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BOOT MODIFYING THREAD

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CDdesign
Posts: 1015 - Karma: 92
Here we go,
Well a lot of you may know this info, thats fine, this is a guide to help those who dont know!
I am a Masterfit boot fitter for an Intrawest resort, so i did all this work my self. 

For best results go to your local ski shop boot guy, they will have the right tools for the job

Sometimes you have to pay and pray, aka order a boot online for a ridiculous deal, such as on backcountry or tramdock.

Ill be using my Salomon Ghost boots, which ended up being two stiff and two big.
I got my flex from 130 to about 90-100, and made it the best fitting boot i have ever owned.
Click for larger image

I was getting a lot of shin bang and needed to soften up the boot.  You need to be able to flex your boot, especially if you are doing park.  To fix this problem you can start by taking off the backbone (if your boot has one) on the back of the cuff.
To counter this, and make your boot stiffer, you can install a backbone or ad a bolt in your backbone as seen in the image
Click for larger image

The next step in softening up your boot, is cutting the clog.  In most boots there is a dotted line on your clog (the lower half of your boot).  I used a dremel tool to cut and shave along this dotted line.  This will allow your cuff to flex forward more.  ***Now this is permanent so make sure you take your boot to a shop or be damn sure you know what you want.*** 

Start by doing one step at a time, there are sometimes two lines.  Cut one line first, try your boot out, and if you want it softer, cut the "U" shaped line, as seen in this image:
Click for larger image

So thats how to soften up a stiff boot.
If your boot is too big, or there is too much volume,
you can fix this by getting a better insole with proper arch support and a heel lift.
A heel lift is a little wedge that goes under your insole, and will help fill up the volume making your boot SOMETIMES feel up to a half a mondo size smaller, Ex 26.5 down to 26.0
Click for larger image

Hope this helps,
Any questions hit me up.
REMEMBER, GO TO YOUR LOCAL SHOP FOR BEST RESULTS IN MODIFYING YOUR BOOT!



Oct 6 2010 10:27PM
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CDdesign
Posts: 1015 - Karma: 92
Here is where my boot clog was and how far i cut it down:
Click for larger image
Oct 6 2010 10:30PM
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.Duncan.
Posts: 1375 - Karma: 459
so taking the backbone out isn't permanent is it.
Oct 6 2010 10:34PM
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CDdesign
Posts: 1015 - Karma: 92
naw just use some duct tape to tape over the hole
Oct 6 2010 10:39PM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
this really should be done by a boot fitter....
Oct 6 2010 10:52PM
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CDdesign
Posts: 1015 - Karma: 92
this is true, hence why i have warnings to go to your local shop about 4 times
Oct 6 2010 10:56PM
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LC.
Posts: 5952 - Karma: 2,423
So much misinformation in this thread from a supposed bootfitter. Plus you bought them too big and too stiff in the first place.

Go to a shop if you want stuff like this done. A good shop.
Oct 7 2010 4:20AM
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CDdesign
Posts: 1015 - Karma: 92
1, whats misinformed? and two i got those boots for a price i couldn't refuse, $free.99 so you make it work
Oct 7 2010 8:32AM
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Pipe_Munky
Posts: 10888 - Karma: 2,184
if you're a bootfitter you should know that getting boots solely because the price was right is the dumbest thing you can do!

just because you took a Masterfit course doesn't mean anything. they give you information and you have to know how and when to use/interperet it! getting boots the wrong size and wrong flex because they were free is not the way to go.

Oct 7 2010 12:26PM
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Justo8484
Posts: 3905 - Karma: 205
agreed. boots are the most important piece of gear you can buy. and 9 times out of 10, you don't get shin bang because your boot is too stiff, you get it because your boot doesnt fit properly. and a heel lift for a boot that's a size too big? that's just going to pull your toes farther away from the front of the boot, not to mention change the ramp angle your foot sits at inside the boot. also, if you've got a really flexible ankle, adding in forward lean is often times not a very good idea. i'm not masterfit certified, but i've been fitting boots for over 10 years. i think pipe_munky's in the same boat as me. masterfit U does not make up for lack of experience. once you've had to stretch someone's boot with the canister of a fire extinguisher so their calf can fit comfortably, come back and give some advice.
Oct 7 2010 12:40PM
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6656 - Karma: 10,861
Shinbang is not caused by simply having a stiff boot and skiing park does not require a softer than "normal" flex.
Oct 8 2010 7:10AM
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cobra_commander
Posts: 16909 - Karma: 4,686
This thread really does suck. I would ignore p
Oct 8 2010 9:38AM
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CDdesign
Posts: 1015 - Karma: 92
Shinbang has many causes, a lot of times the boot is too small, but if you are not heavy enough to flex a stiff boot, then you will often times get shin bang... why do you think boots like lang, and salomon have lots of gel on the tounge... thats to slow the impact speed of your shin with the boot ... i have use all these techniques to make many customers very happy with how their boots fit, so you can take it as you will, i will continue into this coming season to use the same techniques keep making customers have comfy boots and make some tips as well
Oct 8 2010 10:26AM
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CDdesign
Posts: 1015 - Karma: 92
***boot is too big, not too small
Oct 8 2010 10:27AM
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BWalmer
Posts: 9141 - Karma: 12,883
Yeah, I actually prefer stiffer boots in the park cause I can put more pressure into my skis instead of losing it to my boot.
Oct 8 2010 11:13AM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
Wrong. Shin Bang is caused by skiing backseat aka learn to ski correctly and you won't have any problems. Shin bang is actually easier to get in soft boots because you have less support. Also, it's stupid to cut the heel out of your boot. You might as well ski in tennis shoes...

dumb thread. Any boot fitter will say this is all fucking stupid.
Oct 8 2010 12:46PM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
this thread is full of bad advice...
Oct 8 2010 1:09PM
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AJizzle
Posts: 1882 - Karma: 522
This shit is dumb, thank you for sharing ur "knowledge"
Oct 8 2010 3:50PM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
this, I love my 10 tongue on my FTs because it supports me through everything
Oct 8 2010 4:10PM
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Pipe_Munky
Posts: 10888 - Karma: 2,184
you seem to think that the day-to-day work you do as a bootfitter is hard. punching a boot here and there is not hard same with changing the flex of a boot and let's be honest, you work at a resort so 9 times out of 10 the really difficult issues with a fit are taken care of, all you do is a little fine tweaking that finishes the job of the guy that fit the boots initially.

consider yourself a real bootfitter when you've sat down with NorAm level ski racers and determined leg length discrepenices and canting (not cuff alignment).
Oct 8 2010 4:25PM
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teamdummy
Posts: 1188 - Karma: 2,604
why is it that every boot fitter in the world  thinks they're that smartest bootfitter ever , talks about fitting ski boots like its a dick length contest, and are the biggest douche bags in the shop?
Oct 8 2010 5:39PM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
what shop is this? that way i can make sure i never ever ever go there.
Oct 8 2010 5:43PM
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