Skiing is a balance sport: you stand several inches off the snow on a stack of ski, binding, and boot- not to mention the skeletal structure of your foot, lower leg, knee, and upper leg. It makes sense that the whole stack is only as strong as it’s weakest link, and instability or misalignment in any part of the system will hurt your ability to balance and transmit/absorb pressure.
Optimizing your ski equipment doesn’t mean buying the latest and greatest piece of gear, but instead paying attention to the system as a whole from a perspective of alignment- the idea is to make sure that your equipment works with your body, not against it.
The crucial elements of the equipment system are the ski base itself (which must be consistently flat), edges (filed at consistent angles), a supportive boot that conforms closely to the shape of your foot, and a custom-molded orthotic footbed like the Superfeet Korks we make at Footloose.
Because human bodies are rarely perfectly symmetrical, it’s normal to have less-than-perfect alignment of the foot and lower leg. And because skiing is so balance-oriented, variations that are not a problem in day-to-day settings can have a noticeable effect on the hill. Without underfoot support and stabilization (a custom footbed), many skiers and snowboarders will experience excessive foot movement inside the boot while skiing. This instability inhibits the ability to precisely pressure your edges, and can lead to boot pain and chronic problems like bone spurs.
Along with a footbed, choosing the right boot will also help to stabilize and secure the foot in the most effective and comfortable position. The boot shell and liner must match the shape of the foot as closely as possible and hold it securely. Bootfitting, the art of strategically modifying the liner or shell, will allow you to use a snug, functional fit without pressure points.
The ski tune is the last link in the chain- the edges and base are what actually interfaces with the snow. Like the carefully honed working edge of a craftsman’s chisel, a proper ski tune makes the ski feel precise, predictable, and controllable.
The base material must be ground as flat as possible, and the edges polished smooth at consistent angles and sharpness. A base that’s convex will tend to wander and feel disconnected on the snow, while a concave base will cause the edges to hook up unexpectedly and feel difficult to disengage. A flat base and consistent edges will engage and release smoothly and predictably, allowing you to pivot and skid without catching an edge.
There are great skis out there, and plenty of shops that will put a good tune on them, but hands-on custom bootfitting and footbeds are the key to getting the most out of your gear, and maximizing fun on the hill.