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Bad form. Who should I pay first, Bootfitter or Instructor?

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CheesusChrist
Posts: 159 - Karma: 346
my boots just feel so fucked and maybe that's the root of all problems.bBut also i feel like I have shitty form. I don't ski with anyone better than me and I never see videos of myself so I have no clue.

I've NEVER felt comfortable in the air. Every trick is just kindof flung, flailed. I don't know if it's my pop or pop timing or forward/backward lean but I just can't figure it out so maybe an instructor would help. Or maybe better boot fitting would alow me pressure my boots properly in the pop.

This goes for park like I said, but it might be my form becaus after just hitting steeps and moguls all day my pressure points are still fucked.

Does the boot fitting cause bad form which causes foot pain or is there some other order of the 3? Let me know fam
10 years ago
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shin-bang
Posts: 4106 - Karma: 7,036
sounds like a combo of bad fitting boots and landing back seat. but hey i have the form problem too. i would say get some proper fitting boots and footbeds first. this will support your foot 1000000x better and will give you a ton more control. then once you get some proper fitting boots, hit up that instructor. one thing i notice when people start hitting jumps is that theyre too far in the back seat, so when your going off the jump, put pressure on your shins, pop, land. just get comfortable and then work your way up.

but bottom line, proper fitting boots with custom footbeds will make everything better, no joke, ive been in your position before. :)
10 years ago
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wasatch_rat
Posts: 1773 - Karma: 2,968
go to a boot fitter first, but to be honest, if your boots are too big there is only so much they can do, you might just have to get new boots and footbeds, and that is pretty expensive. worth it, but expensive. as an instructor i feel hypocritical for saying this, but honestly most instructors don't know that much about park and jumping, they can still help a bit, but you are better off getting good boots, skiing moguls a lot, and just practicing.
10 years ago
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KravtZ
Posts: 6637 - Karma: 2,627
Go toa boot fitter and get that sorted out. Boots are the most important piece of equipment by far. You will ski way better with proper fitting boots.

That being said...get the fuck out of the park and learn to ski. If you form is as bad as you claim you shouldnt even really be lapping the park at all. Practice your carving, bump skiing, long turn, short turn, etc. It will make you a better park skier for sure. Don't become one of those park rats who sucks at the park and still can't ski...you will regret it heavily in 10 years.
10 years ago
1 1
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CheesusChrist
Posts: 159 - Karma: 346
KravtZGo toa boot fitter and get that sorted out. Boots are the most important piece of equipment by far. You will ski way better with proper fitting boots.

That being said...get the fuck out of the park and learn to ski. If you form is as bad as you claim you shouldnt even really be lapping the park at all. Practice your carving, bump skiing, long turn, short turn, etc. It will make you a better park skier for sure. Don't become one of those park rats who sucks at the park and still can't ski...you will regret it heavily in 10 years.


I'm definitely not. Park is my worst aspect of skiing (unfortunately), I know forsure I carve great. On bumps I feel myself pressing my tails a little more Than I probably should. I always thought I had decent form actually, just after another day of boot bang I started second guessing myself. Again, could be the boots.
10 years ago
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CheesusChrist
Posts: 159 - Karma: 346
shin-bangi would say get some proper fitting boots and footbeds first.


i think the footbed option is the best first step because it's the cheapest and longest lasting-- footbeds can be interchanged between boots right?
10 years ago
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Negromancer
Posts: 1014 - Karma: 1,505
yungmoneyi think the footbed option is the best first step because it's the cheapest and longest lasting-- footbeds can be interchanged between boots right?


Yes they are, they'll last up to 3 pairs of boots. However make sure you get custom made footbeds, so ones a boot fitter has custom made to fit to your feet, Sidas is the main brand of custom footbeds and is what I'd recommend. Don't buy trim to fits such as Superfeet as they don't support your foot very well and won't make that much of a difference.
10 years ago
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Kickerzzz
Posts: 234 - Karma: 62
How long you been skiing park OP? Maybe just needs more time. In the meantime, go visit the boot fitter.
10 years ago
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CheesusChrist
Posts: 159 - Karma: 346
KickerzzzHow long you been skiing park OP? Maybe just needs more time. In the meantime, go visit the boot fitter.


Been skiing for over 10 years but park for 2.

I added some dr schools bullshit today and it made a better difference so maybe that's the problem. Boots first, then lessons. Saw a bootfitter today, I'm getting my shit figured out.
10 years ago
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last_tango
Posts: 2635 - Karma: 2,665
If you network enough and be nice enough people will teach you proper form for free.
10 years ago
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notjason
Posts: 74 - Karma: 375
I don't know if this is good advice, but maybe start dropping steep cliffs first, they don't have to be big, just a steep landing. When you ski something steep, and have a lot of speed, and then get into the air, and then how to land on something just as steep you're really forced to have good form, and you'll develop better air control. That said, I've never skied park so I'm not sure how helpful this advice is, but I think it should help with cleaner landings.
10 years ago
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shin-bang
Posts: 4106 - Karma: 7,036
last_tangoIf you network enough and be nice enough people will teach you proper form for free.


thats what ive tried to do after i got my boots and footbeds. so many good instructional videos, but the main thing ive taken from all of them is keep pressure on them tongues ALL of the time and as much as you can.
10 years ago
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CheesusChrist
Posts: 159 - Karma: 346
forgot to update this thread... I saw Dude in PCMR who I read had a good rep. Got like $20 of foam in my boots now, and it's everything! I'm putting more tongue pressure when just carving, and feel so much more controlled in the air now. My skis feel like an extension of my feet now, I can't believe I waited this long to hit up a bootfitter
10 years ago
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