Hi everyone. I appreciate this site and enjoy reading the variety of comments on various topics.
I’m a fairly new skier, I’ve been skiing just two years, maybe 30-40 days a year. I’ve been progressing and am looking for a new boot. My first boots are still functional and comfortable, but are a bit large and the fitter didn’t do any customization. I’m a bit knock kneed and can feel it on my inside edges, I have to be extra careful not to catch them.
So to front load this a bit more with my question, I went in to a boot fitter and he suggested what seem to me to be race boots, specifically Fischer RC4 Podium GT. He gave me a handful of plausible reasons, which I will go over, but I’m a bit nervous about race boots being too responsive for my skill level, or otherwise just too advanced or specialized for me. Are these fears unfounded? They also happen to be one of the most expensive boots in the store.
So the reasoning -
1. Fischer builds a more radical abduction into their boots, basically accounting for outward pointing feet. This is covered here:
http://modernskiracing.com/AbductionJunction.php
2. My feet are flat. The fitter commented that he gets a lot of people who tell him their feet are flat but that mine are REALLY flat.
3. As mentioned, I’m a bit knock kneed, which may partially be due to my flat feet.
4. My ankles are very small
5. Due to a combination of 2,3, and 4 he was reaching for a narrow boot that is highly customizable. He said he could put me in another boot like a K2 or Salomon, but he would be doing $400 worth of modifications. With the Fischer he can vacuum fit them and then maybe do just one or two additional punches. He did not try any other boots on me.
One other thing to note, he was initially putting me in 130 flex. I’m 140 lbs, and as mentioned might be intermediate, and I questioned whether that would be too stiff for me. In my mind I think a 110 might be like a 130 for an “average” sized person. He seemed to downplay the difference, said he’d rather take a screw out of the 130 and give me a boot that will last me longer, but ultimately I asked for the 110 and they need to order it.
Bonus question, he recommended a $300 orthotic. I’m no stranger to orthotics, I had custom ones as a teenager due to my feet, the old style that used a cast to build. I don’t question that I need one, but two years ago I got a Sidas winter custom pro heat molded insole for $150. The process seemed similar, I’m not sure what the difference is. I intend to ask about this when the boots come in but if anyone has insight on the various custom orthotics and how they differ I’d be interested in hearing it.
So I guess I’m asking 1) am I being sold way more than I need, but it’s still good equipment or 2) maybe too much for me to handle, or 3) sounds reasonable and the fitter is taking care of me, even if it’s pricey.
I’m a fairly new skier, I’ve been skiing just two years, maybe 30-40 days a year. I’ve been progressing and am looking for a new boot. My first boots are still functional and comfortable, but are a bit large and the fitter didn’t do any customization. I’m a bit knock kneed and can feel it on my inside edges, I have to be extra careful not to catch them.
So to front load this a bit more with my question, I went in to a boot fitter and he suggested what seem to me to be race boots, specifically Fischer RC4 Podium GT. He gave me a handful of plausible reasons, which I will go over, but I’m a bit nervous about race boots being too responsive for my skill level, or otherwise just too advanced or specialized for me. Are these fears unfounded? They also happen to be one of the most expensive boots in the store.
So the reasoning -
1. Fischer builds a more radical abduction into their boots, basically accounting for outward pointing feet. This is covered here:
http://modernskiracing.com/AbductionJunction.php
2. My feet are flat. The fitter commented that he gets a lot of people who tell him their feet are flat but that mine are REALLY flat.
3. As mentioned, I’m a bit knock kneed, which may partially be due to my flat feet.
4. My ankles are very small
5. Due to a combination of 2,3, and 4 he was reaching for a narrow boot that is highly customizable. He said he could put me in another boot like a K2 or Salomon, but he would be doing $400 worth of modifications. With the Fischer he can vacuum fit them and then maybe do just one or two additional punches. He did not try any other boots on me.
One other thing to note, he was initially putting me in 130 flex. I’m 140 lbs, and as mentioned might be intermediate, and I questioned whether that would be too stiff for me. In my mind I think a 110 might be like a 130 for an “average” sized person. He seemed to downplay the difference, said he’d rather take a screw out of the 130 and give me a boot that will last me longer, but ultimately I asked for the 110 and they need to order it.
Bonus question, he recommended a $300 orthotic. I’m no stranger to orthotics, I had custom ones as a teenager due to my feet, the old style that used a cast to build. I don’t question that I need one, but two years ago I got a Sidas winter custom pro heat molded insole for $150. The process seemed similar, I’m not sure what the difference is. I intend to ask about this when the boots come in but if anyone has insight on the various custom orthotics and how they differ I’d be interested in hearing it.
So I guess I’m asking 1) am I being sold way more than I need, but it’s still good equipment or 2) maybe too much for me to handle, or 3) sounds reasonable and the fitter is taking care of me, even if it’s pricey.