New Boots, what would you do?

broom wrote:Bandit

Who is CEM, i am based in manchester so can you recommend i good boot fitter.

CEM can be found here...

http://www.solutions4feet.com/

Sorry I don't know of any good fitters local to you, as I live further south.

CEM is a podiatrist, who has a business bootfitting. Bandit swears by them, and on that basis, I recommended them to a friend. She did think that the sales experience was odd, but the important thing is that she has well fitting boots.
CEM is based in Bicester.

Mekka wrote: How necessary is it to change your boots as your skiing level progresses?

I think generally, as you progress to stiffer skis, you will find you need a stiffer boot to get the most out of the ski. But it also depends on your weight and strength. As you ski more, you should develop the strength, and the technique to flex a stiffer boot. Modern ski designs are changing that equation, needing less brute power, and more subtle technique. There are other factors, like how progressive the flex of the boot is.

Unless you ski a lot on different skis, and try different boots, you are really in the hands of the boot fitter. So it isn't just that the boot fitter is able to get you comfortable, and set up for your particular anatomy, they also need to have a wide knowledge of current skis, and the input needed from the boot to best use a particular ski.

In these days of digital cameras having video, I wonder if it would help to take a video of you skiing to the boot fitter.

Trencher wrote:

Unless you ski a lot on different skis, and try different boots, you are really in the hands of the boot fitter. So it isn't just that the boot fitter is able to get you comfortable, and set up for your particular anatomy, they also need to have a wide knowledge of current skis, and the input needed from the boot to best use a particular ski.

Definitely, I know mine attends the SIGB Test Week each year, as do many in the UK industry. The kit they test will be on the market in the following year.

In these days of digital cameras having video, I wonder if it would help to take a video of you skiing to the boot fitter.

A very good idea. Cuts out all of the nuances that go with language and er... pride IYKWIM )

As a matter of fact, when I had my boots fitted a few months ago, I offered to show the boot fitter the video of me very carefully ski-ing through the giant slalom in Courchevel. And he said he wasn't interested, he could tell what my ski-ing was like just from listening to me (and reading what I'd written on their sheet) and looking at my legs and feet.

But actually I agree with both of you, I think a video would help sort out those who over/under play their ski-ing abilities.

The write-up on the boots he picked for me say the flex on them is suitable for intermediate to advanced, so I suppose there is a fairly wide range - maybe 3 main flex types? Beginners, intermediates, intermediates/advanced, and then of course the more special types like racing boots (which sound as though they are so tight/unflexible that they must be extremely uncomfortable).

I would have thought this means that if you buy boots as a beginner you would have to buy at least one more pair, if not two more, as you progress (the same as for skis).

I don't know if it's correct or not (maybe someone will help me out here), but it was explained to me that beginners wobble about a lot and one wouldn't want all those extra movements transmitted to the skis, so the boots are more flexible, and then when one improves more one should be making more of the correct leg, foot, and body movements (less wobbling about) which one wants transmitted straight to the skis, so the boot is stiffer.

Ally

Dave,

i should say i am a pedorthist as opposed to a podiatrist (the podiatrists don't like us being called the same :wink: so i don't want to upset them!!!

the other thing is i am concerend about the "strange sales experience" normally we measure the foot, look at range of motion of joints , take a skiing history and start by selecting the corect shell, then we build the orthotic footbed and fit the whole lot together, not too much strange i can see there... OTOH people expect to try on 4 boots in colours they like in their perceived size and go from there...so i guess it is strange from that point of view

finding a bootfitter is not just about someoen who can do the job , it is about finding someone who can do the job who you can work with and who can do the things you are looking for in terms of your feet, and skiing, if you don't need the soles of your boot grinding and plate putting on then there are a few good guys around, need sole planing or plates or internal grinding work done to the boot then we are about the only place that has all the tools to do the job

broomin manchester i would try rivington alpine near bolton speak to Graham, he will look after you

i don't care about colour or brand.....i want some that fit!

thanks cem i will try him