BackLoafRiver
New member
Finally got out on the snow yesterday for the first time this season. You can read more on all that in my Sugarloaf Trip Report which I'll get to in a bit.
This is more of a props to Feet First.
In November, I took my boots with me on a business trip to Plymouth. I brought them over to feet first where I met Brian. He sat me down, talked about my issues with the boot, then got to work. (as an aside, Brian is also a MTB racer and an all-around bad a$$)
I initially was prepared to sink some money not only into a new foot-bed, but also an entirely new boot.
He began by showing me what the original boot shop had done for modifications. (which was nothing short of a MESS) Because of my feet, they had gone up a shell size and put a cork heel plate under my heel to get my foot "properly" lined up. Unfortunately, it got my heel out of the pocket and explained several of the issues I was complaining about. They had also used enough graphite on the inside that the liner was nasty. It was, however, structurally fine, as was the entire boot. He said that ordering a new pair, even with the new orthodic, would only provide a marginal if any real advantage. His advice was to spend the time and money getting a new foot bed created and then do a stance evaluation once the insert was completed.
After taking a mold of my feet, I left and scheduled an appointment to return last Saturday. Since I wasn't going to be able to ski for at least a month, I had no issues with doing that.
Saturday I returned, he pulled out the old superfeet and threw in the new one. The difference was substantial. He tweaked it a bit and had to grind out a few more spots on my left foot. The right was unreal. A total difference from what I was feeling before.
Once both beds were intact, he did a stance eval. After 45 minutes or so, we got things to be pretty much spot on. The only downside was, he couldn't grind my boots that day. He said it was going to be at least 2 weeks before he would have a window. Fortune, however, was smiling and as he was scheduling the new appointment, Paul came out and said he could help make it work so the alterations could be done that day. 1 hour later, I returned to find the work finished and I was sent on my way.
The result?
Damn.
Depsite yesterdays conditions being what they were, when I found spots of good snow, I noticed so many positives. Edge control was 100x better than with before. Turn initiation was easier (as long as I wasnt trying to edge on ice) and the whole process felt better. I think the real "wow" moment is going to come in the next month when we get more snow and I can worry less about survival skiing and more about really focusing on the difference. I do know, however, that it is coming.
Feet First was legit. A fantastic experience from start to finish and I am certain I will be do all my boot work through them in the future.
This is more of a props to Feet First.
In November, I took my boots with me on a business trip to Plymouth. I brought them over to feet first where I met Brian. He sat me down, talked about my issues with the boot, then got to work. (as an aside, Brian is also a MTB racer and an all-around bad a$$)
I initially was prepared to sink some money not only into a new foot-bed, but also an entirely new boot.
He began by showing me what the original boot shop had done for modifications. (which was nothing short of a MESS) Because of my feet, they had gone up a shell size and put a cork heel plate under my heel to get my foot "properly" lined up. Unfortunately, it got my heel out of the pocket and explained several of the issues I was complaining about. They had also used enough graphite on the inside that the liner was nasty. It was, however, structurally fine, as was the entire boot. He said that ordering a new pair, even with the new orthodic, would only provide a marginal if any real advantage. His advice was to spend the time and money getting a new foot bed created and then do a stance evaluation once the insert was completed.
After taking a mold of my feet, I left and scheduled an appointment to return last Saturday. Since I wasn't going to be able to ski for at least a month, I had no issues with doing that.
Saturday I returned, he pulled out the old superfeet and threw in the new one. The difference was substantial. He tweaked it a bit and had to grind out a few more spots on my left foot. The right was unreal. A total difference from what I was feeling before.
Once both beds were intact, he did a stance eval. After 45 minutes or so, we got things to be pretty much spot on. The only downside was, he couldn't grind my boots that day. He said it was going to be at least 2 weeks before he would have a window. Fortune, however, was smiling and as he was scheduling the new appointment, Paul came out and said he could help make it work so the alterations could be done that day. 1 hour later, I returned to find the work finished and I was sent on my way.
The result?
Damn.
Depsite yesterdays conditions being what they were, when I found spots of good snow, I noticed so many positives. Edge control was 100x better than with before. Turn initiation was easier (as long as I wasnt trying to edge on ice) and the whole process felt better. I think the real "wow" moment is going to come in the next month when we get more snow and I can worry less about survival skiing and more about really focusing on the difference. I do know, however, that it is coming.
Feet First was legit. A fantastic experience from start to finish and I am certain I will be do all my boot work through them in the future.
