CUSTOM SKI BOOT FITTING

The flex of a boot is determined by the shin’s ability to move forward against the
resistance of the upper cuff.

A stiffer boot will increase performance but is usually less comfortable. A softer, more flexible boot will absorb more impact from the terrain but at the cost of performance.

The flex adjustment allows the skier to fine-tune the stiffness of the boot to balance comfort and performance.

The forward lean of a boot is the amount the boot forces the ankle to bend when standing in it.

Boots equipped with a forward lean adjustment can be fine-tuned to a specific neutral athletic stance, where the knees and ankles are bent and the weight is primarily on the balls of the feet but evenly balanced from side to side.

The footbed of a ski boot provides the support for the sole of the foot.

The greater the surface area of the foot making contact with the footbed, the better the control and performance of the boot. For this reason, many skiers turn to custom-moldable footbeds that match the contours of the foot perfectly.

The liner provides both comfort and protection while increasing the performance of the ski.

The padding of the liner cushions the foot and ankle, protects it from friction, impact and cold as well as creating full foot contact, which forms the foundation for energy to transfer from the body to the ski. Ski performance is directly related to how well the foot contacts the liner of the boot and how well the liner integrates with the outer shell.

The lateral upper-cuff adjustment is used to improve the lateral alignment of the leg in order to create a stable stance compensating for misalignment of the upper and lower leg.

In order to adjust the boot cuff to align the upper and lower leg, most advanced ski boots have adjustable cams where the cuff is attached to the lower boot. It is highly recommended to use personal foot beds for this procedure if they are available.

Typically made of plastic or composite, the outer shell provides stability to the boot and is primarily responsible for the transfer of energy from the body to the ski.

The purpose of boot shell fitting is to establish the amount of space left in the boot between the shell and the foot, to be filled by the liner. Different skier types require different tightness and therefore a different shell fit.

After using new boots for a period of time, it may be necessary to perform small adjustments to eliminate “sore points” that may develop and/or align boot cuffs etc.

This can be accomplished by localized heat stretching (punching) using specialized tools or alternatively, grinding the inside of the shell.

It is highly recommended to ski enough prior to making these adjustments to make
sure they are indeed necessary as they are irreversible in many cases.