Mike wrote:
I just had 3 days skiing at Mt Hutt, NZ. I wasn't skiing as well as '05 and
am doing a post mortem on that.

Last year I had rental boots and I had 1 shin blister. It didn't even
really affect me. This year I am skiing with my mail order Langes and they
were so bad it really affected my performance. These Lange comp 120 fr
medium fit have some heat fitting process which I never got around to.

I think you've hit the nail quite well. You have poorly fitting,
poorly fitted boots. If you think you are sliding around, they
are TOO BIG. The boots shouldn't slip or be sloppy EVEN WITH THE
THE BUCKLES UN BUCKLED. You also let slip another problem. You
mail-ordered your boots. Even if you have been skiing a long time,
it is nearly impossible to get a good fit without someone who
knows feet and boots coaching you. The only time I had any luck
with mail order for boots, I had tried on the boot in a shop and
then ordered the EXACT MODEL AND SIZE from the mail order house.
This worked, but even then I had some tweaking done a the local
Sure Foot store.

Was I not buckling the boots hard enough and hence slipping around? I've
skied for 35 years and only these last two times have seen this come up.
I've skied in raichlë and dolomites: no prob. I checked out a medical
manual, and it said that people with suntans are more likely to bruise,
which I have been doing pre trip both times.

Are the Lange's much stiffer than you are used to?

Also, from the description of the rental experience, I'd
say that you weren't buckling the top buckle so that the
boot doesn't rub on your shin. I have NEVER had a shin
blister. The hair is gone after the first day out, but
never a blister.

Are you not buckling the top buckles because the boot
limits your forward lean? This suggests the boots may
be too stiff.

So what gives? Is it all down hill from age 40 on?

I ski better at 60+ than I did at 30. Equipment and
opportunity are a great help.

My own boots are the Dalbello upgrade to the Raichle
Flexon model. I crank the top buckle firmly so the boot
doesn't slide against my ankle, the ankle joint buckle
moderately to keep my heel back and the instep
buckle lightly or not at all. The boots are not
sloppy in the foot zone.

There are few things a good shop can do for boots that
are too big. However it is easier to get boots that are
just a trifle too tight to fit well than it is to make
a too big boot fit correctly.

VtSkier