My tale of woe... As a teen I was run over by a drunk driver, snapping my left leg literally in two. Two years later the bones healed (after two surgeries), but left two screws in my shin and a partially fused left ankle. Over the years I have figured out the "recipe" of boot adjustments to allow me to ski, but with some limitations (big bumps skied at hard).
The last pair of boots I purchased roughly 16 years ago; Salomon XWave 8.0 (measured 90 flex at the time). I am a "light touch" skier who has learned to ski mostly from the bottoms of my feet. I have made a few tweaks to my orthotics which basically allow me to "twitch my feet" when I want my skis to turn. Because of my injury I do not use a lot of forward cuff pressure, nor do I like boots cuffs that are either too straight up, or have too much forward angle. Ramp angle is important as I can get more range of motion in my ankle if my left heel is elevated a bit. If the boots are too stiff and I hit something suddenly it maxes out my ankel and sends shock-waves through my body. Consequently I have learned to be very technically finessed skier, but my turns are still aggressive. I think I use the forward flex of the boot cuff as shock absorption as much as forward pressure. With my Salomons, rather than tighten the top buckle fully, I leave it and the velcro power strap on the looser side and use an eleastic "Booster" strap to add more power and shock absoption. My light touch, I believe, is what's allowed my boots to go 16 seasons without breaking. But the liners are breaking down and there's no point in putting new ones in aging shells. In consideration of the width of my feet, I in athletic shoes I wear a men's 11EE (and am in 27.5 ski boots currently) so effectively downsized from street shoes. I know that boot companies are now advertising "last sizes" which didn't exist 16 years ago.
But here I am, 16 years after my last boot purchase. Boot design has changed and I haven't kept up with it. But years and years ago, when I had just progressed out of the beginner stages of skiing, I owned one of the original pairs of Daleboots. I liked the idea and the wrap around cuff was a blessing for my damaged shin area (I can send photos, but not for the weak of stomach). I could take a stab at a pair of Daleboots, but they're not available locally, so I'd have to spend at least 4 days in SLC to get fitted, and test/adjust them. And while there are a few shops in the areas with other brands, I don't know of any bootfitters I truly trust. The guy I worked with for many years has left the industry and I'm in a quandary.
So, I'm still thinking Daleboot, but to even try them on there is a plane and hotel expense involved, plus car rental and a couple days' lift tickets involved... minimum $2000. Any thoughts on Daleboot or other new-fangled boot technologies that I should be looking into?
Please forgive the long post.
The last pair of boots I purchased roughly 16 years ago; Salomon XWave 8.0 (measured 90 flex at the time). I am a "light touch" skier who has learned to ski mostly from the bottoms of my feet. I have made a few tweaks to my orthotics which basically allow me to "twitch my feet" when I want my skis to turn. Because of my injury I do not use a lot of forward cuff pressure, nor do I like boots cuffs that are either too straight up, or have too much forward angle. Ramp angle is important as I can get more range of motion in my ankle if my left heel is elevated a bit. If the boots are too stiff and I hit something suddenly it maxes out my ankel and sends shock-waves through my body. Consequently I have learned to be very technically finessed skier, but my turns are still aggressive. I think I use the forward flex of the boot cuff as shock absorption as much as forward pressure. With my Salomons, rather than tighten the top buckle fully, I leave it and the velcro power strap on the looser side and use an eleastic "Booster" strap to add more power and shock absoption. My light touch, I believe, is what's allowed my boots to go 16 seasons without breaking. But the liners are breaking down and there's no point in putting new ones in aging shells. In consideration of the width of my feet, I in athletic shoes I wear a men's 11EE (and am in 27.5 ski boots currently) so effectively downsized from street shoes. I know that boot companies are now advertising "last sizes" which didn't exist 16 years ago.
But here I am, 16 years after my last boot purchase. Boot design has changed and I haven't kept up with it. But years and years ago, when I had just progressed out of the beginner stages of skiing, I owned one of the original pairs of Daleboots. I liked the idea and the wrap around cuff was a blessing for my damaged shin area (I can send photos, but not for the weak of stomach). I could take a stab at a pair of Daleboots, but they're not available locally, so I'd have to spend at least 4 days in SLC to get fitted, and test/adjust them. And while there are a few shops in the areas with other brands, I don't know of any bootfitters I truly trust. The guy I worked with for many years has left the industry and I'm in a quandary.
So, I'm still thinking Daleboot, but to even try them on there is a plane and hotel expense involved, plus car rental and a couple days' lift tickets involved... minimum $2000. Any thoughts on Daleboot or other new-fangled boot technologies that I should be looking into?
Please forgive the long post.
. ) The Doc straightened out my alignment and now the soles are also slightly off from before 
