 Poster: A snowHead
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OK OK, seems like a stupid question, but without hindsight of varied boot experience and a pretty high level of skiing competence, honest it is a vaguely sensible question. What are the clues that tell you your boots are too stiff for you?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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You can't bend them when you are trying to flex your ankles?
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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?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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when you cant get them on 
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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bitoffluff, I do a test, which is standing upright, flex my ankles, look down, do my knees obscure the front of my boots, if they don't I can't flex them enough.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Spyderman, aaaaaah, but is that when the boot is warm or cold?
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question is...HOW MUCH or LITTLE flexion at the ankle do you need to ski properly?
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| Spyderman wrote: |
| bitoffluff, I do a test, which is standing upright, flex my ankles, look down, do my knees obscure the front of my boots, if they don't I can't flex them enough. |
When I look down I can't even see my feet 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| Mosha Marc wrote: |
| Spyderman, aaaaaah, but is that when the boot is warm or cold? |
And stationary or maximum pressure in a GS turn?
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hmm, not really much further forward, im confused, help!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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bitoffluff, what makes you think your boots might be too stiff for you? What can't you do in them?
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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.
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Sitting back is one.
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| rob@rar wrote: |
| bitoffluff, what makes you think your boots might be too stiff for you? What can't you do in them? |
thats kinda the point if i knew what was the things to look out for then i would be able to say what makes me think they are too stiff. Looking at it another way how would you with your loads of experience ski a pair of boots and think hmmm, they might be a bit stiff??
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You know it makes sense.
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| bitoffluff wrote: |
| Looking at it another way how would you with your loads of experience ski a pair of boots and think hmmm, they might be a bit stiff?? |
If I couldn't flex them smoothly when skiing at a moderate pace I'd be worried they were too stiff (or the wrong boot, perhaps with the ankle pivot in the wrong place for my ankle bone).
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| Quote: |
Sitting back is one
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Yes - I suppose that when you bend you knees, if your boots are very still your backside will drop behind your feet. It's not possible to flex well at the knees, and keep your backside over the feet, without flexing at the ankles too, is it?
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Poster: A snowHead
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I'd be more worried about potential lack of stiffness elsewhere, if I wasn't me... 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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bitoffluff, if I couldn't dorsiflex my ankles fully in them in a warm room despite trying hard
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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?
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are they to stiff or are they actually too big and because they are not a good fit you cant flex them?
In a boot that is too big your shin will only push the top of the cuff rather than a good progresive contact all the way down the shin this will make the boot feel way stiffer and less flexible than it really is.
also a boot that is too big is likely to have the the cuff clipped way tighter than on a better fitting boot so again it not the flex but the fit that is the problem.
Im sure a more sober poster will be along shortly to give you some alcohol free advice
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I don't believe it's possible for a commercial boot to be too stiff, i've seen beginners bend 130kn boots in half. Ankle flex is the key.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| SMALLZOOKEEPER wrote: |
| I don't believe it's possible for a commercial boot to be too stiff |
I tend to agree. If skiers can't flex their boots I'd guess either a lack of movement in the ankle joint or, perhaps more commonly, a lack of technique so their timing is off and they can't work with the pressures that they should be feeling when turning.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| SMALLZOOKEEPER wrote: |
| I don't believe it's possible for a commercial boot to be too stiff, i've seen beginners bend 130kn boots in half. Ankle flex is the key. |
doesnt that kinda also depend on the weight of the beginner, also then are you sayiong its rubbish the instructors (and reputable ski schools) that go round saying a lot of people are held back by have too stiff boots?
They are now the right size cos i part exchange last ones for ones that actually fit this time now i know better. They are a step up in stiffness which i didnt want, but had to go for to get a low volume boot that fitted.
About flexing smoothly while skiing, its kinda hard unless you are really good to concentrate on pulling apart the elements of your turn and having nothing to compare against.
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| bitoffluff wrote: |
| About flexing smoothly while skiing, its kinda hard unless you are really good to concentrate on pulling apart the elements of your turn and having nothing to compare against. |
Can you flex your ankles when you are standing still on your skis?
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As mentioned above, I think a lot of it is fit-related - if there's loose-ness between the front of the ankle / lower shin area and the boot, the skier will be able to flex their ankle but it won't have the desired effect on the relationship between boot and ski
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| Quote: |
doesnt that kinda also depend on the weight of the beginner, also then are you sayiong its rubbish the instructors (and reputable ski schools) that go round saying a lot of people are held back by have too stiff boots?
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Nah, i'm saying that if the said instructor hasn't checked the dorsiflexion of his clients, then they are likey to belive that is the case. In most cases, it's the available flex in the skiers ankle, not the stiffness of the boots, and yes weight, hight, strength and speed are all issues.
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When you do find a flex that you are happy with, after consulting with your boot fitter be aware that they will become considerably more stiff on the mountain. Some boots when very cold go quite solid.
I had a pair of boots about six years ago that were impossible to get on if cold. I had to stick them on a heater for a while then wrestle with them. It must have looked pretty funny especially in a snow filled car park. Not so funny for me though! great boots despite this draw back.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Poly ether will become 5 times stiffer between +15 and -15 degrees, this type of plqstic is the leqst effected by temperature, so say no to polyester and poly propelyne, say no i say.
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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.
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| rob@rar wrote: |
| bitoffluff wrote: |
| About flexing smoothly while skiing, its kinda hard unless you are really good to concentrate on pulling apart the elements of your turn and having nothing to compare against. |
Can you flex your ankles when you are standing still on your skis? |
just stuck them in the freezer (big thaw up north  ) and will try when they are proper cold, back later!
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| SMALLZOOKEEPER wrote: |
| Poly ether will become 5 times stiffer between +15 and -15 degrees, this type of plqstic is the leqst effected by temperature, so say no to polyester and poly propelyne, say no i say. |
hmm that could explain something, i cant get the proper name of the shall material, except lower shell uis PU (?) and the upper shell is PP (?)
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You know it makes sense.
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polypropylene & polyurethene im guessing
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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tiffin, Yup.
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Poster: A snowHead
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I like it, sticking them in the freezer!
I guess that you may have a bit to eat this coming week... That is dedication and I guess that you are probably single
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Downhill Sailor wrote: |
I like it, sticking them in the freezer!
I guess that you may have a bit to eat this coming week... That is dedication and I guess that you are probably single |
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