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?
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!
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.
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 !
This is something we explain when we help fit a customer with new ski boots. Along with all the information about proper socks and buckle sequence. It should be part of the service when you buy boots at a ski shop. Also getting the correct measurement and size is essential to a good boot fit.
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
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!
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 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.
Thanks for the feedback Chris. I appreciate the kind words. RU-vid can be a pretty harsh place in the comment zone, so nice to hear something positive. :D Hope skiing is going well wherever you are enjoying the snow!
Excellent video. Thank you for making this. I recently got neck into skiing after 9 years and had issues getting my boots set up how I wanted them. This provided me the info I needed and had forgotten.
I'm so glad it helped and glad that you are back skiing after such a long hiatus. It really is a sport that makes winter worth every cold and snowy day out there. :D
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. ❤
Thank you so much for saying so. I coach full time so I'm trying to make videos that help my athletes...but finding time to shoot and edit in the winter is hard. I hope to get some more made soon
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.
Thank you for the kind words Justin. I am so busy coaching that I rarely get free time. but I know of a few more I think would be very helpful. Just have to shoot them and upload them. If you have anything you want covered, or answered, let me know and I will include them. (ski season is short where I live!)
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.
Salut Pierre-Gilles, I'm glad it helps. I find that many of my young athletes and their parents have never been taught how to properly do up their boots so their skiing is more efficient. The micro-adjustments you can do to the buckles is also super helpful! I have more ideas on videos to help, I just have to find the time to shoot and edit them :D Cheers!
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.
I am a huge advocate of fastening the power straps first & inside the boot, if possible. Many boots accommodate this and the connection is generally superior.
agreed. All depends on the skier and their commitment to boot fitting. some boots work with the powerstrap inside, some makes it awkward to do up the top buckle. got to experiment with whatever you can do to get that snug perfect fit for your body / boot combo.
@@istrala Snug... As snug as possible, without impairing circulation. You will know it if they are too tight. :) It takes some practice. Typically, I don't tighten down my straps & boots when I first put them on. (Especially, when there is a meeting to attend.) I cinch down my straps just prior to my getting serious about skiing - then, I am good until lunch, when I loosen my 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 :)
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.
Glad it was helpful :D keeping the buckles too loose is no help to your skiing at all...too tight no good either...it's the Goldilock principle...got to have the "Just Right!"
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.
Do NoT kick the heel of the boot against the floor to force your heel back into the heel pocket! Rather, lightly buckle your boots, stand up and flex your ankles. Flexing your ankles will snug your heels back into the heel pocket Then progressively tighten the buckles Sheesh! Kicking tge heels of the boots against the floor went out with Cubco bindings
Banging the heel down is useless - the heel will just bounce on the inner boot foam. You need to pull the liner from the back - most boots have a loop strap on the back of liner for that purpose. This both pushes the heel into the pocket of the liner, and prevents the liner from slipping down into the boot.
Ankle Flex is KEY. never impinge that area. but make sure that the upper buckles are tight enough so that the shin can press forward with the ankle flexion, and the boot "answers" the demand to roll the boot/ski on edge
Rental boots are a whole other story. Do you only ski once a year? investing in your own ski boots makes all the difference, and knowing how to make the micro adjustments to the buckles is helpful But rentals really aren't the same as having your own boots.
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!)
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
As a beginner I was sold a pair of Atomic Hawx Magna 80. They are comfortable but I’m not sure if they’re too wide for me. The shop told me all beginner boots have a wider last and it’s ok that they are a bit looser as long as the length is good (it’s perfect). I did some research and they appear to be right. Every biginner boot has a wide last. Should I worry or just use them?
My 1st Boot MP25.5 / Last 104mm FLEX90 My 2nd Boot MP24.5 / Last 102mm FLEX110 My 3rd Boot MP24.5 / Last 101mm FLEX120 When skill improves > the size of boot usually go smaller too Racer boot has extreme narrow LAST > like HEAD RAPTOR series with 98mm last, which might not be suitable for most skier.
think about your foot and the boot as being partners, if the foot is too loose in the boot and the brain tells the foot and ankle to roll, to put the ski on edge, but the foot rolls INSIDE the boot, but doesn't actually make the boot roll, the ski won't go on edge. You need the boot tight enough so that when you roll your ankle, the boot rolls aswell, thus talking to the ski and rolling it onto edge. too loose of a boot fit, means you won't get great performance out of your skis. too tight, and you cut off circulation and end up uncomfortable. Goldilocks principle...the fit should be "just right" (for you!)
The best thing I have ever done was going to a top boot fitter , ski boots are not shoes . Go to a boot fitter if you want the best boots for your feet
The width of your ski boots is dependent on the width of your foot and height of your instep. When your skill level increases your feet don’t become narrower. I think you are confusing about the width of a boot 98mm, 100mm, 102-104 mm with boot Flex/ Stiffness rating. Generally a beginner benefits from a softer flex in relation to their weight and ability to flex the boot an articulate / bend their ankle. As you become more skilled and better a properly using your feet and ankles a stiffer boot transfers your energy into the ski to tip it on edge and distribute pressure through out the ski. Boot flex for adults can range from a soft 65-70, moderate 80-90 Flex, firm 100-110 Flex to a stiff 120-130 Flex for recreational skiers. Ski racers might use 140-150 Flex. Be aware that each manufacturer rates the Flex of their boot models. There is no international standard for Flex rating. Just some observations form a long time ski industry guy.
I pull UP the longjohns/ baselayer so there isn't any extra lumpy material that will cause pinch points. I have long legs so it works well, but my husband has short legs, so he buys 3/4 length long johns/base layer so there isn't all that excess material. Have you found any 3/4 length baselayers where you shop?
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
@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
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.
Wool socks made for skiing are best. They wick the sweat away from your feet to keep them warm, and they have cushioning on the shins, and thinner around the ankle to avoid the bunching and pinching. Any ski store will have good pairs made for skiing. You don't need many! As long as you wash them after you wear them so they don't stay sweat filled.
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
