I concluded my Surefoot experiment this week and, it was a successful experiment in that I learned yet another expensive lesson. I'm getting really good at those as I age. Learning the hard way is effective . . . maybe someday I'll learn to learn the easy way. Nah, probably not 
Beginning of last season had a couple days on a pair of Surefoot Lange SX120s. Jury was still out at the time, and I was hopeful but had some doubts. I rationalized that decision, talked about that here:
https://www.pugski.com/threads/new-boots.7343/page-2#post-308441
By the tail end of the season I knew the Surefoots had been a mistake: https://www.pugski.com/threads/asking-for-a-friend-thread.14554/page-4#post-337919
The invaluable knowledge shared here about the process had me looking for the best bootfitter I could find to work with, and that's what I did. Mike, @MRT at Southern Ski has got me sorted out finally.
All along I suspected I had issues that were not my poor ski skills, but when you're not a lifelong expert, there are doubts. Just try harder, do more drills, get in better shape, must be the altitude, blah blah blah. Sometimes, it really IS the gear's fault. I never felt 'stacked' or comfortable over the skis, when I got in the stacked position I was too far forward and way out of balance, so to compensate, my knees pushed forward, made me squat. 14.5" calves at the top of the cuff, max at 16", were contributing heavily to the forward knee push. Constant fight to get out of the back seat, hard time turning the uphill ski, quad and lower back fatigue (thought that was just my fitness level, and I'm decently fit), edge control issues, heel pushing, skidding, you name it, I did it. Every run, every turn was a battle. I muscled, literally, through it all.
Somebody here said Surefoot pumps a size-too-large shell full of foam and calls it done. They did a little bit more for me but that's an accurate and succinct summary, and the result is result. I simply did not get a proper boot fit by an experienced boot fitter.
Out with the old, in with the new
Sure enough, I was in a 27.5 Lange - too big! Mike sized me down to 26 shell - Atomic Hawk Ultra 120 S. He's got the Fischer vacuum machine and some original tools he's built to maintain proper position while the heat/vacuum mold takes. I don't remember exactly but I was something like 35-40mm too far pushed forward in the Langes. It was remarkable to feel the difference 1mm forward/back made on the balance point where heels are down, touching, but weight is just right on the balls of the feet - where you control and turn the skis. That was the first exercise we did on his forward lean rig. Eye opening.
We did the full work up, Mike even noticed my short left leg after looking at a pair of running shoes I had brought in with about 300 miles on them. Compensated for that in the left boot with a little bit more heel lift, though both boots have some heel lift to compensate for my lack of ankle, um, dorsiflexion? Is that the right word? Either way I don't have a lot of bend in my right ankle, a little better left but the heel lift additions help fix that, apparently. Now I've got to go get orthotics for my running shoes because being balanced with equal length legs felt so good in the boots, just standing there.
The experience was night and day and I thought "FINALLY, this is what everyone talks about!" I found my guy - Mike at Southern Ski in Irmo, SC (Columbia). If you are anywhere in the Carolinas/TN/GA area - don't go anywhere else. Mike's the only Best Bootfitters in America member I believe in our region and very much worth the drive.
Even got a plan for when we get on the slopes this season and Mike stands by the fit for life of the boot. If we need tweaks, I've got clear guidance on what to look for on the hill, some ducttape shim adjustments to make at the back of the cuff inside the boot after the 1st ski day - and it all makes a lot of sense.
The ducttape shim 'hack' to test forward lean for perfection:
Anyway - hopefully this is yet one more testimony to find the best possible boot fitter you can in your area, that is the most important thing you could do in shopping for ski boots. Don't learn the hard way like me - after season sale 1st pair of boots, molded and punched and cut and - not the right boot. Over spending on something that doesn't actually work - 2nd pair of boots (though I was trying to find the 'best' product, went about it wrong). Just skip straight to a well reputed boot fitter and listen to them. I wish I'd done that 1st.
Thank you @MRT
Beginning of last season had a couple days on a pair of Surefoot Lange SX120s. Jury was still out at the time, and I was hopeful but had some doubts. I rationalized that decision, talked about that here:
https://www.pugski.com/threads/new-boots.7343/page-2#post-308441
By the tail end of the season I knew the Surefoots had been a mistake: https://www.pugski.com/threads/asking-for-a-friend-thread.14554/page-4#post-337919
The invaluable knowledge shared here about the process had me looking for the best bootfitter I could find to work with, and that's what I did. Mike, @MRT at Southern Ski has got me sorted out finally.
All along I suspected I had issues that were not my poor ski skills, but when you're not a lifelong expert, there are doubts. Just try harder, do more drills, get in better shape, must be the altitude, blah blah blah. Sometimes, it really IS the gear's fault. I never felt 'stacked' or comfortable over the skis, when I got in the stacked position I was too far forward and way out of balance, so to compensate, my knees pushed forward, made me squat. 14.5" calves at the top of the cuff, max at 16", were contributing heavily to the forward knee push. Constant fight to get out of the back seat, hard time turning the uphill ski, quad and lower back fatigue (thought that was just my fitness level, and I'm decently fit), edge control issues, heel pushing, skidding, you name it, I did it. Every run, every turn was a battle. I muscled, literally, through it all.
Somebody here said Surefoot pumps a size-too-large shell full of foam and calls it done. They did a little bit more for me but that's an accurate and succinct summary, and the result is result. I simply did not get a proper boot fit by an experienced boot fitter.
Out with the old, in with the new
Sure enough, I was in a 27.5 Lange - too big! Mike sized me down to 26 shell - Atomic Hawk Ultra 120 S. He's got the Fischer vacuum machine and some original tools he's built to maintain proper position while the heat/vacuum mold takes. I don't remember exactly but I was something like 35-40mm too far pushed forward in the Langes. It was remarkable to feel the difference 1mm forward/back made on the balance point where heels are down, touching, but weight is just right on the balls of the feet - where you control and turn the skis. That was the first exercise we did on his forward lean rig. Eye opening.
We did the full work up, Mike even noticed my short left leg after looking at a pair of running shoes I had brought in with about 300 miles on them. Compensated for that in the left boot with a little bit more heel lift, though both boots have some heel lift to compensate for my lack of ankle, um, dorsiflexion? Is that the right word? Either way I don't have a lot of bend in my right ankle, a little better left but the heel lift additions help fix that, apparently. Now I've got to go get orthotics for my running shoes because being balanced with equal length legs felt so good in the boots, just standing there.
The experience was night and day and I thought "FINALLY, this is what everyone talks about!" I found my guy - Mike at Southern Ski in Irmo, SC (Columbia). If you are anywhere in the Carolinas/TN/GA area - don't go anywhere else. Mike's the only Best Bootfitters in America member I believe in our region and very much worth the drive.
Even got a plan for when we get on the slopes this season and Mike stands by the fit for life of the boot. If we need tweaks, I've got clear guidance on what to look for on the hill, some ducttape shim adjustments to make at the back of the cuff inside the boot after the 1st ski day - and it all makes a lot of sense.
The ducttape shim 'hack' to test forward lean for perfection:
Anyway - hopefully this is yet one more testimony to find the best possible boot fitter you can in your area, that is the most important thing you could do in shopping for ski boots. Don't learn the hard way like me - after season sale 1st pair of boots, molded and punched and cut and - not the right boot. Over spending on something that doesn't actually work - 2nd pair of boots (though I was trying to find the 'best' product, went about it wrong). Just skip straight to a well reputed boot fitter and listen to them. I wish I'd done that 1st.
Thank you @MRT
