Latest posts for the topic "Ski Boot Fitting in Austria"

Ski Boot Fitting in Austria

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:06:30 GMT

Hi to all

I have been reading a thread (the locked one!!!)on ski boot fitting and was hoping to get some help. I live in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (think ski Dubai) and will be trveling to Kitzbuhel with OH and kids this year again for our annual ski trip. There is absolutely nowhere here I can buy ski boots and I have been hiring them for the past couple of years but do not want agony again this year with my toes going numb and cramping!!!!! Never seems to bother my husbands feet?

I would like to purchase a pair of ski boots and have them fitted while there. Does anyone know of a good boot shop in Kitzbuhel or do I have to go to these guys below (saw it on another forum)

Austria (Tirol):

Schuhsport Leitner
Samerhof 46
A-6621 Bichlbach

www.schuhsport-leitner.at
0043 (0) 5674 5306

Auer Herbert
Brenner Str 59
6150 Steinach am Brenner
Tel.: +43(5272)6313
Fax: +43(5272)6313-5
Email: info@herbertauer.at

Thanks in advance for any advice

Re:Ski Boot Fitting in Austria

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:25:06 GMT

Hi.

I haven't been to Kitzbuhel, but I can't beleive that there won't be a good selection of ski-shops to choose from.

Just find someone with a bit of experience. Don't buy on colour!! Do allow plenty of time (a couple of hours) and do wear your ski socks. Also, be honest about your ability, how and where you like to ski.

Boots should be pretty snug when you buy them. Be prepared to allow a couple of good days use before they start to feel "right."

You can read some very useful tips on boot buying and fitting on the Snow and Rock and Ellis Brigham websites, plus others I can't recall.

I hope this helps and you get sorted - painful feet aren't funny.

Re:Ski Boot Fitting in Austria

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 08:18:25 GMT

just remember shape is everything, it is as important as size, a boot with too much voluke will allow your foot to slide around side to side wich is almost as bad as front to back.

1 make sure the shop shell checks the boot....12-25mm [dependant on your fit preference]behind the heel toe tickling the front of the shell....3-6mm side to side motion with your foot centred in the shell.

2 footbeds are worth having to stabilize your foot off the peg may be fine custom may be required let the fitter and your foot decide

more soon

busy busy busy

Re:Ski Boot Fitting in Austria

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 08:30:00 GMT

cem wrote:just remember shape is everything, it is as important as size, a boot with too much voluke will allow your foot to slide around side to side wich is almost as bad as front to back.

1 make sure the shop shell checks the boot....12-25mm [dependant on your fit preference]behind the heel toe tickling the front of the shell....3-6mm side to side motion with your foot centred in the shell.

2 footbeds are worth having to stabilize your foot off the peg may be fine custom may be required let the fitter and your foot decide

more soon

busy busy busy

Thanks cem,

After reading the other thread about ski boot fitting I was getting all worried about just going into a ski shop while we are there and perhaps I should go to a specialist. This is our 3rd time to Kitzbuhel and I did not feel that the staff paid enough attention to fitting the boots (I stood watching them last year)

I am an upper intermediate skiier who only returned to skiing 3 years ago after a 10 year absence (busy having children!!) Now the children all ski we want to spend more time on the slopes so hence the need for my own ski boots again. I do suffer terribly (always have when wearing ski boots, roller blades, ice skates etc) with cramps and burning and have been known to almost take off my boots while on the chairlift the pain is so bad. Have tried everything, unbuckling every time I am on a lift, removing boots ever 2 hours to stretch out my feet, big boots, small boots you name it , Iv'e tried it. Luckily I have an undertanding husband who puts up with it!!

Hopefully I can get some boots fitted properly

thx again

Ski Boot Fitting in Austria

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:20:46 GMT

with the pains that you are suffering my fist guess is a lack of flexion at your ankle,

there are some stretches and strengthwening exercises on our website, it is a hidden page from the menu
go to the website, in the sig below and add /cp7.php to the end of the address...something here won't let me post the correct link it takes you to the exercise pages

Re:Ski Boot Fitting in Austria

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:25:49 GMT

http://www.solutions4feet.com/cp7.php

Hopefully , this is the page you were after linking to for exercises :D

Ski Boot Fitting in Austria

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:16:19 GMT

that's the one, not sure what i had done or wasn't allowed to do

Re:Ski Boot Fitting in Austria

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:00:08 GMT

another good exercise for the foot and ankle is to try and work up to 1 minute each leg of standing on a Bosu on one foot...good for the lower calves and muscles in the instep

Re:Ski Boot Fitting in Austria

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:47:25 GMT

daved wrote:another good exercise for the foot and ankle is to try and work up to 1 minute each leg of standing on a Bosu on one foot...good for the lower calves and muscles in the instep

I have no access to a BOSU ball, so I use a wobble cushion to do the same exercise :D

Re:Ski Boot Fitting in Austria

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 03:43:28 GMT

bandit wrote:

daved wrote:another good exercise for the foot and ankle is to try and work up to 1 minute each leg of standing on a Bosu on one foot...good for the lower calves and muscles in the instep

I have no access to a BOSU ball, so I use a wobble cushion to do the same exercise :D

Thanks for all these tips guys - can you explain this exercise in more details as I do not know what a BOSU ball or wobble cushion is?

thx again

Re:Ski Boot Fitting in Austria

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 07:46:43 GMT

cwagner
The exercise I do is really simple. Stand on 2 feet, on 2 cushions, then move to 1 cushion, then to balancing on 1 foot on 1 cushion.

This uses short twitch fibres in the leg muscles, stabilising muscles in the feet and ankles and also engages the core muscles in the balancing compensation movements.

Simple in concept but fiendishly hard )

Linky's to a couple of suppliers to show examples of products......

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Yoga-Mad-Stability-Cushion-Blue/dp/B000FBNBMI/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=sports&qid=1227426776&sr=8-4

http://www.physicalcompany.co.uk/products/product_detail.asp?productId=BOSUR

:D

Re:Ski Boot Fitting in Austria

Tue, 2 Dec 2008 23:06:35 GMT

Cant speak for Kitzbuhl but if you go to a ski shop not right next to the lifts, they will be less busy, usually cheaper, explain your problems and that you intend to buy a pair of boots. Some will find a very new season hire boots for you to try. Test it for the day, then take it back, if its no good change it, if its snug and pain free, then some will give you 2 choices, buy a new ident pair less the days hire cost, or if they are like gloves ive known mates buy the newish hire pair at a a reduced rate.

I have similar problems but to just one foot and have new boots stretched, wide fit, moulded inners, you name it. Usually fine for 3 hours then the agony starts, cramping pain which almost feels like the circulations gone, but no signs of rubbing, pressure etc. I am as we speak seeking further help in my efforts to conqueer the problem. Ive had someone with a knowledge of sports medicine suggest that with a ski boot and the angle of the leg and weight distribution that it puts all the weight on the balls of my two smallest toes on my right foot which in retaliation after a while cuts off the blood supply to part of the foot hence the discomfort. If thats whats causing it then how the hell I cure it I dont know!! Like u I have to remove the boot a couple of times a day. When all else fails drink heavily!! :D

Been 25 years since I was at Kitzbuhel, but we stayed just outside at Aurach I think it was called. Quieter but ski shops and ski school staff were very helpfull. Good luck in your quest, I will monitor this thread in case anyone has pearls of wisdom for you which may cure me!!!

Re:Ski Boot Fitting in Austria

Wed, 3 Dec 2008 07:37:21 GMT

Scarlet Fez what were the results of the weight bearing pressure point testing when your boots were originally fitted?

Re:Ski Boot Fitting in Austria

Thu, 4 Dec 2008 12:13:33 GMT

Hi Scarlet fez

Based on some excellent input from cem and advice I am booked in to see Rob at Daleboot in Kitzbuhel the day I arrive.

Can you keep me posted on what your sports medicine people say. If it is something that cannot be fixed then I do not want to spend the mega dollars having my boots made at Daleboot if it is a problem that cannot be overcome. I will keep this post to show him though.

I have tried the drinking thing - makes me ski better but does not numb the pain enough!!

Good luck

Ski Boot Fitting in Austria

Thu, 4 Dec 2008 19:08:51 GMT

scarlet fez,

how much flexion do you have at your ankles....if there is not enough the foot will abduct [inside the boot to compensate this loads the lateral forefoot and gives the problem....most people with this problem think their boots are too narrow, a well made insert and a heel lift combined with a load of calf stertches prior to departure normally works wonders

Re:Ski Boot Fitting in Austria

Fri, 5 Dec 2008 19:36:41 GMT

bandit wrote:Scarlet Fez what were the results of the weight bearing pressure point testing when your boots were originally fitted?

Bandit, youve got me there!! After a bit of deliberation and a little discomfort on the dry slope last weekend I may have identified the cause.
A young 49 I may be but 16 years ago I had surgery to my right big toe, to fix a tendon and shave down a bunnion. I skied for the first time in 16 years 5 years ago and had hire boots and the cramp etc started. Had my own boots and although they have been tweaked still get the cramp and circulation problem.
What I noticed is that when I stand on my toes the weight on my left foot is primarily taken by the ball of my big toe, but on my right due to the old surgery it tends to roll towards my outside 2 toes taking the majority of the weight. When in a ski boot again the moulded inners highlight the pressure point for where the weight is centre namely under the foot between the 2 outside toes. I have taken my boots to my fitter and now because i think it may be as a result of the old surgery, he has placed a wedge under the inner sole to make me stand more even in the boots and hopefully by doing this it will make my foot share the weight and thus prevent the pressure giving me cramp and terrible pain.
It may have nothing to do with the surgery but I live in hope. Going to Milton Keynes Snow Dome next week so hopefully I will have news.

Ski Boot Fitting in Austria

Fri, 5 Dec 2008 19:46:19 GMT

cem wrote:scarlet fez,

how much flexion do you have at your ankles....if there is not enough the foot will abduct [inside the boot to compensate this loads the lateral forefoot and gives the problem....most people with this problem think their boots are too narrow, a well made insert and a heel lift combined with a load of calf stertches prior to departure normally works wonders

Cem I am very interested in your theory as well. I'll try anything. Would it be normal to just get it one foot. What excercises or stretches can I do to help my ankles and calves be more tolerant.

From my previous entry about my surgery I think that as my right foot was not as level it was causing me to not bend my knees symetrically and there by putting unnecessary pressure on my right foot, ankle, calf.
I fore ever live in hope that I can solve this as it will make my skiing so much more pleasurable. Going away twice this winter, solve the proble with my right foot then I will turn my attention to the 'Middle East Crisis'!!

Re:Ski Boot Fitting in Austria

Fri, 5 Dec 2008 20:08:39 GMT

Scarlet Fez great news that you're on the case with the help of your fitter. If his wedge does not resolve the problem, then it may be worth dropping cem a line, and paying him a visit. If you are able to get to MK, he's not too far from there. As I have had 2 operations on one foot, I find his expertise invaluable in getting my repaired foot balanced in ski boots as well as in all my footwear. Painful feet are not fun, and ski boots are not a forgiving environment for tender feet.

Here's a link to cem's stretching exercises pages.

http://www.solutions4feet.com/cp7.php

Please let us know how you get on with your wedge :D

Re:Ski Boot Fitting in Austria

Fri, 5 Dec 2008 20:59:12 GMT

Cem, sorry Ive just realised that you are professional!! :oops:
Not sure if my very crude desciption of my injury and discomfort makes anyb sense!!

Re:Ski Boot Fitting in Austria

Sat, 6 Dec 2008 17:37:19 GMT

it is possible to get tightness in one side, esp if there has been previous trauma and or surgery, the shim under the footbed may work if it is in the correct place and it respects the biomechanics of YOUR foot, all too often i see too much posting under the medial forefoot...this [forefoot Varus posting] is a bit like tequilla...if a little is good more is better :wink: :wink:

Re:Ski Boot Fitting in Austria

Sun, 7 Dec 2008 22:46:17 GMT

I do believe that I have feet that are allergic to ski boots! Was wearing the boots for a couple of hours in the house just to re intoduce my feet to the forthcoming trauma!!! Was alright when I had them on but when I took them off I had a pins and needles sensation to the soles of both feet, but more so to my dam right problem foot.
Going up the dome at MK on friday to get my wife a ski lesson as she has not done it before with any success. Will try the boots for a couple of hours then.
Cem fearing the worst, I live in Ruislip, Middx, A40 so Bicester is not that far.
What sort of money are we talking to have an examination of my feet and boots? I would imagine Ive left it far to late as I travel to Mayrhofen on the 18/12/2008 so I may have to grin and bear it and just drink extra Gluwein

Re:Ski Boot Fitting in Austria

Mon, 8 Dec 2008 13:24:11 GMT

initial assesment of the boot/foot releationship is GBP30 costs beyond that point really depend on what the out come is and what needs to be done, i can get you in before the 18th so long as you are not hoping for it to be at a weekend, weekday slots are getting tighter by the day, contact dtails are on the website in the link