![]() ![]() If they aren’t, even a stiff boot flex will feel uncomfortable. Make sure you tighten all buckles and the cinch down the power strap for the most supportive boot hold. If you have a soft boot that moves with a bit of pressure, you’re more likely to feel off balance and you risk straining muscles while trying to maintain your form. Stiff boots lock in your stance, allowing you to press forward into your boots while executing turns. If you are an advanced or expert skier, a stiffer flex is better. Softer flex boots are also more comfortable, which makes them great for learning. A softer boot flex means you can play around with foot rotation, pressure, and form. Learning new muscle movements, handling fear, and dealing with heavy equipment requires a boot that’s a bit more forgiving. ![]() In general, a softer flex rating is better for beginner skiers. Improper flex can cause bruising and blisters and turn off potential skiers to a wonderful sport. The ideal flex rating allows you to find your best form and practice critical skiing techniques without being in pain. Why Does Flex Matter?įlex matters for your confidence, skill level and general comfort. Leaning back also leaves you out of balance over your skis and more likely to tumble if you hit an unexpected bump or catch an edge. Not surprisingly, one of the more common injuries in skiing is an ACL or MCL tear from incorrect skiing positions over time. Skiers who lean back put a lot more pressure on their knees. Both legs of each skier has a forward bend to them My ski boots are flexing forward to accommodate. Me, demonstrating a forward leaning ski pose. An athletic stance gives you the most control and power. If you maintain a good, forward body position, you’ll be able to quickly react to sudden terrain changes, moguls, trees, and other obstacles you encounter while skiing. Why Is The Ideal Skier Stance Slightly Forward?Ī forward skiing position, with a slight bend in the hips and a more acute bend in the ankles and knees, allows skiers to respond rapidly to changing conditions. A stiffer flex rating means you can push all you want, but that boot will stay locked in position. When you lean forward, pressure is exerted between your shins and the front of your boot.Ī softer flex rating will allow you to lean forward more and feel the boot accommodate that push. Generally, an ideal body position while skiing is one where your body mass is somewhere between centered over your skies and leaning slightly forward. The hardened plastic is designed to supply resistance to forward movement so you can maintain an athletic stance without feeling like you're going to fall out of your bindings. Your boot is made from a hardened piece of plastic that clips to the bindings on your skis. Once you've figured out your optimal ski boot size, you also need to consider boot flex- that is, how much a ski boot can flex (bend) forward. Like with any footwear, you first need to find a ski boot that fits in terms of length, width and style). Ski boot flex is an important consideration if you’re trying to buy or rent a pair of ski boots. I also include a handy ski boot flex chart to reference. In this guide, I’ll break down ski boot flex so you know what it means and how to choose the right flex when buying new ski boots. You want a ski boot with enough stiffness to support your weight, but enough flexibility to adjust your body position as you ski.Ĭhoosing the wrong ski boot flex can create blisters, toe bruises, shin pain and a host of uncomfortable sensations for your feet. Ski boot flex is a metric that determines the stiffness of your ski boot.
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