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Sauntered in to Snow & Rock on High St Ken a little earlier. My wallet was straining to get to the till!
Watea 94s for £325! Was sooooo tempted!
Watea 94s
Never heard of em.
What skis are everyone on by the way?
I got some Line Prophet 98's. Really nice all mountain ski. I'd like something a bit wider for deep powder though.
having second thoughts about the boots ive bought:
[url] http://www.decathlon.co.uk/mission-id_8188819.html [/url]
they are comfy but having done 2 trips should i have waited a few more trips and then got something genuinly good rather than just getting entry level boots.
what do people think? (i could still take them back)
Those are categorised 'advanced' skier boots- do you have the exact model number? How good are you after two trips?
@titusrider - 55 flex? Are they like noodles? I ski in 120s! (OK, am quite a well built chap, and ski hard so the stiffer boot works better for me, but still. 55s?)
To be honest, a 55 flex boot is only really good for a few hours of playtime, not really for a week (or more) of all day skiing. They might seem comfy, but I'm really not sure they'll help you progress.
*Edit* @woody - That's "expert" in Decathlon speak. As above, a 55 flex boot isn't anything expert at all. In fact, far from it.
Get thee to a proper boot fitter! Solutions 4 Feet are highly recommended. I can also point you to the best boot fitters in Snow and Rock, depending on where you are. It's really worth the time (and money!) to get comfy boots that work with your skiing.
For example, someone I ski with often had used hire boots for a couple of years and said, "I will never go skiing again!" because her boots were so uncomfortable. I took her to Snow and Rock in Kensington where Chris (Awesome boot fitter, and a top chap!) spent two hours on her boots. She now has a pair of custom footbeds in some lovely Atomics and can't wait to get back on the slopes!
having second thoughts about the boots ive bought:
The most important thing about boots is getting the right fit, more so than looks, cost, or whether they are "good" or not. If you're lucky enough to find an off the shelf boot that fits well without any modifications to the shell etc, then I'd stick with them.
thats decathalon writing naff decriptions, they are pretty much as simple as boots go.
in terms of my level i can pretty much ski parralel on blues but not tried much steeper stuff yet (only a couple of reds)
If we're talking about good boot fitters then I have to give a shout out to ProFeet in London. The best money Ive ever spent for skiing! I was in a world of pain before giving them a visit.
Also I didn't notice the 55 flex. That does sound quite soft, it depends what type of skiing you do though.
in terms of my level i can pretty much ski parralel on blues but not tried much steeper stuff yet (only a couple of reds)
That flex should be fine for you then until you progress more and want someting stiffer.
Those are categorised 'advanced' skier boots. How good are you after two trips?
An advanced boot with 55 flex 😆 ,
That is naff of them to say that lol...
hummmmm i no nothing of flex, looks like i might not have done as well as id hoped 🙁
I dont have the funds to do a proper fitting/ non- budget boots
In terms of type of skiing a tend to approach each hol as an opportunity to push myself and learn and concentrate on improving. I want to be able to progress to alot of reds this hol and try and start
carving
I dont have the funds to do a proper fitting/ non- budget boots
What's your budget?
Given that you say; [i]" I want to be able to progress to alot of reds this hol and try and start carving"[/i]
I'd suggest you look at getting some proper boots. £2-300 should cover it. My Salomon Impact 120CS (heat moulded, custom footbeds) would retail at about £350 or so. Now, you may not need to spend that much, for example, S&R have a Salomon Quest Access 80 for £165 (before footbeds) that looks awesome as a developer boot.
Best advice? Go to a proper shop and get sorted! Suggestions are, Snow and Rock, Solutions 4 Feet, Profeet, Edge and Wax, Bartletts (And there may well be more...!)
*Edit - I've used Salomon as a brand here as you had a pair and said they were comfy. They also fit my feet perfectly. However, a trip to a proper boot fitter may well throw up another brand that is better for you. If it is a better fit, buy it! Ignore brand, ignore colour.
Ah! Just had a look at the Salomon website too and didn't know they were the basic model. Depends how long you want them to last but I would think after another couple of weeks you'll be needing/wanting something a lot stiffer.
Having said that, I have a mate who has skied for years and has been very happy on a similar boot but he is very light and not a 'hard' skier.
Yeah I'd suggest going to a proper boot fitters and see what they say about your boots. If you dopn't have any comfort issues then count yourself lucky and maybe stick with the boots you have.
But I would definately recommend a foot bed anyway.
Are you sure you can't change the flex on your boots at all?
A good boot is a boot that fits you well, thats the most important thing. A boot that has an amazing fit on one person might be swimming around another persons foot.
Cheers guys i think i might see if i can return them and see if i can either budget for something 'proper' (high street ken snow and rock is just down the road from work)
or maybe just rent for another trip 🙁
Week booked for Meribel at start of March. Really looking forward to it and looking forward to taking my 18mth old son sledging properly again. He loved it last year. Boarding this year but may have to break out the planks in a couple of years when he starts to learn as much easier to get about on them.
One for the boarders
[img][url= http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3452/3389956573_ba6127ff26.jp g" target="_blank">
Titusrider, you have teh emailz.
😉
Chetler. Auclair. Japan. PowderPron!
And in other news, looks like snow at the end of the week in Serre Che. 🙂
Ski Sunday worth a watch this week. Liked the little editorial from Cairngorm.
Backcountry bit was a little pointless though.
Another weekend of verglas here, they've got some new "neige verglacée" banners where the off-piste starts after last weekend's events. [url= http://www.larepubliquedespyrenees.fr/2012/01/15/serie-de-secours-en-montagne-les-pompiers-appellent-a-la-plus-grande-prudence,223490.php ]And more this week.[/url]
I usually ski in touring boots which have lots of flex only occassionally using proper piste boots which are a lowly 70 flex. I got down yesterday and realised I hadn't done up the top buckles, only the velcro.
As for skis, Michael:
Rando: Atomic Tour Guide, Atomic MX11, Fisher Air Tour
Piste: Atomic Race 12 GS, Dynastar 64 slalom 165 R=11, some old straight Rossignols from the 80s and Rossignol Médaille de Bronze from the 60s with screwed-on edges.
X-C skate: Rossignol X-ium F2, Rossignol Delta Course, Fisher RCS, + others
X-C classique à farter: Atomic something
X-C classique a écailles: Fisher something
If we're talking about good boot fitters then I have to give a shout out to ProFeet in London
take Profeet off the list of good bootfitters.
My boots from there had big problems cutting into my heel pad - crippling pain after a day of skiing - their solution was to beat the heel sections of my liners to make them give more and put me on the ski trainer to break it in. Finally got them fixed in Tahoe where they dremeled the offending heel ridges from the insides of the boots.
However the unforgivable thing was that they cut my custom footbeds too short on the heel (even though I questioned it) and when they were in the boot they were then too far back, so all the ridges and support of the footbed was also too far back and they were uncomfortable.
After many emails and schematic pictures of the problem they were not going to do anything about it.
I now have bits of cut-off footbed wedged into my liners to force the footbeds forward, so they are now comfortable and have the support in the right place. Not something you would expect when paying around £80 for footbeds.
I was on the Warren Smith academy in Verbier. They used to have a relationship with Profeet and there is a Profeet section on boot fitting. However they aren't associated now and Warren said that many of his clients had also mentioned problems with Profeet that Profeet were unwilling to sort out, so they dropped them.
I looked at some example custom footbeds in Ellis Brigham the other day and they seem as substantial as the Profeet ones.
I also saw some example custom footbeds in Snow and Rock yesterday and they seemed much poorer.
A good boot fitter can make an unsuitable boot bearable, but if a boot doesn't feel pretty good when you first put it on the boot fitter is going to have a hard time making it feel great. I suggest trying on lots and lots and lots of boots.
I've given up on these fancy "thermoformable", "mousse injectable" which generally make you're feet feel like they're in a sauna after a few hours and opt for felt or foam liners which become foot shaped after a few days. Madame likes "thermofomable though, each to his/her own eh.
Example footbeds, TG? As in, the ones sitting around the shop floor? They always look rubbish! Mine were really nicely built up, with great support under my arches, and nice low profile overall to help with my shovel shaped feet!
Which store were you in yesterday? I was in High St Ken early on in the day.
Chertsey for Snow and Rock and One New Change (near St Pauls) for Ellis Brigham.
When I was in Tahoe I showed my ProFeet footbeds to a 'master' bootfitter there (he was very good) and he said that he hadn't seen quality that good coming out of Europe before - nothwithstanding that they were too short in the heel.
The Ellis Brigham ones were very similair - the snow and rock ones were very insubstantial compared and more like the dodgy ones I had for my previous set of boots.
Hmm, odd. My footbeds have been ace since I got 'em. Very pleased.
Anyway, what about this?
http://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Serre-Chevalier/6day/mid
Snowing at the end of the week, just in time for me! 🙂
[b]PSA: Free Ski and Snowboard Magazine[/b]
Apple users may be interested to know that The Daily Mail Ski and Snowboard mag is FREE in the App Store in iPhone and iPad versions and apparently will be all season.
http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/daily-mail-ski-snowboard-magazine/id438183242?mt=8&ls=1
Hate to disappoint you Flash:
[url= http://montagne.lachainemeteo.com/meteo-alpes-du-sud/station-montagne/previsions-meteo-serre-chevalier-1200-1471-0.php ]Reliable weather forecast for Serre-Ché[/url]
Excellent GS - now downloaded.
I need new footbeds and looking at the problems above I think I might be better to wait until I get to the resort. Haven't booked yet so can't ask for recommendations bit will probably be Val/Tignes or Val Thorens.
Unless anyone can recommend somewhere in Newcastle/Durham area... ??
*Chooses to ignore Edukator's link*
*Remains optimistic*
🙂
Woody, based on the previous recommendations, there is a Snow & Rock at the Metro Retail Park.
No idea about skiing, but I have had good service in there in the past (despite their "Halfords" reputation).
Hmm, odd. My footbeds have been ace since I got 'em. Very pleased.
different shops may do different things, maybe these weren't fully built up.
As long as the ski goes straight when you are on one leg and your foot doesn't collapse when pressuring into the ski, then they are probably fine.
Also, regarding boot flex, do modern boots need to be as stiff as they used to be - being that skis are more parabolic and you are not pressuring the front of the ski through your shins as much.
A couple of instructors I can think of encourage ankle flex, something you can't do in a stiff boot.
GrahamS
Yeh I remember now, you replied on [url= http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/impressive-service-snowrock-ski-content ]This thread[/url] from a couple of months ago.
Wonder if the Aussie guy is still there as he seemed to know his stuff?
I took a chance and picked up a pair of Nordica Beasts cheap and they seem fine but won't really know until I get out on them. I'm hoping for a bit of snow to try them locally first.
Ankle flex is needed to keep your weight forward in enough as you flex knees and hips. You can add a spoiler behind your calf, add chocks to stop rearward flex or drill and rivet the boot in a more forward position if your boots are too stiff to flex with just your weight. I only know about boots from sorting out my son's race boots, I'm happy skiing in almost anything so long as it fits and is comfortable.
Skis go wherever you point them on one leg or two whatever footbed you have in don't they, Turner? Pressure on the shins is still a good idea on hard, groomed snow and never has been in powder.
Lol. Well at least I'm consistent. 😀
Snow forecast.com turned out to be reasonably accurate for us in austria. Serre Chevalier though, bit common for CFH surely, it's hardly Zermatt is it?
:p
Just back from a fabulous week skiing in Val d'Isere. There had been a blizzard and an enormous dump of snow the previous week so piste conditions were perfect, and we enjoyed 6 days of constant sun. The slopes weren't too busy and on a few occasions we had whole runs to ourselves. Really improved my technique and speed over the week, despite a nagging knee injury which I have had for a few months.
Even managed to watch some of the European Downhill championships (second tier to World Cup) which were being held there - seeing them in the flesh skiing at +70mph was truly awe-inspiring.
Only downside were the ridiculous prices for food and drink.
Already looking forward to next year assuming work / money situation improves and knee injury is sorted.
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I dunno grum, they wear his sort of attire there.
Ankle flex is needed to keep your weight forward in enough as you flex knees and hips. You can add a spoiler behind your calf, add chocks to stop rearward flex or drill and rivet the boot in a more forward position if your boots are too stiff to flex with just your weight. I only know about boots from sorting out my son's race boots, I'm happy skiing in almost anything so long as it fits and is comfortable.
Holy smoke. I wouldn't ever suggest someone puts the cuff forward. If your boots are too stiff you [b]might[/b] be able to cut a small V in the base of the bottom half of the shell where they join (drill a hole at the bottom to stop it splitting. But don;t move the cuff forward, all that will do is make you move your pressure back more, seriously. Ankle flexion is not just fore/aft it is mainly sideways, i.e. you turn a ski by 'rolling' your ankle over, the forward flexion comes for free as part of that movement. When we teach now we teach ankle movement as one of the main things, historically it was the same except most people couldn;t do it and simply got to a point where the pressure was such they produced a tasty stem turn.
And footbeds, a nice deep heel cup is the key to success as the whole mecahnics of your foot are defined by the way the heel is 'presented', the theory being you want a footbed that has your foot presented in 'neutral' which is the point where if you push it up the whole leg moves very easily.
Funny how wee always seem to disagree NZCol whether it's cars or skis.
But don;t move the cuff forward, all that will do is make you move your pressure back more
Tip the top of the boot forward and your prssure moves forward.
Spoilers between the calf are popular after-market accessories amonst racers. The trainer that asked me to chock my sons boots got as high as 27th in the world ranking when racing - he drills and rivets his own boots in a forward position. Even rivited the boots still flex enough for him (he's not heavy BTW). Riviting might be a bit extreme for most STWers but a calf spoiler may be just what they need.
As for rolling your ankle, you're pulling my leg right? Piste boots have canting to adjust the angle but almost no sideways flex. The manufacturers do their utmost to eliminate that as any sideways flex at the ankle means that under high load in tight tiurns you will not be able to hold the ski at the optimum angle.
🙂 @ grum!
Serre Che is just a great resort, not ata all pretentious like some! 🙂
re - rolling your ankle.
I don't think in reality that rolling your ankle within your boot will actually edge the ski more because of the bulk of the boot.
However it probably works for two reasons:
1. You have an overriding thing to think about - it focuses your thoughts on one thing.
It is a bit like golf - give a golfer a new swing thought and it will generally work because now they are focused on one swing thought instead of several different ones - even if you suggest a technical change but they aren't doing it they will still generally get better results by being focused on one thing and so their mind is 'clearer'.
2. Feeling that you are rolling your ankle (or actually doing it) is probably accompanied by actual movements in the rest of your leg. If you focused on the moving the rest of your leg you probably couldn't keep the amount of movement to the same small extent.
Harold Harb and Lito Tejada-Flores both teach 'phantom edging' where you tilt/edge the inner foot (which for them is light on the snow), which 'seems' to cause stronger edging on the other foot as a by product.
And Harold can ski very short radius carved turns.
I loved Serre Chevalier.
Great conditions when I went (I think it was '98/99)
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Dez, love that! Not sure I'm going to have that much snow this year, but am hoping for the usual Serre Che sunshine! Oh, and the joy of sitting in one of the bars at the end of the Alphand at the end of the day, sipping a pastis watching people [s]fall[/s]ski down at the end of hte day in the flat light and moguls! 🙂