Why do some Park and pipe skiers use race boots?
- Thread starter jps2.0
- Start date
onenerdykid
Active member
Because there is no such thing as truly specific "park" boot.
A ski boot's main functions are to fit the foot & leg, provide energy transmission to the ski, and to some degree offer shock absorption. All of these things are achievable in a traditional 2-piece ski boot construction. Plus the amount of tuning, tinkering, and fitting that can be done to a 2-piece boot is greater than other boot constructions.
An athlete such as these guys, or Jossi Wells or Nicky Keefer, use "non-park" boots because they achieved a better fit and function with them versus other options.
A ski boot's main functions are to fit the foot & leg, provide energy transmission to the ski, and to some degree offer shock absorption. All of these things are achievable in a traditional 2-piece ski boot construction. Plus the amount of tuning, tinkering, and fitting that can be done to a 2-piece boot is greater than other boot constructions.
An athlete such as these guys, or Jossi Wells or Nicky Keefer, use "non-park" boots because they achieved a better fit and function with them versus other options.
S.J.W
Active member
To add to one nerdy kids post, a traditional boot is much more predictiable and allows you really push over the shins and gets some super heavy power. The benefits of a 2 piece boot are in moguls, however if you're skiing pipe or a slope course you want a boot that is super predictable.
Anyone who grew up skiing and is a very very strong all mountain skier (like all these pros) don't want to use some mushy park boot. They have no feel, absorb all shock, and the flex is way to soft to transition the type of power that a skier at that level wants. Park boots are nothing more than a marketing gimic to sell shitty boots for a high price
Big_Mtn
Member
I ski a Lange RX 130 LV, a race shell with rubber soles and some intuitions and footbeds. Granted, I ski big mtn comps mostly, but I still ski park in them. The edge control is unparalleled. My skis feel like an extension of my body. I never have issues with shin bang because skiing race boots all the time forces you to be forward over your skis. I also have super narrow feet so YMMV.
Skiingsnow
Active member
coz if they fit your foot, they are fucking awesome
Skiingsnow
Active member
coz if they fit your foot, they are fucking awesome
cobra_commander
Active member
because everyone who actually learned to ski likes boots that don't suck.
freeballer
Member
Boots are all about fit. Race boots provide the best custom fit and you can tweak them to get better than straight out of the box. Better plastic that doesn't break down as quick. Better liners. Better everything. Only gapers get park boots because they look cool and Tom Wallisch has them.
I ski in like 4 or 5 different boots... (perks of being tight with the suppliers) if it's a pow day and I'm feeling frisky, i'm busting out my head raptors. If its bulletproof and I want to pull out the race sticks? I'm on on my head raptors. For all other purposes (touring, fucking around in the park, cruising, skiing with slow people) I'll be in my touring boots, full tilts, or my lupos.
If I'm feeling serious or need to keep up with the boys who send big, the only answer is my red raptor 140s.
If I'm feeling serious or need to keep up with the boys who send big, the only answer is my red raptor 140s.
grilled_steeze
Member
Its all about the feel and performance. I personally like a stiff boot. It gives more power to my ski and gives me better control.
Negromancer
Active member
13724067:WildBANimal said:
Lucky so and so, I struggle to get one pair of boots to fit me properly let alone 4 or 5...
13724168:Negromancer said:
10 years of working in the ski industry in one way or another grants you awesome things if you play your cards right.
GayWolf420
Active member
13724384:WildBANimal said:
id give my god damn left nut for a closet full of Langes, preferably anything over 130
scratchskier321
Active member
the key, like nerdy kid said, is that there is no such thing as park boot... Most "park boots" are too wide and high volume to be accurate enough for good skiers. Seeing pro's using low volume boots is not a new thing.