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Jeff Bo  
Jeff Bokum, C-PED

• Cerified Pedorthist
• Master Bootfitter
• Ski Press Boot Test Team
• Masterfit Instructor

Guide to a proper shoe and boot fit
Support - Leverage - Balance - Absorption - Stability - Control

Have you experienced any of these common problems?

• Arch pain and cramping
• Forefoot cramping and numbness
• Ankle pressure and tenderness
• Ankle and heel slop
• Cold feet
• Difficult feet to fit
• Trouble finding comfortable shoes
  
  
  
  Your Foundation
  Your boots are the most important of all your gear. Boots are the link between you, your skis/snowboard and the mountain. All the energy you exert to ski and ride is transferred through your boots. Just as in your house, if the foundation is not straight, nothing else will be! In order to get comfort and performance out of your boots, the foot must be relaxed and your weight evenly distributed. If this balance does not exist, control, cold feet and cramping problems are likely to occur. Some of the common complaints are an inability to carve turns, difficulty an icy terrain, and inability to maintain control.
  
  How should a boot fit
  A boot should feel comfortable and snug, when you flex your knees forward, your heel should stay in the heel pocket. It's OK if you feel the front of the boot, as long as your toes pull away a bit from the front when the boot is buckled and your knees are flexed. Liners will compress and stretch over time. The boot should hold the foot without setting the buckles too tight, the fit should be from the boot itself, not the buckles.
  
  Cramping
  Cramping in the foot is a common problem. Cramping occurs when the foot is unstable and under stress. Your muscles may be working harder than they should be in order to edge effectively. Fatigue from the strain will cause the foot to ache.
  
  
  Cold Feet
  Usually feet get cold when blood flow is restricted. Improperly fitting boots put uneven pressure on the foot, limiting blood flow. Proper support is critical. In the cold, the veins in our extremities contract, restricting blood flow. Socks that are to thick or two pairs of socks will make you feet cold.
  
  Womans Boots Women's feet are very different from men's feet. A woman's foot is usually smaller in the ankle, wider in the forefoot and a higher instep. A women's calf muscle is longer than men's, this may cause uncomfortable pressure to the back of the leg, and negatively change the balance of the skier. Women's boots are made to help accomadate these common problems.
  
  Custom Footbeds
  Custom footbeds are molded to your feet and support the foot in a neutral postion. They reduce the foot's natural tendency to spread out and to roll inside the boot. By supporting the foot, the foot will not work so hard to stay stable, this will help relieve cramping and muscle fatigue. The goal is to make your feet more comfortable and to provide a more precise transfer of energy through the boot into the ski. Custom footbeds also inhanse blood flow supporting the foot.
  
  Balance
  Good balance allows the skier to postion there weight easily and effectively to the changing conditions. Fore and Aft balance is most important when entering and leaving a turn. If finding your self in the backseat often, or unable to make quick short radious turns, there may be a balance problem.
  
  Canting
  Canting is to achieve sound knee mass location and flat riding skis(or slightly inside edged) is ideal. If you turn one way better than the other, if you have difficulty controlling one ski, you are continually crossing or catching edges, you may have a canting problem. For most people canting will make turning smoother and more effective.
  
  603-491-4917
  email skiiboot@aol.com