WELCOME TO SKI BOOT CAMP

Boots are to skiing what bike seats are to cycling: A bad fit can be a real pain in the butt. Properly fitted boots with the right flex are essential for controlling your skis and keeping your feet warm. But what should a boot feel like?

A properly fitted ski boot should feel like hands gently clasped around your ankles. Your heels should not slip up and down, your calf muscles shouldn’t feel pinched. The boot should feel comfortably snug, but you should be able to wiggle your toes just a little bit. Boots that are too tight cause your feet to get cold, cramp, or go to sleep. You can’t do anything on the slopes if you can’t feel or move your feet.

Once you think you have a good fit, try leaning your shins forward against the front of the boot. You should be able to feel the boot top hinge forward. This is important. Skis turn from the front end, not the back end. If you can’t get your weight forward by flexing your boots, you will have difficulty beginning your turns.

Take the time while boot fitting, whether in the ski shop or in the rental department, to make sure you don’t feel any uncomfortable or "hot" spots before you hit the slopes. Bootfitters love the challenge of helping you out. A little fiddling around beforehand is time well spent. – Jeannie Thoren