Hey ... um ... I realize I was sounding kinda grumpy in my response to you,
and now I realize why. The question I *meant* to ask was, are there
techniques you use to help yourself get accustomed to a new boot's responses
to your moves, and/or are there ways to accelerate the break-in process?

I think the fitting suggestions irked me because I just a *lot* of time and a
*lot* of money getting these boots, and the idea that I got the wrong boot is,
well, not one my brain will accept, especially since this is the closest I've
ever gotten to pain-free skiing, and after all, it's only been a day of
skiing, so I think it's a little soon to throw in the towel =)

On 2004-12-16, VtSkier penned:
Monique Y. Mudama wrote:
On 2004-12-15, VtSkier penned:
Monique Y. Mudama wrote:

I tried them out for the first time yesterday, at Beaver Creek. Eric was
in a mogul mood (as per usual), so that's most of what we did. Ripsaw was
the best; it doesn't get much sun, so the snow was still nice.

Doing bumps in "racing" boots? Could be a problem right there.

Who said anything about racing boots?

Okay, "almost" racing boots. My previous boots were X-wave 10's, same boot
as yours, stiffer for my over 200# heft. Also, the X-wave line, especially
the 10 is the same as the CrossMax 10 except that the cuff of the CrossMax
is riveted for less fore-aft flex, and can almost certainly be called a
racing boot with a comfortable liner.

I didn't realize they could be considered a racing boot. I was just looking
for something that wouldn't squoosh my foot =) Better control was a bonus.

So, did I accidentally buy the wrong boot? I know that "racing" boots exist,
but I think of them as much stiffer than your ordinary boot. Also, why would
a racing boot be bad for bumps? I've never heard of a "bump boot." And the
ones I got aren't even the stiffest women's in the line, which would be the
9s, right? I believe the number only indicates stiffness?

I don't think I've ever heard anything from an instructor or fellow skier
about pushing against the back of the boot before. Maybe that's because I
have such a bad habit of sitting back that they just wanted me to focus on
moving forward.

Probably didn't want you to get used to pushing the back of the boot, but
you will find, as you progress, that there are times when you may want to
feel the back of your boot at certain times during (ending) a turn.

I believe you, but I think the instructors are right. Right now, I have a
really hard time staying forward enough, so I need to concentrate on that for
a while. Thinking about sometimes being back, as well, will probably make it
even harder to stick to a forward position =)

Of *course* being in the backseat in the bumps is a no-control situation.
My point was that my old boots were at least slightly tolerant of this bad
behavior, while my new boots will have none of it. I have to be in the
driver's seat. Like I said, pretty sure it's a good thing, but it's always
painful when you're confronted with your own bad habits.

I have never had boots which were "tolerant" of being in the back seat in
bumps. If I was there, I was out of control and needed to stop and regroup.

I don't know how to explain it. I am not good enough in the bumps to always
stick to the right form. It just seems like the new boots won't brook that
sort of nonsense from me. Maybe it's because the old boots didn't have as
aggressive a lean, so I couldn't tell as easily when my legs were back. In
the new ones, it's distinctly uncomfortable to have bad form.

Sounds to me like your are getting good advice.

(I assume you mean from the fitter's.) I hope so. Sometimes I think they're
my saviors; other days I think they're just trying to get me out the door, or
that they're in a hurry to fix the problem they think I have rather than the
one I am describing. And after my latest experience, there's the feeling that
the Surefoot guarantee is a smokescreen. But then again, I had the boots for
five years. But then again, they *never* got them to fit me. They said that
plastic is malleable and they could "eventually" get my old boot into the
shape of the new boot I liked. Right. How many hours would I waste when I
could have been skiing? And if that's their theory, then really, they'll
never "put out" for their guarantee, because they could just melt the freaking
boot down and start over!

Sounds OK to me too. I've just been doing this for so long that I know what
needs to be moved, tell the tech that and we can avoid a whole lot of
call-backs.

Yeah; I suggested a punch-out, and the guy admitted that it's entirely
possible I'll want one, but I agree with his conservative approach.

Recently, SureFoot made footbeds for both my Raichle's and my AT
boots.

Okay, now's when I ask: what's an AT boot?

c) the liner hasn't packed out yet

Could be, and I think more likely with your custom liners.

It's funny, because one of the things they told me is that the foam liner
wouldn't need packing out. But then I think what they really meant was "it
will only need 2-3 days instead of several weeks." Or maybe what they really
meant is, "We'll say anything to get you to buy one of these expensive liners
because we make such a sick profit on them." It's so hard to tell =/


Welcome to my world. I have big calves. Even with women's boots and
having moved the buckles out to the third hole, the boot is still pretty
tight on the loosest setting.

If I'm not mistaken, you may be able to punch a fourth hole, I think there
is enough material. Alternately, I think you can get a longer ratchet for
the buckle.

There's a little red extra piece that I use for my first pass. I'm not sure
it's meant to hold during actual skiing, though.

Actually, what I'm hoping is that I'll get back into shape soon and the
calf-size issue will just kind of ... fade away.

Your buckling technique sounds right to me, but I'll bet as time goes on
that you will find just the right tightness to last you all day, or maybe
with just one "tightening".

Yeah, just one is about where I usually am. Of course, these boots are new so
I'm still fiddling.

If you really do get cold feet often enough to be bothersome, there is no
shame in boot heaters. Some of my best friends use boot heaters.

I decided to hold off and see if simply wearing a properly-fitting boot is
enough. After all, I just spent a *lot* of money on these things, and I'm
hoping that without the foot pain, there will be enough circulation that maybe
yet another gizmo won't be necessary.

Also, my wife has a pair of mittens which have a jell inside which moves
heat from warmer areas to the finger areas. She's had them for a long time
and swears by them. Remember, I said mittens. Hotfingers of a couple of
years ago said their gloves (and mittens) moved heat from one part of the
glove to another. I've also seen electrically heated gloves, not unlike
boots.

After some consultation with the folks on this NG, I got GraniteGear mittens
as well as wicking glove liners to wear underneath on very cold days. These
are my first mittens, and so far they're not nearly as much of a pain as I'd
feared they'd be =P


Seems to me that you are clear in your direction regarding boots. I hope the
X-Wave's work well for you as they are truly a great boot. I know you post a
lot regarding lots of things about skiing and your present postings about
boots and the many responses you got from me and others may well be of help
to you and to other people looking for advice on what will and how to
improve their skiing. As you have found already, good boots will make a
measurable and immediate improvement on your skiing.

What about them makes them a great boot? (Other than that they are wide
enough for my foot.) Earlier, it sounded like you didn't think it would be a
good boot for bumps. I really need a boot that will happily ski every part of
the mountain, and I was told these will.

If nothing else, I figure that the pain I experienced with my old boots must
have had an effect on my foot position and therefore my stance. If these
boots eliminate the pain, I think that will already be a huge step forward for
my technique.

--
monique
Longmont, CO