Alpine ski racing tips and techniques, one skill at a time, to get you racing downhill faster. Keeping it fun for U12 U10 U8 's while de-mystifying all the jargon that comes with ski coaching.
I've also found that it's important that after one or two times down the hill, some of the buckles May loosen . I have found that checking and tightening my Buckles at the top of a hill, when needed, throughout the day, has been essential for better stability!
I like to ski an easy green warm up with the boots a little loose, maybe one notch on each buckle from where I know I end up. After that run, I then tighten them the rest of the way like in your video.
I love RU-vid so much for its comment section. I come here to give my appreciation for this awesome video and all you commenters have said already everything I was thinking. ❤
I don’t know if anybody else does this, but I like to latch to a medium to low tightness because everything is cold rigid and uncomfortable. I walk with it from parking lot to the base and everything gets warm and comfortable then I’m able to tighten down even more than if I did it initially when it was cold.
This applies to so many people that it is not funny. I even have informed newbies on the skating rink that they need to tighten their boots and they see immediate improvement.
Excellent video, one more tip as a boot fitter . Do not tighten your boots when warm or indoor room temperature. You will stretch the plastic and over set on the stretched part when cold .. Make sure the boots are cold then you tighten them to a firm hold around the foot and anckle !
Thank you so much to teach the fundamental basic. I recent start learn ski and no one teach me that. I have ankle pain every time after ski. Your lesson solve my problem and make ski more enjoyable
I always find if i take my time warming into my boots each ski day, then it feels great by the time youre warmed up making runs. Start off with the top two on the loosest setting. Tighten them a notch or two when you get on the first gondola/chair. Then tighten them enough to ski safely for your warmup run. By the time you are ready to slay diamonds and carve, your boots will be comfy enough to tighten them to the preferred strength
The fit of the liner is also a big issue. I have lace ups so my boot up is a deeper process with putting on the liners then the shell. Many more ways to go wrong. The most important buckle is not a buckle but the power strap. I close all buckles to my performance level, rung 1 on the ladder, cinch the power strap giving it a good extra tug then release the buckles to walk out to the snow. I often ski with boots unbuckled especially when demonstrating basic maneuvers to increase the observable range of motion in the ankle. Getting a close fit require modifications to the shell and liner. Boot fitters are often reluctant to make the extreme adjustments I need so I've learned to adjust my own fit. I basically ruin the shell and liner before I ever ski it.
This video offers some good information to to the newbie skier, and in some cases those who have skied for many years. But I take exception to this notion of kicking your heel to the back of the boot, that does not work. “Kicking the heel“ to the back of the boot, only serves to bounce the heel out of the heel pocket. I found the most effective way to ensure that my heel is nestled back in the boot, as far as it can go is simple. Start by recognizing, sliding your feet into ski boots, will be very foreign to your feet. If you’re skiing every day, putting your feet in your ski boots is no big deal. Give your feet a moment to become a custom to the ski boot, let your feet spread out and acclimatize. I suggest closing the lower cuff buckle, but not super tight one foot at a time, flex the foot forward at the ankle using the lower cuff buckle to leverage you foot back into the ankle pocket. Thanks for the video.
I was told the top of foot, especially the toe, buckles are really juat there to secure it to keep snow out and not to be securing your foot into the boot. The security is from the top buckles.
@kevinmurphy8644 I'm trying to figure out how to answer your question. I will be making a video to show how to carve soon. Its a rolling of the ankle and adding the pressure to that new outside ski and down into the ski and snow to make it bend. I will try and tag you when I make the next one.
They should make a video on how to carry skis so they aren’t almost hitting everyone in the head or taking up the walking paths Little common sense goes a long way
I HAVE BEEN SKIING FOR 48 YEARS NOW , DOES ANYONE KNOW THE NUMBER 1 REASON YOUR FEET GET COLD WHEN SKIING ??? IT IS BECAUSE YOUR FEET ‘’SWEAT’’ SWEAT IS MOISTURE . WHEN YOUR FEET SWEAT THE SOCKS YOU ARE WEARING BECOME DAMP. DAMP SOCKS WILL ATTRACT COLD AND THIS IN TERN CAUSES YOUR FEET TO BECOME COLD WHILE ON THE SLOPES. I LEARNED THIS OLD SKI TRICK FROM A BOOT FITTER IN ZERMATT SWITZERLAND BACK IN 1972 . YOU BUY AN AEROSOL CAN OF ANTI PERSPIRANT SAY RIGHT GUARD AXE OR DOVE AND SPRAY ‘’YOUR BARE FEET ‘’BEFORE ‘’YOU PUT ON YOUR SKI SOCKS, THEN PUT ON SOCKS AFTER THE ANTI PERSPIRANT IS ON BOTH FEET. THIS WILL STOP YOUR FEET FROM SWEATING FOR 7-8 HOURS. IF YOU SPRAY YOUR UNDER ARMS WITH ANTI PERSPIRANT TO STOP YOUR ARM PITS FROM SWEATING WHY NOT YOUR BARE FEET ???? I BET 98% OF ALL SKIERS NEVER KNEW ABOUT THIS OLD SKI TRICK. YOU ARE WELCOME .
That is a little "shim"...it's a padded foam that the boot fitter puts on the tongue of the boot for skiers that have skinny legs that need a spacer in there to close up the gaps. Even when the buckles are done up at their tightest, those who have skinny legs (kids usually) may have too much room and their leg will "slop" around and they will lose shin pressure on the tongue of the boot.(which is something you don't want to lose) so the boot fitter can alter the boot with this padded shim to help the fit of the boot for the skier and aid in their ski performance.
I always find if i take my time warming into my boots each ski day, then it feels great by the time youre warmed up making runs. Start off with the top two on the loosest setting. Tighten them a notch or two when you get on the first gondola/chair. Then tighten them enough to ski safely for your warmup run. By the time you are ready to slay diamonds and carve, your boots will be comfy enough to tighten them to the preferred strength
thanks for taking the time to say so Denis! wish we were skiing in France...its my most favourite place to ski Love Val D'Isere but I would take the French Alps any day...it has been a long time since I have been there.
Great advice. I do do something a little different that feels very solid to me. I find that banging the heal in has some bounce and doesn’t leave me feeling like my heel is well seated to the rear. Instead I do up the arch buckle, the second buckle from the toe, first. I then rock my knee forward which solidly sets my heal back in its pocket. I then do up the most important buckles to keep the heal in place. Try it. You may like it too.
well now you know! so cool that the video can help. I know the first time you get them on they feel so difficult to get on, but once you get used to it, and get them done up right...all is good!
World Cup racers have a lace up ski boot liner that they have to do up first which makes for a snug precise fit and then they step into their shell. Very different from a recreational or non FIS race boot. (good catch!)
Socks should not be too thick. As base layer I only use 3/4 pants, so I do not have to worry about either extra material in the shoe or an abundance of material rolled up just below my knees. Lastly, almost broke my feet once while trying to get into cold boots.
Good vid, thanks. Silicon spray where your heel slides down the inner changed my life as a ski instructor. Foot slides right in and finds its position. Inner doesn’t wear out. Happy feet = happy skier.
Magnificent idea! My boots have "EASY entry" printed on them between lowest and next buckle. This makes me say bad things when putting them on. Your idea may save me! Thank you!!
What is silicone spray and where do you find it? I have a high arch and a Morton’s neuroma making it difficult and painful to get my boots on. No problem when my foot is in just when getting boots on. Interested in your fix. Thanks :)
@joannacho388 I know that at the beginning of each ski season my shins feel tender and bruisey after skiing 7 days in a row all day. I keep my boots snug but not too tight. It is kind of like how your bottom hurts after biking for the first few times of the biking season. your body just gets used to it I guess. but yes it is sore at the beginning of the season
A+ video. I’ve been a race coach and in ski industry for 25+ years. Trust their advice about ski boots. Without a proper fitting boot, you can’t turn your ski. Also, chances are your boot is likely too big. Ask for a shell test at a pro ski shop, or try on your own. Take liner out of boot, then move your feet so your toes are lightly touching the front of ski boot. Then reach into back of boot and there should be no more than two fingers (2 cm) width between your heel and ski boot shell. If more than that, it’s too big! Remember your ski boot will likely feel impossible to put on and too small as you put it on. Not until boot is properly buckled will you realize how it really fits. Your toes should lightly touch front of ski boot once buckled, and when you flex forward you’ll feel your toes move away from front. That’s a perfect fit! 🎉😊
Great assessment and advice. I been fitting boots since 1975 so I measured and fitted a few pair of boots in my time. Lots of skiers are in oversized boots. Personally I am a big advocate of proper Footbeds that support the heel and arch. Once the foot is properly aligned the toes will not push forward against the front of the liner. Also skiers should have proper alignment in their boots so they have a flat ski when they are in a neutral stance. With the cost of lift tickets these days skiers should definitely go to a ski shop for proper professional service when buying boots.
Hi I've gone to ski shops to buy boots but i feel they just want to sell the boot and not really a properly fitted one. Are there places that will just do a boot fitting?
Hi @opgamer9296 the normal rule of Keep your hands where you can see them is a good start. as a coach we never coach to the hands unless the hands are ruining what is happening with the skis. So keep them upfront and relaxed where you can see them and poleplant, but work from the feet up...Those are what is going to get you down the hill quicker. Only worry about your hands if they are throwing you OUT of balance.
Having Large calves is no joke @tanker_3301 We are all built so differently in our body composition and muscle shape...those with large calves really have to get the right boot to fit them. Some skiers have HIGH calves, others have Low thick calves, make sure you get your boots properly fitted, and use the micro adjustments on the buckles so you have the best fit possible.
@@live2ski108 absolutely,and the tip to put my boots somewhere warm is the best things ever since it can really be difficult even for people with smaller legs
