161: The Ski Boot Special (How to choose ski boots, custom insoles, boot fitting)

• Colin skied at Kuhtai on the SIGB Ski Test 
• Listen to Al talking about the Ski Test in Episode 91
•  TSP is sponsored by Les 3 Vallées - the largest ski area in the world
•  Val Thorens is celebrating its 50th anniversary this winter
• You can now book holidays to Les 3 Vallées directly via their their website
•  World Cup races in Solden and Zermatt were cancelled
•  Mia Brookes took 9th and Kirsty Muir 7th in the Big Air in Chur
•  Listen to our interview with Mia Brookes in Episode 158

• Robin Shah reported on his first turns in Verbier, which as he predicted opened last weekend

• Dave Burrows from Snow Pros Ski School reported from Glacier 3000
•  The Warren Miller film tour ‘Daymaker’ starts later this month
•  Iain is hosting the Brighton screening on Friday 02 December

• Love this quote: “Like a wand in Harry Potter, the ski boot chooses your foot”
• Touring boots cost more because a patent has to be paid to Dynastar every time
• Iain had his custom insoles created for him at Profeet
•  Go for thin ski socks, recommended brands include Falke, Teko and Smartwool
•  Don’t buy your ski boots on the basis of colour: “They’re tools not jewels”
•  Iain spoke to Professor Henrik Bjursten about his new VPECS innovation
• The Carv device fits into your ski boot and gives feedback on your ski technique, visually via the app or in audio via Bluetooth
• Ted Ligety is their new ambassador (and can give you ski advice!)
  
  Feedback 

“Hope you don't mind a minor correction [re Episode 101]. Though they were often referred to as ‘parablocks’, but in fact they were called ‘parablacks’. The reason was that the inventor was called Gunther Schwartz. They were partly to stop skiers crossing 'the sharp ends' but they were widely used in World Cup speed events because they had the effect of dampening the ski and filtering out vibration. Marker developed their own version which had a weight suspended by springs, it was intended as a more active 'suspension' for ski racers, though the thing weighed a ton. The earliest ones were simply plastic boxes but the last version was a spring loaded coat hanger wire affair which stopped your tips crossing but folded flat if you tried to uncross them”