Is ramp angle ruining your skiing? You can do an easy DIY test to find out.
In this instructional video, Tom Gellie explains what ramp angle is—the difference in height between a ski boot’s heel and toe—and how it influences a skier’s balance, edging, and overall control. He challenges the common belief that a larger ramp angle promotes a more aggressive stance, showing that excessive heel height can shift ground‑reaction forces toward the heel, making it hard to pressure the front of the foot and leading to toe‑clawing and ankle strain. Tom demonstrates a real‑world case where a skier with a 5° ramp angle struggled to engage the front of her skis despite years of effort. By creating a simple cardboard shim to lower the front half of her footbed, they reduced the ramp angle to about 2.5°, resulting in immediate, noticeable improvements in turn quality, grip, and confidence, as confirmed by the skier, Jenny. Tom then offers a quick DIY test—cutting flat cardboard to place under the front of the liner—to let viewers evaluate their own boot setup, while also recommending a professional boot fitter for a permanent solution. He encourages sharing the video to help other skiers improve their stance and performance.
Chapters
More from Tom
Most skiers overlook how they use their poles. Try these five pointers next time you’re skiing.
