New boots on first day of the season??

[Lori_K]

Ok, we're going to brave the crowds and the long drive and go up to Colorado on Saturday. This will be our first ski day of this season.

Now, I just bought a pair of Salomon Instinct 9's a few weeks ago. No time in them other than walking around the shop while they heat-fitted.

Should I wear the new boots my first day skiing this season, knowing I am going to be out of shape and a bit awkward?
Or should I go with the "known quantity" of my old boots, which are softer and broken in, and probably a bit more forgiving?

I won't be at my "home" mountain, so if I have the new boots and they need adjustment, I'm SOL. I can't take both boots and switch between them, because the new boots have a shorter sole length than the old boots. The ski bindings are still set for the old boots, right now.

I really want to try out the new boots, but I'm not sure that the first day on skis is the right time for that!

What would YOU do??

 

[Severine]

I would stick with the old ones, mainly because you won't be able to make adjustments if needed. Why add more to the things that are stacked against you (first time out this season, away from home mtn, etc.), KWIM? I know it's very tempting, but the first day is always a bit of adjustment in getting your ski legs back. Might as well go a little easy on yourself. Of course, that's just my opinion. Take it for what it's worth.

 

[Jilly]

Been there done that. Take the old boots. Its enough just trying to get the ski legs back, without breaking in new boots too. Next time at home, get everything adjusted and go for it.

 

[skigrl27]

Dude - take the new boots out. Go for it. Geez! What'd ya buy the darn things for?? Take the old boots, but leave em in the car. Get your ski legs in shape in the new boots...there's no time like the present. I'm not sure what kind of "adjustments" would be going on - but its nothing they wouldn't be able to do for you at the mountain.

New gear. New season. Rock out chicka!

 

[abc]

Take the old boots, but leave em in the car.

Nope, I'd leave the new boot at home. I don't know of too many people who are so handy that they can re-adjust the binding between the two boots of different sole length, in the back of the car no less.

Oh yes, since they have different sole length, you need to look up what the DIN should be for the new boot. I bet they're different.

 

[skigrl27]

1)get screwdriver
2)put toe end in front of binding
3)screw back of binding till boot will engage, either out or in, depending on if the new boot is bigger or smaller.
4)engage binding, press down real hard.
5)screw the same screw in again until flush (don't overtighten)

if this fails or sounds scary, get to the mountain about 10 minutes early, pay the dudes $15 and let them do it for ya. No way I'd ski in old boots with new babies sitting untouched.

 

[skigrl27]

go here too:

https://www.dinsetting.com/

 

[ski diva]

go here too:

https://www.dinsetting.com/

That is so cool! I love it!

I'm with skigrl27, BTW. Try the new boots (how can you resist?), but bring the old ones along just in case.

 

[bklyn]

New boots. There's no reason to waste time in the old boots.

 

[BackCountryGirl]

I'm with skigrl27. Go for it. Having new gear makes me feel like a kid at Christmas. I was never one who could delay gratification! Use the new boots -- you'll also want to know sooner, rather than later, if there's a fit issue that will require a bootfitter's assistance.

 

[ski diva]

Should I wear the new boots my first day skiing this season, knowing I am going to be out of shape and a bit awkward?
Or should I go with the "known quantity" of my old boots, which are softer and broken in, and probably a bit more forgiving?

One more thing: if you're skiing isn't as good as you'd like, you can blame it on the boots! How can you pass up such a great excuse???

 

[altagirl]

Use the new boots, bring the old ones.

I've re-adjusted my own bindings before. And if you're not comfortable doing it or trusting anyone you're with, it would take a shop on the mountain a few minutes and be cheap if the need arises.

 

[abc]

Simple, ask yourself what's the chance the new boot would hurt. How many days will you be skiing? 1, 2, 4?

Since you'll be at a different mountain, you can't get it adjusted for free. So if you end up having to go back to the old boot, you're much better off just use the old boot to begin with.

If the new boot fit pretty good and you think it's work out without giving you a giant blister, no problem. I would do it for 1 or 2 days skiing, but not if it's 3 or 4. It can REALLY hurt.

I'm not a shopaholic so take my opinion with a grain of salt.

 

[Lori_K]

Gaaah. You ladies are no help. Well, you are, but you all don't agree!

I'd rather not spend the money to do boot or binding adjustments away from my home mountain. After all, when I bought the boots, I was told that binding adjustments for skis would be free, as well as any boot modifications. The hubby has adjusted bindings on old skis that no shop would touch. So we could do it ourselves if necessary.

I guess I'll have to take BOTH boots, and BOTH pairs of skis, then just modify one set of skis for the new boot.

I think I'll go home and put on my new boots and wear them around the house for awhile and see how that goes. My husband thinks I'm a loon for driving 5 hours to go skiing anyway. :p

 

[Pequenita]

You should set up a poll. I just asked my Magic 8 ball for you, and it says to bring both.

 

[abc]

Gaaah. You ladies are no help. Well, you are, but you all don't agree!

I'd rather not spend the money to do boot or binding adjustments away from my home mountain. After all, when I bought the boots, I was told that binding adjustments for skis would be free, as well as any boot modifications. The hubby has adjusted bindings on old skis that no shop would touch. So we could do it ourselves if necessary.

I guess I'll have to take BOTH boots, and BOTH pairs of skis, then just modify one set of skis for the new boot.

I think I'll go home and put on my new boots and wear them around the house for awhile and see how that goes. My husband thinks I'm a loon for driving 5 hours to go skiing anyway. :p

Jeez, you got TWO pair of skis and a hubby who can adjust the binding? What are you so worry about?

Wait! Your hubby isn't going with you on the trip? Or is he?

Anyway, if he's going with you, bring both pairs and have him do the neccessary work if need be. But if he's not with you, then setup one for the new and leave one for the old. Simple as that.

Or is there something else you haven't mentioned?

 

[Little Lightning]

New boots! Keep a diary of where they hurt and what time of day, ie, right off the bat, before lunch etc. This will also give you time to play with the adjustments. This also gives your boot fitter more time to work with them before Taos opens and the tourists get there.

When you park at Copper, unless you are willing to pay $20 for parking, which isn't really that close, you take a bus to the slopes. If you leave equipment in the car you will be spending precious ski time busing back and forth to get it, farther than Taos.

There is a 10 min drop off area where you could drop off your equipment and put your old boots in a locker.

Copper opens at 8:30 on weekends, be there early 8-8:15 ish and you will get some good runs in.

When we went to Taos we had to go to the season pass office to get our lift tickets. I'm not sure what Copper's rules are. If you need to go to the season pass office ask one of the ambassadors, blue jackets, for directions.

You will want to take the bus to Center Village (blue) not the bus to East Village. There is no season pass office there.

The mtn is easy to ski, only blue runs are open but the run to the right, Highpoint is easier (American Flyer lift) with more intermediates, while runs to the left are a liitle steeper. It will be easier from Central base to take the Eagle lift until it gets crowded, Excelator is good too. When you want to go to the Flyer lift ski down Main Vein and skate across. It just saves walking.

Enjoy, I wish I could show you around but I drove back to Denver today.

 

[Lori_K]

Jeez, you got TWO pair of skis and a hubby who can adjust the binding? What are you so worry about?

Two pairs of skis is pretty low on the old quiver count by some people's standards around here. :D

I've had my new boots on for over half an hour now, walking around the house and doing dishes. So far, no hot spots. Although I have a bit of a crick in my back. :p I think we'll pop in to Taos on our way up Friday and have them do the binding adjustment, and see what's on sale, then head up to Colorado.

When you park at Copper, unless you are willing to pay $20 for parking, which isn't really that close, you take a bus to the slopes.

We're driving up Friday, and springing for a hotel Friday night, so we'll have parking access. And we'll be first in line for the lifts Saturday am.

$20 for parking?? Sheesh. I'm doubly glad we got a room, after hearing that.

 

[abc]

Two pairs of skis is pretty low on the old quiver count by some people's standards around here.

You got two pairs of boots you're not sure which to use. So two pair of ski solve that prolem. Any more skis won't help too much more.

I got more skis (though only 1 usable right now). But I only have 1 pair of boot, so 1 pair of ski will get me started for the season (when it does).

 

[Little Lightning]

We don't pay, we park in the free lot at the mtn and take the shuttle bus. Are you staying in a condo at Copper or in Frisco or Silverthorne?