The Boot Setup Workshop — Comfort AND Performance From One Pair of Boots

You're about to watch a boot setup workshop that I typically run when I'm doing a Big Picture Skiing camp. Now this is the beginning before everyone goes out skiing, and it's a really important step. And I filmed one of these live at Sun Peaks so then you can also get an experience of what this is like. So what you're going to need to really get the most out of this is your ski shells, uh, liners as well, but particularly your ski shells. Follow along, perhaps first time you can just watch, but feel free to do what all the people I'm talking to are doing right in the moment. And essentially my goal is to help you realize that there's this ideal balance of comfort and performance that you're after. That's what I've always been searching for in my ski boots, and that means you are going to perhaps maybe change the type of boot you're looking for to to achieve this, because in order to get performance, you kind of need snug, close, solid, good angles. But comfort, it can't be pressing anywhere. But easily, luckily, boots can be modified like this one here. You can see these punch marks, punch marks there, grind marks inside. If you get the right kind of boot, it's easy to, to change these things. So check out this live recording of the boot setup workshop. Have your boots ready. And write down any questions you have, because my goal here is let's, let's get you set up in an awesome pair of boots. Oh yeah, one last thing, I love the following days after this workshop, people kind of reporting back to Jason, to Melza, myself, how things have changed, what feelings they experience now in their skiing, because usually it's straight away. We often send people once they've figured out, say there's a tight spot against the inner ankle bone, they go to the boot fitter up the, up the street and get it punched, ski the next day, and report right back what they, what they feel. So anyway, hope you enjoy this. Let's get stuck into it. With your liners out, we're just gonna stand in our shells. And so when I stood in my shells for the first time, uh, it was really painful because they were very close to my feet in every part. Okay, so you're just going to stand inside here. Okay, and in my mind, what I'm thinking about is if I had to ski without liners in my boots, that's almost how I want the fit to be around my foot. Okay, so if I had to edge my, my boots without a liner in both directions. Okay, if I had to sort of bounce a bit more forward, a bit back, I, I wouldn't want there to be too much of a hot spot against the plastic anywhere. Okay, so that, so that was my, my theory in my head. I'm like, do it as precise like a 3D-printed boot around the shape of my foot, because your foot, if you actually— like a boot has this perfect kind of circle shape to it, and it's not that organic. You have a look at the bones of the foot, and there's more irregularities, so there's of course going to be these spots that have a little bit more pressure. So with that in mind, you always want to, if you can, start closer fitting. So at first, probably a good boot, you'll go, "Ow, yes, Rich, yes." But that doesn't feel good. Yeah, yeah, but often you put a liner on and the padding kind of like takes some of that stuff away and you maybe only feel it later. Or maybe in your case, do you feel any pressure?

Is it—

you got tons of space around there?

I think so.

Yes, okay. So for you, if you want to really improve your skiing, you might need to go, I need a lower volume boot, something closer that then I can push out the edges on to actually get a precise fit. Because it's better, I think, to do that than shove foam and other bits in there. That's just, yeah, not as accurate as you're going to get. So, okay, so Just once more, you're standing in your boots, you are thinking, could I ski down the bunny hill with the boots done up, right? You don't have to do them up, but just for imagination. And could I kind of like roll the skis over and not be in complete pain? Could I sort of flex forward and feel like it's fairly even contact here? That's sort of a good acid test that you want to think about, okay? I call this one the the tipping test. And here, like, once you've tipped the boots over, actually put some pressure like against the pinky toe edge. Does it feel like you are sitting really like nicely cupped against the side? Same with this one. Press your— the side ankle bone and the side of the foot on, on there. Does it feel like it would be irritated or not? If not, you want to mark that spot either grind, punch to fit the shape.

When you're doing that review, are you just looking at the area around the foot or in the ankle and going higher up?

All around here and the ankle bones. So boom, boom, boom, boom. Yeah, the navicular. Yes. Mine sticks out as far as the ankle. Yep.

And a couple of different things maybe that you guys could be feeling. Sorry, do you mind?

Please come in.

When Tom's talking about the tipping test, can you tip the boot over with your foot, or are you needing to tip the boot over with your shin bone, with your leg? Does the— that shell immobilize this movement inside the ski boot? That's one of the things I always look for as well. Who thinks that they're tipping the boot over with their, with their upper leg?

So you're tipping it over with the lower part of your foot.

Yeah.

Yeah. Or, or you're kind of pushing it more with, with up here. And this is a great chance to actually, like, boot fitting aside, it's a great test to see, like, what you instinctively do. See, like, like down here, see, I can tip it. So actually actually like I'm tipping the boot, see, with below, uh, I'm not using my shin, I'm using my foot. See that, Ted? You see, like, feel that. So if you can, yeah, so even like this, can you move the boot to hit either? Yeah, hit your leg. Yeah, because, and you're doing that with what's down low. That's really That's what gets you to advanced level skiing out of intermediate.

Yeah.

So Tom, I can do that. Yes. There's this annoying little bite on my 5th metatarsal that isn't there in my liners.

Yes, perfect.

That means I need to go buy a grinder.

Yes, or you need to go just get a quick punch or a quick grind. Yeah, exactly. So this is exactly the point. So he said, I can do that, but in my day-to-day skiing, you never feel that, right? Never feel that. Okay, exactly. This is my point. So going back to like, could you ski with the shells alone? And what you'll find now is maybe not only a bit more comfort, but a little bit of performance as well. Because actually, even Demelza today skied— you'd been skiing in these boots for 2 years, 2 years, maybe 3 years. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And then here you go. What did you What did you punch?

Well, so I've been really focused on— and I'd done a lot of punching on here, and I was all obsessed about, I need more, more, more. But then I realized that I couldn't actually kind of lift up the— lift up the little toe. And I made more space for the little toe, and that then enabled me to get more pronation, more healthy movement laterally.

And you felt it today, right? First time today?

Yeah, so stable. Yeah, I felt like locked in, whereas before—

what I think you're seeing is there's some sort subliminal limit performance-wise.

We don't even feel it. Correct. You just— exactly, you just don't move there because it hurts. So you just do other things, and so it's like, oh, that's why I'm not feeling it, because you— yeah, it causes pain, so you just don't— yeah, yeah, yeah.

And you move away from all those pain points. Like, I was getting this thing where I was— my foot was doing that in the boot when you wanted to do— when I wanted it to do this. Right.

Evert, yeah.

And so it's because the little toe was probably like the foot was being contorted from the other side where I hadn't been focusing as much. So you did it quite a lot so I could justify it. I did, yeah. I'd always just thought of it as—

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay.

There's a function to it as well. You need to be really flat and you need your feet to be beautiful and spread out and flat without them being poked on either side by your shell. 'Cause even if you might feel it when you've got your liner in there, It can inhibit movement.

So, yeah, so I would say like one really important move, uh, and back to Demelza's point about why she punched the pinky toe a little bit more, you, uh, when you ski well, you have to activate muscles that like evert the outside foot. So I'm showing it like right here. So see, look, look, my toes are trying to do to just, so it's not just roll and press like this. I have to like activate the pinky toe and pull it up to get over, and if you do that all right now, can you feel muscles in the arch of your foot activate? Yep, that's really important. So many skiers out there don't, they just roll and press, and if you just do that now, can you see your arch is just like it's sitting on a couch, not doing anything, yep. Yep, inside foot, inside foot inverts. So it's going like this. So you need to be able to like get the ankle bone close to the edge of the boot. You need to be able to make this move. Like it's only, it's just like this much. But like in Steve's case, Steve, yes? Yeah. He's probably not gonna do that because he's gonna get to there and then it hurts. He's like, oh, I'll just do this instead. Right, so you just find another place, yeah, or just lean in like that, okay, which will work, yep, but you want to start skiing with more precision like we do, and it's just, how are they doing that?

Just ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch. Like Danelle always says, the body's clever, if that won't move, then something else will.

Yep, yeah.

It's not what you want to move, but you will, you've asked for edge, you're going to get it, maybe not in the most efficient way.

Yep, so back again to your boot fit. When you step inside your boot, ideally, if you started from scratch again, you kind of want there to be these little hot spots that you've got, because then it's like, great, the rest of the boot's like not too bad, but I just need to move the, the uncomfortable bits outwards. And you don't want to be too hot that you need to like punch a whole living room of space, you know. You just want to, want to be able to just move it a little bit. But that's where I start with the boot, and it might take a few fittings and visits, and you want a boot fitter that's willing to work with you that way. But once you get it, it allows your body to move far, far more efficiently.

So Tom, I have a question.

Yeah.

So the rivet on the inside.

Yeah. Oh God, the rivet. Right on the ankle bone.

So like, I've never done Yep. And, you know, could I ski?

I don't—

yeah, maybe, but I don't want to because that really hurts my ankle bone right up against the rivet. You can't punch a rivet, can you?

Have a look.

Yeah.

So, so it's usually— it's not on the rivet. Sometimes it can be, but— and you can punch it. But can you see that? Yeah, yeah, where the pocket is. Yeah, show you in there. There's a little, little spot for it. Both the little and the big, the bigger one and the little one. Yeah. So, yeah, feel free to pass that one around if you wanna.

Did you grind out the end of the clay pot?

Yep. So boot, your boot fitter will kind of make their own decisions, but with a boot with a bit more thicker plastic, you can grind and stretch. The grinding is like your fine-tuned, oh, it's not too bad, but I would like a little bit. Your punching is your pushing out. So I've widened the forefoot and then I've put it in there and gone, you know what, I just need like a mil. And I need it a bit further up near the pinky toe a little bit more. Yeah, that's my grinding. Fine tune with the grinding, major stuff with a punch. But pretty much all these spots have a punch and then they've also got a grind going on in there.

So my little issue has always been, like not big ankles, narrow ankles, low volume midfoot, wide forefoot. Yes, right, the typical Asian foot.

Yes.

And so I've never been able to get boots that kind of fit the structure, the right volume everywhere.

Yes.

Yeah, so these ones, I think it's sort of like the ankle and the midfoot, like way too much volume.

Yes.

All that padding is fine.

Yeah, that's why it's so difficult The boot's out. Yes. So in your case, and I've worked with some people— because you're right, there's an Asian sort of foot, there's not much of an arch to it like a, like a northern European, like stiff kind of high, uh, high arch. You, um, it is going to take more work if you, if you're after that boot that is going to give you the comfort and performance side, because this is probably giving you the comfort and just like a bit, yeah, not so much the performance side. You can get there, you just got to find the right boot fitter that'll work with it. Or if you're really into it and you're gonna go down this road and you're a bit handy, like you get a few little tools. Yeah, yeah, yeah, you can like some of this stuff. Well, I've got all my own tools, but there's a few ones that you can get. Uh, you'll just get a heat gun from the hardware store heat it up, and this thing is like a clamp, and it has like a ball and socket, and you can just punch your own little spots. It'll do the ankle bones, it'll do the navicular bone, and you can, you can sort of get a little bit of space in here if it's not, not too much. But that one's an easy one the boot shop can do. But the, like, your spots you could do with this little, this, this self DIY tool. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Where next?

So yeah, I was going to say like, we're going to get to footbed stuff. But really, I think what many of you might have experienced previously with bootfitters, and there's a lot of really great bootfitters out there, everyone's well-intentioned in the space. We're going to show you something that might push back a little bit on the system, is that we try to take this very vaguely foot-shaped thing and we try to shape it to your foot versus what might happen in boot fitting stores is they try to shape the foot to the boot. And this is where footbeds come in. So I'll let you.

Yeah.

I'll just say there's like, so it's kind of a, I used to be told in the past, you'd get in a boot and say, you'd be like, without the footbed in there, I feel my ankle bone, or it was Richard. Hitting, hitting the side. And what they do is they'll say, oh, once we put you in a supportive footbed, that'll stabilize you and stop you collapsing and hitting the side there. Which is like, straight away, if you don't think for yourself or know much about skiing, you're like, great, that makes sense, lock me in, keep me away from hitting the sides. But then I just told you, when I'm skiing and I'm on firmer snow and I want that ski to grip, I'm jamming my ankle bone hard up against there. I'm deliberately getting my foot to do this movement. I don't want, I don't want the footbed to stop me from doing that. I want to be able to get there, and when I get there, there's this perfect 3D pocket that my, my lower leg and ankle bone and navicular are just right against. Because, you know, your pressure is load over area. So if you have the same amount of force over more area, you can spread it over so it's even. There's less pressure. Like, like a nail, it's all going into one point. You don't want that. You want to spread out like a snowshoe kind of effect, spreading the pressure wide.

So lots of different reasons for footbeds. That's one of them. Change your alignment is another one of them that we— that we— stopping you from pronating is another one of them. And yeah, obviously just talked about how that's what we do when we're pronating. Yep. So, yeah, let's start talking about who has a footbed. First of all, that's okay. Great. Over many, many years, I mean, Tom, this is sort of your basket here, but we've all had a very complicated relationship with footbeds. I've been in and out of them for ages. I could never get one that fit properly and I thought I had it and then I didn't and then eventually just pulled them out and we're going to have a look at each of your footbeds to try and figure out, 'cause there can be footbeds depending on your foot, how high your arch is, how flexible your arch is, you might not have an arch, what your alignment looks like. We're gonna actually have a look and assess whether or not we think that footbed's working for you or against you. Footbeds, I remember when I had my first footbed, it was the year 2000 and it was a really, really low profile thing. It was really, And it was like an afterthought. Oh, we'll put this footbed in. And they make them a lot differently now. They can be somewhat over-engineered and they come from this world of podiatry where usually, you know, in shoes we're walking heel to toe, heel to toe. And in those outcomes, if you're like a long-distance runner, there are a lot of really great medical reasons to have a footbed. We in our ski world, we're moving laterally over our feet. We're not running heel to toe. So we find that there are a lot of people who have a footbed that is limiting their movement because of how high the arch is. So I guess let's just get in and start having a look at— Yeah. Do you have anything to add to that there at all?

Yes. The one thing I would say, and this is from having like a practice, a physical practice of people coming in with, my back hurts, Tom, my knee hurts, I have foot pain, or I have misalignment. I think everyone's own body shape, like we all are different shapes. And I think actually if you can just appreciate and just be okay with your, if you are like the kind of person that is a bit more knock-kneed or out this way to just be okay with that and don't try and force yourself into what my shape is or what Demelza's shape is. So that's one thing. And then, and the other is like, that's interesting, you could, like, I've seen people that like they walk in here and they're like terrible alignment walking around or running, and you know, I can't run because I got bad knee pain. And you put them on the ski hill and they've maybe skied since they were 3 years old and they have beautiful alignment. There's nothing wrong, their knee's in the right place, everything's okay. Because when you're in a turn You're trying to balance on a certain part of your foot, you're trying to make movements that edge the ski, and so suddenly you're not just standing there like this where it doesn't require— it's not hard to stand and walk, it's hard to ski. So you have to position things, you have to activate muscles, so suddenly this passive position you've got is, is completely different because you're on one foot more, you're tipping the ski on edge, So you're actually holding joints and bones with muscles. And of course, as soon as you let go, if you ski with like no activation, you're going to be all over the shop. But does that make sense? It's as soon as you play a sport, these muscles in your feet, these muscles in your legs and your whole body fire up, and then suddenly the bones, which could be sitting weird, just prop themselves up. So the only other thing I'd say is like, Some things you're feeling here, even like cuff alignment things, when we're passively standing, sometimes I'm quite surprised that they just disappear when you go out and you actually work on good technique, like being able to edge the ski from the ankle and get your athletic stance in the right spot and stand like fore and aft in the right spot. Wouldn't you agree? You've seen— Definitely. Yeah, that thing had Jason too. Yeah.

I think footbeds make people knock-kneed when they're skiing because they're so high. They're pushing the boots with their tibia. They're immobilized. They're like—

Yeah, they can't evert.

It's like their feet are bound. There's no inversion, no pronation, everything. So yeah, I mean, I've seen skiers that I've skied with for years go in and get a new boot setup and they come out the next day and they can hardly make a turn. And it's the footbed. But we've learned to live with it and it's become this thing in the industry that is like, you have to have one is the narrative, I guess. And we have something in here, we're gonna show you what we have. We might as well just do that actually.

Yeah, so now you're gonna try your own boots and you're like, okay, great, this is all this info, but what should I be feeling? I think, so the first thing is that is that comfortable 3D fit. Okay, uh, the second thing is the, the volume, the height. So over this part of your foot here, you want to get that right too. So it's like this 3D encompassed, like, snug fit is what's really about. We're not all about like creating so much space that you're just in there moving around too much. You only need a subtle amount and you need your foot to be held down because that heel lift sensation— if you've ever had boots with heel lift, it's horrible. Most of the time that's a sign that the volume is, is too large over your foot. So Demelza has to put multiple layers. Jason, Tom, that's mine. Yeah, yeah, I was going to say, but yeah, but like this, there's multiple layers to kind of bring the foot up higher, right? So if there's not enough pressure on top, you need to bring this up to then get a good sandwich fit so you don't feel when you hit the bumps like you're just coming out. It's just like tying, you know, trying to go for a run in shoes that are undone. You tighten the shoelaces, yep, and if that shoe is too big on the top, like, you can tighten the shoelaces. This, you've only got so much range before it's— the boot distorts. So you often need to bring it up And that's why a footbed— some people go, I got a footbed and it is awesome, so much better, so much more control. What I often find, it's actually just filling up volume that was too voluminous, and that's why it was like a great revelation. But then they may be missing out because they don't know about what to feel laterally going on. So let's check footbeds. Let's break into 3.

Pull your footbeds out.

Yep.

And just show us, we're going to pick one deliberately here.

Yeah, yeah, like this, this one, this one here. So this is Bill's. So this could be fine if, if when he, uh, everts his foot, so when he gets his foot to tip over like that, this could be fine if it's not blocking the, like, the end range position which gets him the pressure on the edge of the ski. Okay, could be completely fine. But the problem with this is that, like, that is solid all through there. There's, there's no give. Once you put that inside a ski boot, that thing does not move. Whereas if you— if this is all taken out and so it was kind of contacting the arch of his foot— yeah, like this one, perfect. Like this one, this is still stiff, but at least— yeah, it's still kind of contacting the side of your foot. If you pressure it, it will give a little bit and you might be able to get a little— and some people like that because they get feedback from feel. I feel where my foot is, then I can push into it. Yeah, so, but this, this feels quite stiff to me. The other thing too is they'll often talk about having a really good heel cup here. Um, sometimes, like, the hardest part to get pressure on, like, at the end of the turn, your tail will often skid out when the snow gets really hard. Yep, and the part of the foot that stops the ski skidding out is the inside edge of your heel, and you need to get pressure there, okay? And if this is built up really hard there and you can't pressure the inside edge of your heel, you're pressuring the center of it, which is not the edge of the ski, and so you, you're going to have to do more to, to make that, that ski grip.

So So there's a lot of movement in the foot in a Steve boot is what the summary. And we think that sometimes these can inhibit that movement. So what I think we could— do you want to jump up? I want to see if— let's do a couple tests here with you. First of all, we want to see if— how— have a look at the way— and I'm sorry, I'm going to have to ask Lynn. Lynn, I'm sorry, Lynn. Okay, so I'm going to ask Lynn to stand on one foot, and I'm gonna challenge her balance, and we're gonna watch the way her foot and everything all the way up the kinetic chain helps her maintain balance while I'm challenging her here. So let's go the right foot, now let's do the left foot. Good, I'm just gonna give you a little bit of a tap here. And watch, this is healthy. What her foot is doing right now is healthy. This is what we want it to do. So now, which one do you reckon is your best foot? What's your favorite? Let's start with the right foot. Okay. Now we are on the carpet here, but let's stand on one foot and closely have a look at what her foot is doing now that was different to when she had no footbed. How does it feel to you? Is it easier to balance on one foot with or without the arch support?

Probably without it.

Without it, yeah.

Right.

Yeah, yeah.

So, But her foot was moving more without the arch support.

I would say that it was because she was on an arch support, she was fighting, like she was having an arm wrestle with her, with the arch support on that footbed. She was having to fight to try and—

I couldn't spread here.

Yeah.

So on here I feel I can spread.

Yep.

And feel the ground more. On here I felt Yeah. Like I can't spread as much.

Yeah, I would also say like everyone, if we all just practice one foot balance bike ride, give us 5 minutes, we'll all—

We'll figure it out.

Yeah, we'll be moving a whole lot less. So part of it is her adapting. So I think the most interesting thing is what you feel.

Felt.

And so as you get there and you contrast footbed, no footbed, try this one too if you're now, Not on the footbed. You balance on your right foot. Now choose to stand more pressure on the inner side of your foot, so the big toe edge. So like, like you're edging.

Yeah, yeah.

Now choose to stand a bit more on the outer edge. Yeah, inner edge.

That's it.

Now do the same thing, choose outer and inner on the footbed, and just see what that, um, Tom Gellie. What do you feel?

Yeah, knee.

Knee. Okay. Do you feel like you're not using subtle?

Yeah.

Fine.

Yeah.

I'm using my knee. Yeah. So there's that sense of immobilization. Yeah.

But it's interesting because I think Ted, like Ted's watching, he's like, but I'm seeing her wobble less with the footbed. And you're kind of correct because the footbed's doing the work. But then when you get to start being dynamic, and you actually talk to the person, what would you prefer? And it's up to you. If you just want to be lazy and just go like this and whatever in your skiing, sure, just rock that thing. But what we've done is, with someone like Lynn, is suggest tomorrow, just go get the, like a footbed that comes with the boot.

We have this down here.

Yeah, like this. And this is a dead flat one. But you could just go, most shops throw them in the bin. You could ask for just a 24.5 footbed from a—

Just a liner.

Yeah, from the brand of boot you've got. Yeah, the free one.

I went in there, this is a true story. I went in there and the guy, the, was it Greg? Greg Miller?

Yeah.

And I'm like, I want a new pair of footbeds. And he's like, they're $200. And the younger guy was helping me out. Greg walks over and he's like, are you here for the— I mean, they knew you guys.

Yeah.

So he looked at me and he goes, I ain't selling you that. Tom is going to tell you to take it out.

Yeah.

And I'm like, are you kidding me? He, he gave up the, the sale.

Yeah, the $250 sale.

And just put that in.

Yep.

And I gotta tell you, he's on board with this. I scored well today. Yeah. After taking out my phone.

Oh good.

Yeah, yeah.

The one thing I don't know since It's been a few years, but one of the reasons I got footbeds is because when we would practice like railroad tracks, I could not, I had to do a weird thing with my knee in order to get to move this on that edge.

So let's, we're going to talk, let's just naturally move to that. So you can stay, Lynn, because you're a great demo. So because you were mentioning varus valgus knee. Yeah. Okay. Yep, yep. So, uh, habits come in here. So if you're the kind of person you like living on the outside edges of your feet, and now if I balance on one foot and I like the outer edge of my foot because maybe I cut my big toe when I was 7 and I don't like standing on it, where's my knee sit if I, if I like to sit on the outer edge of my foot? And you can try this, like, it's good. Where's your knee sitting? Where's my knee sitting? Outside. Say the other thing, say I broke my fifth metatarsal when I was 7 and I don't like it, and so I stand more on the inside edge of my foot. Where's my knee now?

More in.

Say I'm just centered, I'm trying to feel really even. Where's my knee? Oh yeah, it's trying to find like right over the middle. Your knee just tracks where the center of pressure is. Same thing goes if you, if like, if my knee is is forward, the pressure starts going forward. If my knees are back, I'm going back. If I want pressure on a certain place, my knee will move there. So my kind of guess would either be in your boot, either it wasn't wide enough here or you're getting pushed so you couldn't get there, or the cuff alignment. So the other thing too, once you've got this motion going on, where your leg sits inside the boot, Which is this. Yep, this bit here. It needs to match it. So it needs to have kind of when you're neutral there, needs to be even enough on the lateral edge and the medial side that you're right in the middle there. And so perhaps on that side, you're just sitting more, you're like right over maybe on the inner edge and you just couldn't get your right? You're maybe sitting over here and there's like 3 centimeters to get to the pinky toe. So you're like, I should be on the pinky toe, but look, the ski's still flat. Yep, yep. So you also got to check the, the cuff alignment, the internal fit, all these things. Like, even Demelza today punched her pinky toe spot and suddenly she could get her foot to roll on edge better. You know, she discovered that now at her level of skiing. Do you know what I mean? Like, it's going to keep occurring and you get new boots and you're gonna have to figure that stuff out. So yeah, after this I'll just say you can— we'll have a little break, the coaches will come around and we'll have a look at your footbed if you've got a question. And the decision you've got to make is, do I want to do an experiment tomorrow? And if you do, if currently the volume fits pretty right, so you don't have heel lift too much and it feels really snug, What you're going to have to do, where are we here, Lynn? Lynn is maybe going to need a volume reducer as well as this other footbed because this stiffness is keeping her foot up kind of wedged against the top here nicely and giving her control. And if we just put in the other one, it's now going to feel like, whoa, she's just sitting down and like she's going to have to crank her boots, right? She just feels like she's swimming around. So we kind of have to match. If it's feeling good volume-wise with your footbed like this, You kind of need to match the volume. We're just taking away any blocks here so we can stand flat and we can choose edge here, edge dead flat, edge on the pinky side. We want to be able to choose where it is and then it's up to our technique. Can't blame the tools after that one.

Okay, we're gonna, uh, split you into 3 groups now and have a look at your equipment and give you an idea of what we'd recommend. But you'll have an opportunity because we're, we're scientists, right? If, if you ski tomorrow without a footbed and you could basically rock into Greg's, he's got a bunch of these. I ski in one of these and one, I'm going to say it's a 1/8 of an inch cardboard volume reducer, which is going to address what Tom was just talking about. So you can go in, kind of sort of almost looks like that, and get set up. Yeah, yeah, exactly. The flat situation. And these actually mold perfectly to your foot. They look like a footbed after about 2 months. And just experiment. And if you go out tomorrow, it might— it won't be perfect, and you're like, oh my God, I can feel my edges, then we're on to something. And then we'll— and then we're going to talk about punching the boots as well. But first of all, let's just try and figure out if you can actually move your ankle and, and have that, like, really intricate control that we're looking for in a ski boot. And then— and some of you might be fine with the footbed you have, believe it or not, they're not all bad. So who's ready to get started on that? Let's, yep.

Cool.

Okay, I hope you enjoyed that sneak peek into the boot setup workshop at one of my camps. I want to clarify some things. At times you may have heard someone say no footbed. It's not no footbed, it's a minimal footbed. Okay, so whether that's just a little bit of arch support or this is my footbed here, It's just flat, okay, so it's not no footbed, it's a minimal or flatter footbed that we're suggesting you could go and try. The whole reason behind this working is you also need to have— it's only going to feel good and helpful if you've got a pretty snug fitting boot. So like one of the guys earlier in the video, he had a very voluminous boot. Going to a minimal footbed is actually going to make it even roomier and he's going to flop around too much. Okay, so this is really the whole process of setting up your boot properly. You need a snug, almost race-type fit, or higher performance boot with a closer fitting setup and a better liner, even something like a ZipFit in there. That will make this whole process work. And the reason is, right, these high performance boots come out of the box often closer fitting to your foot and are going to press into your arch and all these places without you even trying to. So this one here, I actually had to punch out this whole section because it pushed my arch into, to the point where I was rolled to the outside edge of my foot. Okay, so, uh, the flatter footbed works with a more race-type boot setup. Okay, a supportive footbed can actually block your ability to fine-tune the pressure towards the inner edge of the boot the outer edge of the boot and to stand flat on your skis. Okay, so if you are transferring to a flatter footbed— not no footbed, but flatter— you may need to adjust the volume, as I mentioned. And, and because there's a lot of support from, from maybe the arch coming up, you need something like— like here I have a little carbon fiber layer. This is a volume reducer, by the way, but something like this to the right size, added underneath, will lift the volume and almost act like the other footbed, so you get a snug fit over the top of your, your instep. This is so important in a ski boot. You want this part over the top to feel really snug. I gave the analogy of loose shoes. So if you've ever had shoes and the shoelaces are undone and you try walking and running, you're slipping around, your heel is lifting. If this is snug here, you don't get heel lift. It's not as much, like around here makes a difference, yes sure, this part, it's why Zipfits are awesome, you can inject more cork into the front here and get this, even the front of the tongue to hold your foot down better, so this section, so key to getting yourself in a really nice setup ski boot. So volume is really important, something you have to pay close attention to if you're going to go this minimal footbed route. A lower volume boot to begin with that you're going to be punching and grinding, so then as you start to be able to articulate your foot, you're not getting in any pain. Um, advice when you go out and find a boot fitter, and there's lots of great ones out there, have a chat to them and just mention what you're trying to do. Um, yeah, some people won't be open-minded to this, and You know, if not, just— and you want to try it, move on, find someone else. A lot of this stuff, you don't sort of need their help as much as just saying, look, I want to punch here, or I want to punch there, I want you to grind here, and they can do it. And, you know, they'll probably say, hey, it's on you, I take no responsibility if it's any worse. And that's fine, you gotta, you know, you gotta take some risk sometimes to learn something. I certainly did I did all this myself to get to this point of an awesome fitting performance and comfort boot that allows me to ski everything and basically just not even worry that I've got ski boots on, but have great, great, great control. Wish you all the best in setting up your ski boots. I've got a ton more videos on Big Picture Skiing, the boot equipment section, so things on liners, things on punching, um, movements inside the boot. Anyway, that's another area you can check out if you're interested in further information for ski boots. Otherwise, all the best, thanks for tuning in, and I'll see you next time.