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It’s July and I’m already thinking about the new ski season

It must be something in the human genome that I begin thinking of winter this time of year…..its only July 13!  Our early ancestors had to prepare early for the upcoming winter by repairing and building shelter, planning their storehouses of food and firewood and ensuring that they had a plan to gather the proper provisions for the winter.  July 4th has always been that “peak” of summer for me, hence July 5th is the beginning of prep time for the journey to winter…..

It is at this time of year that my thoughts turn toward my ski equipment, clothing, my season’s pass, preparing teaching curriculum for this season, my training clinics which will keep me up to date on the latest skiing methods and teaching methods, and toward how much work I am going to have to do to get into the proper physical shape which I will need to be in this winter.

Physical fitness is my big battle this year for two reasons…. one, I will be 52 by the time the snow arrives….  my body seems to get “out of shape” quicker these days and it takes longer for me to get “into shape”…..two, I was not able to waterski and swim this summer as I have for the past 10 years….

So, my fitness plan begins with my mountain bike….  I just bought a new pair of shoes and toe clips for my bike…. they are based on a ski binding design.  I’m going to spend time hill climbing around town. This should strengthen my legs and address cardio at the same time….

Stay tuned between now and the opening day of ski season as I am going to be writing equipment reviews, clothing reviews, pre-season exercise ideas, information on our local ski shops, our local ski clubs’ happenings and the preparations for the season at Mt. Crescent Ski Area.

 

Buying Ski Boots – Boot Fit

I just received a question regarding the type of boots I use and boot fit… here is how I replied…

“My boots were purchased in 1992 and are called Raichle Comp.  This brand and model is so popular by skiers that even though Raichle does not produce them any more, the mold was sold to a couple of companies. The current company owning the mold is called Full Tilt.  It is a 3 piece, 3 buckle design boot.

 

Full Tilt Classic

Full Tilt Classic

These boots are comfortable whether I am teaching lessons at Mt. Crescent, teaching lessons in Vail, skiing powder at Beaver Creek, skiing the double black diamonds in the Rockies or racing through the slalom course…

I highly recommend the Full Tilt boot because of the shell design… for the new skiing techniques, the shell gives a perfect ankle flex (forward flex). That’s why I recently spent $700.00 to buy new boot liners (Zip Fit), foot beds, cants and shims…. for the shell that I bought in 1992!  If I break the shell, I can buy a new Full Tilt Classic boot model for $450.00 and use all of the guts of my current boot. If I break buckles or components of my boot, I can still buy those parts online.

My street shoe is 8 1/2 to 9 medium and my boot is a 25-25.5 or size 7-7 1/2…  So, with my boot, which is the 99mm forefoot, (as opposed to the 102mm forefoot) I am at least one to one and a half full shoe size smaller….  Below is how I recommend finding the right size of boot….

1. When you put your foot in the boot, your toes should touch or almost touch the front. When you bend your knee forward, flexing your ankle, (or wacking the heel piece against the floor at a 30-45 degree angle) your toe then comes off the front and your heel seats itself snuggly in the back of the boot… this is the proper way to determine the length of the boot….

2. As for the width, the boot must fit snuggly around the instep and ankle. You do not want ANY slop at all in these areas. Compare this to the steering wheel in your car. When driving, you want the wheels to respond immediately to your steering.  Your feet steer and edge your skis, so you want a tight “connection” of your feet to your boots. I generally recommend the 99mm forefoot, unless you have a particularly wide foot.

3. Once you determine the proper size, a custom foot bed gives you the perfect fit… I go to Harald Harb’s shop in Downieville, CO….exit 234 off of I-70 past Idaho Springs to have them fit my footbeds. Surefoot in Breckenridge is another option. Harb’s footbed is more flexible than Surefoot’s. Since our technique calls for flex, I use Harb’s….

The boot is a critical component to good skiing, so take time and consult a fitting expert before purchasing boots.

Before the season begins, I’ll write a post on retrofitting older boots with a new liner and footbed to prepare you for the upcoming ski season.