement position, the first pawl rotatable about a first pivot axis, and the second pawl rotatable about a second pivot axis, wherein the first and second pivot axes are one of:
• 1) the same pivot axis, and 2) separate pivot axes wherein the pivot axis of the second pawl is lower on the binding than the pivot axis of the first pawl;
• and
• a release handle to release at least one of the first and second engagement surfaces from a serration on a rearwardly-facing portion of a snowboard boot.

A snowboard binding comprising:

• a base having a toe-heel direction and defining medial and lateral sides and a central region between the sides;
• a binding engagement member at a heel region of the base in the central region to receive a boot engagement member extending from a rear side of the boot, the binding engagement member constructed and arranged to at least partially secure a boot to the base;
• a release handle constructed and arranged to release the binding engagement member from at least partially securing the boot, the release handle including an actuation portion and a graspable portion, the graspable portion extending from the actuation portion to a distal end of the release handle generally in the heel-toe direction along a side of the base, and the actuation portion being offset from the graspable portion toward the central region and operatively coupled to the binding engagement member;
• wherein the binding engagement member comprises an actuation lever, and the actuation portion of the release handle is constructed and arranged to actuate the actuation lever.