Huge boot issues

[Shredability]

I've been skiing my entire life, usually get 30-40 days a year or so, split between the resort and touring. I've had my fair share of foot pain, but nothing compared to what my girlfriend has been dealing with.

She picked up some Atomic hawx xtd touring boot she uses in the resort/touring.

Things she's done:

The liners have been heat molded twice by the store where she bought them. The tech fit the boots.

The toebox has been punched out (different tech).

Heel raiser inserted (different tech)

Tounge pads added (own volition)

Buying a pair of Full Tilts from a random guy. Didn't work, the same pain.

Different footbeds.

Here is the main problem. Standing around the boots is fine, she can wear them for hours with no pain. Touring up in the boots is completely fine. Skiing groomers is fine. The issue is when she gets off-piste, she says her foot and ankle are "bashing around" this leads to intense pain and we have to call the day. Tightening the boots leads to calf cramping and more pain.

The various techs we have seen when getting the boots fitted have all said the shell fit is fine and the fit looks fine to them.

I'm totally at a loss, any suggestions would be extremely helpful.

 

[snowmonk_]

Skip the boots and go barefoot. Curl your toes and lock them into your bindings. Problem solved, man.

 

[onenerdykid]

I've been skiing my entire life, usually get 30-40 days a year or so, split between the resort and touring. I've had my fair share of foot pain, but nothing compared to what my girlfriend has been dealing with.

She picked up some Atomic hawx xtd touring boot she uses in the resort/touring.

Things she's done:

The liners have been heat molded twice by the store where she bought them. The tech fit the boots.

The toebox has been punched out (different tech).

Heel raiser inserted (different tech)

Tounge pads added (own volition)

Buying a pair of Full Tilts from a random guy. Didn't work, the same pain.

Different footbeds.

Here is the main problem. Standing around the boots is fine, she can wear them for hours with no pain. Touring up in the boots is completely fine. Skiing groomers is fine. The issue is when she gets off-piste, she says her foot and ankle are "bashing around" this leads to intense pain and we have to call the day. Tightening the boots leads to calf cramping and more pain.

The various techs we have seen when getting the boots fitted have all said the shell fit is fine and the fit looks fine to them.

I'm totally at a loss, any suggestions would be extremely helpful.

From what you've described, I can't say with 100% certainty over the interwebz but it most likely doesn't sound fit-related. As you said, she's been checked by various fitters and tried multiple boots.

What it most likely is, is poor technique. When skiing on-piste, it's relatively easy to maintain good technique & a proper, balanced skiing position. But when people ski off-piste or in choppy/challenging snow conditions, they don't ski the same way as they do on-piste- they get off the balls of their feet, their balance shifts rearward and they get a little back seat. To control the ski, they then have to curl their foot up and then all hell breaks loose. The foot shifts laterally, things bang around. Arches cramp, calf muscles cramp, the outside of your foot hurts, ankles hurt, etc.

If she is having this issue in a variety of boots, the boot-fitter say the size/fit is good, has no issues while skiing on-piste or when touring, then it's most likely her technique that is causing her issues when skiing off-piste. Does that seem like a fair assessment when you watch her ski? Or does her form/technique look just as good skiing off-piste as she does on-piste?