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Ex-racer needs advice on boot flex
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Being an ex-racer I haven't owned a pair of non race boots for 13 years but it has come the time when I must down scale in stiffness.
Ive really got into freestyle the last couple of years but still want a bit of stiffness for blasting round on groomers and off piste crud.
So I'm looking for a flex pattern that will suit park and everywhere else evenly.
Would I be ok with a softish flex like 80 or would you recommend something like a 110?
I'm 6' 189lbs and race standard but I can throw grabbed 5s in the park too. 270 on 270 off that kind of standard.
I just dont want to be stuck with some innapropriate boots for 2-3 years and British ski shop boot fitters can be a bit inconsistant in knowledge to put it lightly.
cheers!
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well it depends what fits, which is the reason you go to a bootfitter. it's really no help if you get a stiffer freeride boot, and it doesn't fit properly.
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Yeh I know I need to get them fitted, its just what stiffness of boot to get.
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i don't think it's that important... some people might tell you that soft boots are needed for park skiing but it's not true. just a preference. for me the most important thing with a boot wherever i am on the mountain is that they fit well and are REASONABLY comfortable. i ski mainly all mountain but when in the park i wouldn't trade in my boots for some spk's just cos they are soft (they are soooo soft by the way).
it's all preference baby, i wouldn't ski an spk same as i wouldn't want to ski something up around 140 on the flex index but at the end of the day as long as it's somewere in the middle then it's all about fit.
ps. i hear you on the uk boot fitters point... if you can get to castleford excape the ellis brigham there is about the best you can do in the uk. top guy and a few of the bitches know there shit pretty well.
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100 would be fine. get something that's comfy, overcome all those years of ski race boot abuse.
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^Haha no way, not after having Raichle boots before. They were balls. Ive had good experiences with Tecnica and I've got a pretty wide foot so prob go for a mid range Diablo.
Thanks guys. Any other sugestions?
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I don't think the flex is standard for all companies, they all have their own min and max flex. My friend lives in colorado and a lot of the park skiers out there are in race boots, I have Head Rs100's and i use them in the park and everywhere else and they are a great boot, I'm not throwin 5's but as far as I can tell these boots are fine in the park and they were Heads top end race boot. If you already have race boots that you can use everywhere and you still want another boot for park go with SPK's if you just plan on using them 99% park.
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If you can find a good deal on some 2 year old salomon pro models, they would suit your style perfect and you can find left overs for good deals.
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Hi Snowplow.
I'm also from the Uk (you may have seen me on the dark summer forum and around the BUSC/Kings stuff).
Anyhows, a mid flex boot maybe 90 to 100 might be good for you and I'd definately head to ellis brighams if you can they're pretty good at boot fitting (snow and rock in sheffield are very bad, they didn't know which way up to mount my liberties!)
I have the pro model gun from salomon with a flex of 95 which i've made a bit softer by removing a bolt and I really like them. They've got a race like fit so are very precise and have a good all round flex. The flex is also nice and progressive. The new version is the falcon gun I think and sounds very similar. I'm not a racer though but do still enjoy a bit of piste and they're good in the park too.
It is personal preference though. Read a little thing in fall line a few years ago and Andy Bennett uses a pretty stiff boot for everything and Mike Wakefield uses a VERY soft boot (like a beginner one) but they both still rip. Ex-racer Jon Olson also uses a pretty stiff boot.
Anyhows, hope this essay of a post helps. Maybe catch you at BUSC.
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Hey whatshisface!
Yeh I'll def be at BUSC. Im working for ETC and competing for Manchester so I'll be around. Hope the Slopestyle is as good as last years. The kickers were absolutely enormous!
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Not sure if i'll do slopestyle but definately doing halfpipe this year. The slopesyle course last year was awesome even though I didn't compete. Too much time building kickers.
I'll be there with Sheffield. Represent!
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the salomon foil boot is a great all moutain boot. soft enough for park and stiff enough to bomb the hill and cut off snowboarders so they fall and you laugh at them.
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So flex of 100 then? Anymore input?
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You could go down to 90 and youd be gud too
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Yeah, don't go on numbers. If you used to race then you probably have strong legs and you're pretty heavy too, so look at higher end freeride boots anyway. I'm about your size and use a Lange 120. As mentioned above, go to Brighams and they'll sort you out, I work in the Brahead shop, let me know if you need to know anything else.
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I'm a big fan of the Salomon Pro Models.
I also race, and found it to be an easy transition to these boots. They're laterally stiff and very responsive.
Good flex for all mountain, and if you take the rear bolts out, they get really soft for park
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