Rossi Xena 12's

[Jilly]

The middle of December I recieved my boots from Rossi. I know, I know, no bootfitter!! So I skied on them for a day just to find out what needed to be done during the Christmas holidays. Well, pain and agony. So what's wrong.
1. Coming off a 5 year pair of Saphir STS's 24.5MP - well used and abused. Liner is actually falling apart - Duct tape. These boots were recommended to me as a good instructor boot. At the time it was the top of the line recreational boot.
2. Xena 12's - Xena replaced the Saphir last year. So I had quite a talk with the rep last spring, tried on some for fit and ordered the 12's in 24. (What my STS's should have been).
3. These boots are totally different than the Saphir's. Very soft flex forward that I'm not used to. I wouldn't tighten the top buckles on the old boots to get this feel. Toe Box space is larger too. I'm talking vertical height. This caused problems in that I could curl up my toes. Something I do in stressful situs. So not a good thing for me.
4. Pain issue 1. One was trying to keep my toes/ball of my foot on the bottom of the boot. So I try some different insoles I have kicking around the house. Finally decided on the front 1/2 of one type of insole. It lifted my foot to fill in the space between toes and top of toe box. Now to try it skiing. Last Sunday was a cold day, so it would be a short day. This system is working great for this problem. Now to glue it all together with the footbed.
5 Pain issue 2. On right foot only. I've decided that the right boot isn't quite wide enough. DH says I'll fix that, just heat yada, yada, yada. NO, I'll get Bob to do it. If he ruins the boot its his problem and he replaces the boot. You do something - I'm out a boot.
So, tomorrow late afternoon, I'm off to the local shop for a blow out!
6. Fat calves. These boots address that with no problem. All kinds of adjustment in the buckles/recievers.

So, now that I have my head around the fact the boot is stiff laterally and softer than used to forward, I think I'm going to like these boots.

 

[ski-girl]

Hi Jilly,

I'm looking for ski boot advise (on a shoe-string budget).

I read in another thread that Rossignol makes Roxy ski boots. I got a pair of Roxy Juicys as a gift along with skis and bindings-- a new set up. I was trying to research the Roxy boots to see who makes them and found your thread as they appear to be made by Rossignol.

I've used Tecnicas for most of my skiing, then Dalbellos, then Tecnicas again.

I can't remember what my first pair of Tecnicas were, but the Dalbellos were the Matrix Divas which I found for $5.00 (brand new) so had to try them out. Shockingly, they were the best fitting boot I've ever used and I'm not sure why. I didn't modify them at all... just used them right out of the box.

I was sure they were going to be terrible as they didn't seem like they were a serious boot, but they fit my foot so well. My tecnicas are the Innotec tI-4s, which have served me fairly well, but my feet always cramp up in them. Outside of the Dalbellos, I have never had a good fitting boot.

I tested out the new set up, but didn't like the Roxys. My feet were "floating" in them, from front to back, and top to bottom. I kept gripping/curling my toes just to touch the foot bed at all. They are the same size as my Tecnicas, but they feel huge in the foot. I haven't tried modifying them, I don't think it's worth it being as they aren't a serious boot, unless you have some advise.

As far as I go... I'm an advanced skier (I raced for many years), but petit and light with a very narrow foot and high arch. I ski on Marker bindings & Volkl skis.

If you have some good guidance-- maybe a different direction in the boot department-- I'd really appreciate it!

Thanks!

p.s. I'm not married the Roxys by any means & I still have my Tecnicas... The Dalbellos are not with me any longer.

 

[Jilly]

Well from the sounds of it the Roxy boots are waaaayyy too big. Roxy isn't making any ski related hardgoods anymore, they have gone strictly snowboard. So if there is anything around its old, maybe even 4 years old. But there is nothing wrong with that if it works. And these boots obviously don't!

How Roxy and Rossi are related is that Roxy is owned by Quiksilver. Quiksilver also bought Rossi, but has sold it off. Quiksilver wanted Roxy for their clothes line...not the snow stuff. So that is one of the reason they have gone snowboard. Roxy boots were actually made by Lange. Rossi boots are made in the Lange factory too.

I would get the skis to a shop and have them set the bindings up for your Technicas. And please spend money on boots. As you found out with the Roxy boots, you don't ski well with bad fitting equipment. After Christmas sales should be on....go find some boots! Don't scrimp on this important piece.

Welcome to our world. Please introduce yourself in the "getting to know you" thread under Diva's only Darling section.

 

[ski-girl]

Thanks for all the information Jilly. I had two pairs of Lange boots back in the day and they were not the boot for me, so the way the Roxys fit makes sense. Oddly enough, they are the same size as my Tecnicas, yet feel huge. (The Roxys were a gift... It was a nice thought, but not for me).

Fortunately, my Tecnicas work with my new set up already, but I'll be doing research on a new pair of boots that fit better. I certainly don't mind spending money on gear even on a budget, as I know how important good gear is... I've had both. Any suggestions for a narrow, high-arch foot on a petit, light-weight girl? I haven't bought boots in a few years as my Tecnicas have been with me for some time.

 

[Jilly]

As you've found out - tecnica and dabello are good. I have similar problems and my fitter is suggesting the Atomic Hawk. Look at the Salomon X-Pro or X-max too. Where are you do someone can recommend a fitter for you.

 

[ski-girl]

Thanks again for the info! I'll be going into the shop to see about boots, fitting & insoles. I feel much more prepared.

Thanks :-)