Boot flex vs ski stiffness?

[smpayne]

I have the Technica Attiva Flame boots, they have a "flex" and "lock" position for the forward flex in the boot. I have had them on the flex position since I got them, just to get used to them. I tried them on the lock position with my stiffer skis and didn't like it as much. So I put them back on the flex position, but this time I was on a much softer & fatter ski and I felt that they were way too soft.

With the softer flex in the boot and the stiffer ski, I could finally feel the ski carving the turns. When I got onto the softer skis, I felt like I was overpowering the boots, I've never had so much bounce in my knees before, it was a weird feeling. Do the softer, fatter skis work better with a stiffer boot or was I just overpowering everything?

I wasn't skiing as fast as with my stiffer skis, but I felt like I was skiing prettier.

 

[liquidfeet]

SMPayne,
I'm really sorry no one replied to your question. I want to know the answer too. Let's try again.

 

[volklgirl]

It's really hard to answer this one without actually seeing you ski on the equipment. Typically you'd use softer boots with softer skis on softer snow and vise-versa. However, if you're using the fat/soft skis on harder snow, I could see where stiffer boots would be an advantage. Most of the fatties need to be really driven to carve on the hardpack and the stiffer boot would help with that. You'll probably also find that on the stiffer skis, you'll appreciate the stiffer boot setting when on really really hard snow or when ripping off short-short turns. The stiffer boot also offers quicker transmission of your foot and leg movements to the ski...that would translate to instant response from your stiff skis - maybe that's why you didn't really like that setting. Try skiing both sets of skis in the stiffer setting for several day and ski shorter turns faster than you normally do. You may find that you get comfortable with that feeling and begin to like that setting better. The "flex" setting should work best for soft snow and bumps, or days when you're really tired ;) .

 

[smpayne]

Thanks for your input, I think you are right.

On my recent trip to Utah, I changed my settings to the "lock" (this requires a tool to make the change) and then made adjustments with the power strap. I skied with them softer (power strap loose) for the first couple runs and then tightened them up considerably. I only skied my softer skis on this trip and I did find, that I really did prefer the boots really stiff while on these skis.

The stiffer skis felt "twitchy" when the boots were too stiff, probably too responsive. I couldn't feel the ski grabbing the snow, like I could when I had the boots a bit softer and it felt like I was not in as much control. I suppose, if my whole point was to see how fast I could go instead of trying to improve my technique it would have been great. My biggest problem when skiing fast, is the time it takes to stop to avoid other people So I have to find ways to slow it down and these skis, just don't like to go slow.

The difference in the stiffness levels of the boot is probably not a whole lot, since now it is just a matter of using or not using the power strap. It is however, enough for me to tell the difference. You are probably right, that I will eventually be able to tighten up the stiffness even on the stiffer skis as my technique improves. Possibly, by the time I'm ready for new boots again (4yrs), I will need to go a bit stiffer, which will mean changing brands.

The softer skis, are probably too soft for me, especially for hard pack skiing, but they turn so differently, that they are fun to ski. The did great in the UT powder and on the bumps (could have gone a bit shorter for that) and in the local slush. Before this little "experiment", if I had tried the two skis for the first time, I might have said my older skis were too stiff (or too long), while just the softer skis would feel too soft. However, with the flex adjustments to the boots, I can make them both work very well for me.

 

[liquidfeet]

Skiing is just so complicated. How did they ever do it in the old days when it was wood, leather, and skins?

 

[sskier]

I would have fun sking on anything opps I do remember leather boots.
How about rope tows - another topic
Smpayme-
Do you have any problems with the back of your calf with these boot? I have last year which is the same as this years. Beware with today ski you don't need as stiff of boot as you once did.

 

[smpayne]

Do you have any problems with the back of your calf with these boot? I have last year which is the same as this years. Beware with today ski you don't need as stiff of boot as you once did.

I don't have a problem with the back of the calf and I have a low/fat calf. I did take the spoiler out before ever walking out of the store. There were only two boots that I found that fit my calf, Nordica & Tecnica, everything else was too high and too narrow. The Noridica's SMs had a very cool adjustment that widened the calf in the back, had the shop had the SM 10 vs the SM12 I might have gotten them instead. But I love my boots and my custom footbeds.:D

I have tried these boots on all different setting, "Flex", "Lock", with the power strap, without, etc. The bootfitter wanted to remove the power strap and I said no and am extremely happy I did. I find that I do need the extra adjustment depending on the ski, the conditions and how my legs feel.

The more I think about this, the more it re-inforces, to me, the importants of good high quality, propper fitting boots (that don't hurt). It seams I am using the adjustments in the boots to compensate if the ski is too soft, too stiff, too long (don't think I'm at too short yet), and if I'm tired. Realizing that this can make a difference, is really cool.