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What boots does John Spriggs Wear?

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buckbeaumont
Posts: 71 - Karma: 31
Hey

Can't seem to find it on the internet, But what boots does John Spriggs wear? I know he ski's a fair bit of powder and park, so was wondering if he used the same boots for both fields? From some of his videos I thought i saw him wearing Nordica Ace of Spades but not sure. :)
May 27 2011 8:42PM
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hjb
Posts: 742 - Karma: 40
Pretty sure it's this.
May 27 2011 8:50PM
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j_hamborg
Posts: 560 - Karma: 745
Spriggs contract with Fisher came up and he re-signed with Nordica. He uses the Ace of Spades boots for everything. As do I, they are the best.
May 27 2011 9:23PM
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buckbeaumont
Posts: 71 - Karma: 31
Okay, wicked. I am just about to purchase a pair of Ace of Spades, How do they handle carving? I know they shred in the park and pow and springs has demonstrated. And if i pay what size have you got?
May 27 2011 9:30PM
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
for the love of god do not go get them fitted, you NEED a size 26.5 otherwise the whole flex of the boot is compromised.
May 27 2011 9:32PM
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hjb
Posts: 742 - Karma: 40
Please don't tell me that the boot that John Spriggs uses is your only criteria for your boot selection? Please tell me that you've been to a proper boot fitter, tried on a number of different pairs of boots from various manufacturers and have arrived at the conclusion that the Ace of Spades is the right choice based on fit and nothing else, right?

Good. I thought so.
May 27 2011 9:40PM
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joshua
Posts: 5046 - Karma: 1,280
You dumb?

OP the design of the boots means nothing compared to how it fits. It doesn't matter how great a boot is, if it doesn't fit it is not going to work for you. Different boots have different shapes, so you got to find the boot that fits the shape of your foot best. That boot may not necessarily even be a park/powder marketed boot, but ya got to get what fits over what the boot is marketed to do.
May 27 2011 9:44PM
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buckbeaumont
Posts: 71 - Karma: 31
Yes, I have not chosen the boot because John Spriggs uses it. I was just saying that if the boot can be used for powder and park, then it is good for those fields. What you say is correct though Fit is far more important than what the boot is made for.
May 27 2011 9:49PM
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Rosbif
Posts: 2543 - Karma: 930
Man, but have you seen how good Spriggs skis powder!? I'm not only getting the same boots as him, but also getting dreadlocks..
May 27 2011 10:15PM
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buckbeaumont
Posts: 71 - Karma: 31
This is my dilemma. I have recently been to the only boot fitter within 300km of where I live. They had an extremely basic set of boots for sale and none were suitable for my level of skiing. Now I tried on a pair of Salomon Quest 10's in a 26.5 size and they felt extremely comfortable. They had the same last as the ace of spades and had a similar 3 buckle design. Now i know for a fact that Salomon and Nordica boots are very roomy boots and often fit a mondo size down from other boot brands. I know this is not the right way to buy boots but I am going skiing in a few months and need to get a pair of replacement boots for my Tecnica Vento 2.10's and I am not willing to get a business to order them in Australia, travel to them over 1000 km away and then be charged around $800 for them when I can get them online for $400.
What do you think i should do?
May 27 2011 10:29PM
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Rosbif
Posts: 2543 - Karma: 930
Not all Salomon and Nordicas run big, for example the Salomon Ghost/Falcon and the Nordica Doberman are really quite narrow. Isn't the Quest a touring boot anyway?

I think it's worth spending a lot on well fitted boots, custom footbeds etc, but then I ski a lot so it's important they fit. If I were you, I'd wait until you go to the snow (Where you going, Jindy? NZ?) then find a legit bootfitter and get them done there. Yes you may save money getting them online, but you also may waste that money on boots that don't fit and ruin every day you ski them.
May 27 2011 10:43PM
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buckbeaumont
Posts: 71 - Karma: 31
Sorry, should have clarified, the salomon quest series run big. The Quest 10 is a high performance all mountain boot, but has a feature that can release the backbone of the boot so it pivots for walking and hiking. We are going to Treble Cone, NZ in August. Even if i got a ski store to order them in for me, If i got there and the boots didn't fit me, I would be forced to buy a $600-$800 pair of boots which i really didn't want. And on the other side of it, on top of this trip i don't have the money to be buying a $800 pair of boots. If i did end up ordering them online, i would take them to a boot fitter near me and get them heat molded, put a custom foot bed in and if needed get some pressure points punched out.
May 27 2011 11:07PM
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Blake.P
Posts: 9894 - Karma: 3,585
buy them and visit a bootfitter when you get there. if you are going to a ski resort, there will most likely be multiple bootfitters there
May 28 2011 7:57PM
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Mr_pretzel
Posts: 4616 - Karma: 1,290
How is this even a question?
May 29 2011 4:30AM
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Gstrong
Posts: 4776 - Karma: 519
I want to buy the same boots as my favorite skier, seriously why don't you just go to a boot fitter and tell them what your doing, who the fuck cares who wears what, wear what works for you.
May 29 2011 4:33AM
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Gstrong
Posts: 4776 - Karma: 519
Oh and fuckheads like you destroy geartalk.
May 29 2011 4:37AM
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buckbeaumont
Posts: 71 - Karma: 31
Well i never said i wanted to get them because John Spriggs wears them, i was just curious as to what boots he wears. The reason I am interested in the Ace of Spades is because they are very similar design to a pair of boots I tried on and the reviews have proven to be very positive. I have been to a bootfitter and as I have said multiple times, The boots they had in stock are not suitable for my type of skiing and secondly I can't afford to buy an overpriced pair of boots. I agree with you 100%, As long as the boot works for you then who cares what people say or who uses it. But seeing as I haven't had a chance to try them on and wont be able to, I am digging for some helpful information about the Ace of Spades, which some people have given me and helped me considerably.
May 29 2011 8:29AM
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buckbeaumont
Posts: 71 - Karma: 31
How is this even a Question???? Are you thick? I have previously skied in boots that have been horrible for carving groomed slopes due to the flex and considering that the ace of spades have a progressive flex index, this question was dead on the money as I have skied progressive flex boots before and have been very sloppy. So please go and find some other threads to try and be smart on.
May 29 2011 8:34AM
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Mr_pretzel
Posts: 4616 - Karma: 1,290
Its a fucking stupid question. The boot that fits you best will be the best boot for you. Any boot can handle park, pow, carving etc. as long as it has a flex that is right for you.

May 29 2011 8:56AM
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Skiingsnow
Posts: 1567 - Karma: 797
i think hes saying that a 150 flex race boots wont be great for rails and stuff just coz it fits you just as a 80 flex boot will pretty much be useless in a race, i had shoguns that fit me beatifully (yes got em from a bootfitter) but advanced carving in them was horrible coz they simply couldnt take it
May 29 2011 9:21AM
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Rosbif
Posts: 2543 - Karma: 930
Obviously some boots do things better than others, but I ski race boots all the time and they work great, because they fit.

I still stand by my advice to the OP, don't buy boots you haven't tried on off the internet. The bootfitters in Wanaka will have boots suitable for you. I know the pain badly fitting boots give, it really ruins your fun.
May 29 2011 9:51AM
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Mr_pretzel
Posts: 4616 - Karma: 1,290
If you like the feel of a 150 flex boot(are they even made?) they be good for you. Thats why i said find the flex that you feel fits you best.
May 29 2011 9:57AM
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6674 - Karma: 10,977
when it comes to real deal race boots, a 150 is considered soft, either used for lighter skiers (women) or speed events. Our boots therefore go up even higher, to the point that we stopped calling it a flex number and we just use the injection codes to refer to the stiffness.
May 29 2011 10:19AM
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Skiingsnow
Posts: 1567 - Karma: 797
flex that feels best for you for sure, not disagreeing with that just that flex is usually related to what the boots will be used for, and yes they are made, a guy i know is in a pair of 160 flex head boots and he says that they are the "soft ones". i loved my shoguns when i had them and then i skied a day in dalbello rampages with i think 100 flex and havent looked back, ive spend 2.5 seasons in 4 buckle boots, 1.5 in 2 buckles and about 6 days in the rampages, rampages are hands down my fav, i love the feel of the flex (only 90 i think), but they still arent great for ripping groomers on my skinny skis
May 29 2011 10:31AM
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Rosbif
Posts: 2543 - Karma: 930
Is it actually possible to buy those though? I'd assume you'd have to be on a team, or at least know a rep well to buy real race boots. I just have the ones any tourist can buy!
May 29 2011 4:35PM
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6674 - Karma: 10,977
You can buy any Atomic boot, just need to track them down as it's usually the race-only dealers that stock them. They are called Race Tech Ti R (hi/b) and Race Tech Ti (h/a). Both of these are have soles which are lifted 5mm and need to be routered before they can fit into bindings. They are the real thing.
May 29 2011 5:48PM
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Rosbif
Posts: 2543 - Karma: 930
Interesting, the CS is probably still enough for me at the moment. Might have to race train more next year so I'll bear that in mind, cheers.
May 29 2011 6:02PM
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
i know you can make boots softer, but is it pretty easy to make your boots stiffer?
May 29 2011 6:17PM
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hjb
Posts: 742 - Karma: 40
Yeah man, he's the epitome of correct technique. Pretty interesting reading about the true race stock boots, just goes to show how important a piece of equipment they really are.
May 29 2011 9:34PM
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Skiingsnow
Posts: 1567 - Karma: 797
depends what boots yoiu have but general its not hard, as u probly know dallbello has the tongues and the wedges and all that fun stuff they come with, mine have a flex from 90- 115 depending on what u have in them, also on my old shoguns where the back of the calf is connected to the top of the heel u can just drill holes and put in more bolts, takes it from 100 to 110
May 29 2011 9:44PM
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lanny94
Posts: 1374 - Karma: 165
how do ace of spades fit cause i went to a bootfitter last week and he told me to get dalbellos since thats the only medium width boot they have
May 29 2011 10:03PM
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6674 - Karma: 10,977
Generally speaking, it is way easier to soften a boot than to stiffen it. With a traditional 2-piece overlap boot (normal 4 buckle type) you carve out the throat of the shell to soften it. So you can really fine tune this process by how much you cut out. To stiffen the same style of boot, you have to drill holes and screw the cuff to the shell. This process is less fine tuneable and harder to get exact.

With real 3-piece boots, there is less surgery involved and you just swap out the tongues.
May 30 2011 10:26AM
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buckbeaumont
Posts: 71 - Karma: 31
I just thought i would let you know, I have just received my ace of spades and they fit me like a glove, most comfortable boot i have ever been in. I took a gamble and in my case it worked out! So happy and relieved, all that is left to do now is to get custom footbeds and them heat molded!
Jun 9 2011 3:51AM
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RudyGarmisch
Posts: 25443 - Karma: 13,844
Hope that works out better for you than my boots. My feet feel fine standing in a shop in whatever boots you strap me into, terrible after a lap. Not out of the woods yet dude...
Jun 9 2011 4:10AM
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hjb
Posts: 742 - Karma: 40
So true
Jun 10 2011 7:40PM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
150 isn't even that stiff, i dont even understand how people ski boots under 130 unless they are a girl or seemingly young, WAY to much slop to be efficient and stable
Jun 10 2011 7:50PM
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