We get lots of questions on what skis & boots and what shops and personnel we recommend and, sometimes, even why we recommend them.  Here are some replies to some typical questions presented by actual clients: 

 

"My trusty old boots finally failed on my last run last year (I guess it had to be the last run since one boot had a piece missing!) so I cant put off buying new ones any longer. Do you have any suggestions where I should go? I was impressed with the guy who helped me with insoles in ****** in the village location, but I am wondering if ****** or ******* in the upper village might be a better bet. Do you have an opinion? 

 

Thanks for your note and for your boot inquiry.  There are 3 shops that we work with closely and refer to them as our “Approved Shops” and there is now a dedicated web page for you to link up with and get their contact info. 

 

Although it isn’t entirely necessary, once you identify where you'd like to start, ​I recommend that you call up the shop, identify yourself as a SST member and that I recommended them to you and set up an appointment for a boot fitting.

 

All of these shops will do this at no charge if you want to try out the different shops and see what catches your fancy.  I have a little scale for you. Can Ski Blackcomb​ and boot fitter Sean is Good, Sure foot Whistler and boot fitter Sam and Alpine Pro's boot fitters Ernie and Bill are Better/Best based on personal preference.  Can Ski gets the Good not because of Sean's boot fitting skills which are excellent, but because the shop is oriented more towards volume sales based on corporate discount programs relative to customized customer loyalty sales that the other two shops attest to.

 

Can Ski tends to be less pricey too [if you qualify for discounts.]  All 3 guarantee the fit meaning you can return time and again for tweaks.  Sure Foot has a computerized method of determining 'the fit' while Ernie & Bill use the tried and true 'measure the angles and customize the fit to your feet' approach.

 

I have been fitted using the 2 methods with excellent results.  Both of my mentors Harald Harb & Diana Rogers use the 'individual measure method' and I would say that it is still the most accurate way to determine a fit.  Bill, Ernie & Sean are the closest equivalents and a lot less expensive than a trip to Colorado for your fitting.

 

Sure foot is a hybrid in this sense as the computer renditions allow a high degree of accuracy and at the same time, allows the shop to do volume sales.  No matter who fits you, expect a certain amount of tweaking to come as part of the process.

 

Think of the ski boot as a system comprised of 3 parts, the boot shell, the boot liner and the foot bed.  Once it is dialed in to become a system, it allows you as a skier to realize your potential [or not.]  What I mean is plenty of skiers are skiing around on boots that are a good, even great fit yet because they aren't 'measured' correctly to the skiers anatomy, the boots are actually limiting their ability to be better skiers.

 

For this reason, I like to impress upon skiers that the ski boot is by far, the single most important component to skiing.  Get into the process, enjoy it and be ready to learn heaps about your new anatomical assistants and extensions to your feet.

 

As you attended one of the Tech Camps, you went through the Better Balance Alignment Process, and, once you have your new boots and a good fit is established, there is no charge to you to get another on snow alignment check to complete the the boot fitting process.  This is a complimentary service to everyone who attends a camp or has purchased the Structural Alignment Screen.

 

 

Take this information, have a great time and keep me posted.

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