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News: Footbeds not worth using

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
and don't worry about edging/waxing either.

http://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/t.php?n=224821

Shocked
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Swirly, how about pointing them to here?
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Interesting one this. I certainly wouldn't be without my Superfeet Corks and I've got Superfeet trim-to-fit in some of my street shoes too. However... I know a guy with only one leg who races and teaches and he thinks it's better unsupported (and who am I to argue?) I also hear that many top flight ski racers prefer a totally flat boot floor as well (again, who am I to argue?)... but then they're only looking for a few minutes of ultimate performance out of their set-up so maybe no a worthwhile comparison with us all-dayers.


Last edited by Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see? on Sat 10-02-07 11:29; edited 1 time in total
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i got my boots fitted by a pro and spent the 50 or so quid for the footbeds, they definately make a difference to my pony flat feet, i.e. more control, more stability, no foot pain, no blisters.
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Swirly, that will be why it is a climbing forum and not a skiing one


Bode Swiller makes some interesting points i think the most important one is about shop staff acting like podiatrists.


the professional boot fitters out there are the ones A] have gained training / qualifications related to the foot / orthotics and B] know the limitation of both their scope of practice and the products that they are using.

making an accomodative product is what should be done in a ski shop, the product will simply be a mould of the foot as it lies. professionally trained bootfitters can position the foot better and create a balance footbed / orthotic, the product is still accomodative but accomodates the foot in a beter position...... then comes the corrective devices, these are the ones that change the position of the foot to alter function and the resting angle.
These are built to a prescription written by a podiatrist [or any other clinician with prescribing priveleges[yep thats right a dentist can prescribe orthotics]] they can be built by a podiatrist, pedorthist, orthotist, lab technician or any other monkey so long as they follow the presciption, at the end of the day the buck stops with the prescribing physician.

Now to confuse the issue all footbeds are accomodative and to some degree corrective, the major point is knowing to what level the product is doing each job.

So what is the best thing for the general skiing public.... well 90% of people would be fine on either an off the peg device or a well made custom product

It is the small percentage of people that require more than can be offered by the non podiatrist. these people should be refered to a podiatrist when they are in the boot shop, reputable dealers will have a link to a local podiatrist who can produce something for the more problematic foot.

next problem is that ski shops are generally un-regulated therefore they can do what the hell they like. many are conciencous and don't do the silly stuff, on the other hand there are plenty out there doing some very dodgey things as well.

the professionalism of the shop can often be realised by looking at the simple things professional outlets generally use proper material, my example here is heel lifts either in cork, or soft / firm foams or rubber dependig on useage the less reputable store will just cut a peice of insole and stuff it inside the boot [may be fine for trial but cost cutting at this level is a sure fire sign that they won't spend the time and effort in getting it right elsewhere]


As said before the skill comes in knowing when not to sell something and not when a few ££ in the till is the motivation

So in conclusion well fitted, balanced boots with good footbeds are the way forward it is just a case of finding the right person and trusting their skills and training. wink

as for waxing skis well thats for another day Little Angel Little Angel

EDIT: a statement which was posted innocently has been removed as it has been mis construed, and quoted out of context and caused upset to people many of whom i consider close friends. I apologies sincerely to anyone who has who this has affected, and must say that the whole matter has upset me.


Last edited by Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do. on Sat 10-02-07 10:45; edited 2 times in total
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Bode Swiller,

I have pretty weird feet (ask easiski)...

I can say that there is a HUGE difference between my walking orthotics(made by a podiatrist) and my NEW ski boot footbeds (made by a podiatrist at SIDAS in Grenoble) and the stuff made by bootfitters.... my feet/knees/hips know the difference ....

I cannot comment for "normal"(whatever that is) feet ... but for problem feet - podiatrists RULE!!! (a good physio check out does not hurt but I'd had that a few times under ski instructor instructions as he was unhappy with what was happening when i went to bootfitters)


The interesting thing is that most bootfitters look at my feet and go "yeah I can do that" ... and only two have gone "nah go away and see a podiatrist I'm not trained to deal with THAT"

Now i spend a fair bit of my working life deciding who to refer for further treatment by a health professional and who to try to treat... and i find that an interesting sample compared to studies done on folks in my profession where a large number refer the patient on when the going gets tough....
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
little tiger, you are in that 10% ...as i said it is a case of knowing when not to proceed and when to proceed Little Angel
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
CEM,

yes exactly...

Unfortunately my experience indicates the majority of bootfitters do not seem to know when NOT to proceed... (ie think they can do more than they can).... and ask easiski - my feet really are QUITE strange....

Given that I really did not pay an awful lot more for the trip to SIDAS than for a trip to a bootfitter... I'd suggest seeing SIDAS if you think you have foot problems and are wondering what to do....

They are not that far from Grenoble airport and can be readily fitted into a trip to France flying via this airport... Very Happy
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
little tiger, Do you have contact details for SIDAS
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 Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Is a ski boot alone a correction or not, descuss. Toofy Grin
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
SMALLZOOKEEPER, Toofy Grin Toofy Grin
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 And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
SMALLZOOKEEPER wrote:
Is a ski boot alone a correction or not, descuss. Toofy Grin

Yes, end of discussion (SZK please note spelling)
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 So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
LARGEZOOKEEPER, Toofy Grin Toofy Grin you been busy
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
CEM, Yup, given up on tonight, will go in early in the morning. Did you see Schladming last night? outrageous!!
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
LARGEZOOKEEPER, nope...what happened, i callled Jason to get an update but his battery was dead and he hasn't called back yet
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
wink


Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Sat 10-02-07 11:30; edited 1 time in total
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Edit: post removed for reasons sighted in original post


Last edited by Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person on Sat 10-02-07 10:47; edited 2 times in total
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Frosty wrote:
little tiger, Do you have contact details for SIDAS


yes - do you require info... i can tell you the phone number, address, how to get there .... etc
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CEM, Bode Swiller, Intersesting and noteworthy that the voice of British skiers says so little on this subject Sad

3/4 years ago (before I discovered snowHeads) I emailed the SCGB for information on specialist ski bootfitters and all they sent me was details of 1 place in London with the only advice of, ask for Hamish !
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
boredsurfin, I wonder do they profit from profeet?
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boredsurfin, Please prove do me wrong but I know that whilst the club used to (1995) have a mission statement calling itself the voice of British Skiing or something similar, (and Mr Goldsmith has resuscitated that here and elsewhere in the past) I haven't seen any such claim on their site/documentation for years, and neither was DG able to provide evidence substantiating this as the SCGBs "mission" when challenged. Snowsports GB seems to have made bigger and broader claims than the SCGB, which only seems to want "To help people get onto the slopes to enjoy skiing and boarding without spending a fortune" see here.

I think it is neither interesting or noteworthy that the club does not do comparisons of the service in different shops, be it in ski tuning or boots or whatever, and limit themselves to product comparisons. They ain't the Consumer Association. I do wish that in the past they had closely analysed the quality of products whey were more closely allied to, eg insurance, snowextras etc. But I wonder if suggesting there is something ulterior going on here plays in to the hands of those who say that snowHeads is anti ski club, when I personally do not think this is the case. The best way of learning about how fitters work is by asking the ordinary punter his/her experiences, and a web forum seems to be the ideal place to do this.
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
stoatsbrother, We need a togue in cheek smilie don't we Laughing

In my case the club was at the time the only source of information for 'holiday' skiers in the UK and at that time was advertising the benefits of it's 'information' service, hence my enquiry re specialist boot fitting.
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