Safety ski binding including an intermediate plate and improved boot gripping means. A plate intermediate the boot and ski is mounted onto the ski by centrally positioned pivot means and held normally aligned with the ski by heel means which permits only limited swiveling movement of the plate with respect to the ski and only limited movement vertically of the plate away from the ski. Conventional toe engaging means are provided between the plate and the ski boot and said heel means also engage the heel of the ski boot, said means being arranged for releasing the ski boot from the plate upon movement of the plate a predetermined distance either vertically away from the ski or pivotally laterally of the ski. The ski boot is thus freed from said plate and said plate remains with the ski. After the ski boot is so freed from the ski the plate returns to its aligned position with respect to the ski and the apparatus is ready for re-engagement of the boot therewith.