On a trip last week to Beaver Creek and Vail with Finndog and another friend from the East a boot problem increased in intensity.
I ski in the Lange World Cup 120 which is one of the best shell fits I’ve ever had. The problem was that for the last third of this season I was beginning to feel the shell on the tip of the ankle bone on the inside right leg. The irritation would grow towards the end of a ski day. I was also getting some irritation on the inside of the first met head.
It was particularly irritating on the first day of this trip and my buddy had been in the Surefoot store at Beaver Creek a couple times that morning for spot grinds in new Head boots he was skiing. So about lunch time I went in there with the hope that they could help me figure out the issue. I was hesitant because of the Surefoot stigma and this was closing day at the Beav, nobody there tomorrow to help me if needed.
The head fitter that day (I didn’t get his name) listened to my story, looked at my foot, my boots, liners and existing footbeds. In short order he proclaimed that my right footbed was collapsing and my ankle bone and met head were forcing excess wear on the liner and this was why I was feeling the shell on my ankle bone.
He suggested that I needed new orthotics and that the price was 215.00 This was more than I usually have to pay for footbeds but hey, base area at a major resort. The price didn’t really concern me, I just didn’t want to spend the money and not be happy with the result. I was also concerned about messing with the left boot as it’s fit was excellent.
I told the fitter that I’d be back in a little while and left. Talked to Finn and my other accomplice and the fitters logic made sense. I went back to the store after pondering it and told the guy “let’s do it...”
The fitter did not push shells or liners on me. He put me on their computer driven foot analyzer and said come back in 45 minutes. Shopped around a little and came back and he had them ready to go.
I tried them on and the problem foot (right) felt excellent. The boots had a full season on them and were loosening a bit and these new footbeds helped to tighten the overall fit slightly. Putting on the left boot I was immediately worried. Felt like I was standing on a golf ball in the arch. I told the fitter I was worried and thought that should be modified but he held his ground and said “you gotta ski it first.” So off we went headed for Vail the next day.
The next morning at Golden Peak I was concerned because after being on the dryers all night the whole fit felt overly tight and I was still feeling that left arch.
Bottom line. Two hours later, fit is excellent and my compadres proclaim that I am skiing more balanced. No more ankle bone on plastic in the right foot and the left arch issue has disappeared. Monday was an outstanding day at Vail and Finn, Gary and I skied until we couldn’t ski anymore. I was on the new footbeds all day.
The fitter at Surefoot Beaver Creek really did an excellent job and my perception of Surefoot has definitely improved. Two thumbs up on my new footbeds.
