I need criteria for PMTS boot shopping

[Ray]

I am going to shop for new boots and I would like to purchase a pair that is PMTS compatable. What should I look for? I am intermediate to advanced, about 200lbs. I hope to attend a Harb camp next season but have been attempting to self teach by using the 3 books. My foot is as flat as a pancake. Thanks for suggestions in advance.

[jbotti]

Ray, in the first book ACBAES1, Harald gives an in depth description of Lateral vs. Rotary boots. Read this section and you will understand that what you will be looking for are Lateral boots. Rotary boots have lots of forward lean and a high ramp angle, and less lateral stiffness. Tecnica's recreational line is generally comprised of lateral boots. Higher end boots from Nordica, Salomon and Head are all Lateral boots.

At your weight, you will be shopping for higher end boots, so you will have less of an issue with seeing rotary boots.

Excessive forward lean is generally to be avoided. If you are tall, you can use more forwrad lean than someone shorter. Lange and tecnica are notorious for excessive froward lean in their recreational boots (even the high end ones), although in theri race lines it is less of an issue.

In general, Head boots have the least forward lean, followed by Nordica and then Salomon. JB.

[Ray]

Thank you for the great information. I guess I will look for Head, Nordica or Salomon. I live near San Francisco. Is there a good boot fitter nearby? I hear that Elite Feet at Squaw Valley is quite good. I would like to go to the Harb center but I cant justify a trip to CO. for boots alone.

[skinny]

I understand that Head will have a new boot in 2008 with a more upright stance/cuff. The Head Raptor 120 RS. Anyone else have any info on this?

thanks

[rlspalding]

I would like to go to the Harb center but I cant justify a trip to CO. for boots alone.

Then combine it with a trip to Vail!!! Then you can do an alignment and ski instruction!!

I did that recent, it was well worth it!

Or Ive been wanting to go to a camp, if only I didnt have to work!

[Icanski]

Get to the skunk works, it's worth it. I came all the way from Canada, with no regrets. My feet are happy and my skiing's better.
Icanski

[milesb]

Thank you for the great information. I guess I will look for Head, Nordica or Salomon. I live near San Francisco. Is there a good boot fitter nearby? I hear that Elite Feet at Squaw Valley is quite good. I would like to go to the Harb center but I cant justify a trip to CO. for boots alone.

It sounds like you need footbeds too. Just go ahead and make the trip, get the footbeds and alignment service so you don't feel bad about "just for boots".

[hayduke]

several of my friends have had very good experience with bud heishman . he is also a ski instructor. his shop is in reno. i can get better details if you wish

[milesb]

I am sure Bud is very good at what he does, but you want to make sure that your footbeds are made to support the PMTS movements. It's possible that Bud knows how to do this, or is enough of a stand-up guy to admit it it he doesn't. However, I do know from his posts on Epic that he recommends leg steering to try to improve short turns, and has made other posts that support movements antithecal to PMTS. My opinion is that if you want to learn PMTS, find people certified in it for bootwork and lessons. Otherwise there is a really good chance that you are throwing time and money away.

[rlspalding]

I thought I'd re-emphasize:
if your a intermediate/advance skier, do you take a yearly ski trip somewhere? If you do, why not make sure its somewhere you can get to from Denver, and on the way to the resort swing in harb's shop...its on the way to pretty much all of the resorts..ie Keystone, Brekkenridge, Vail, Aspen...

Then you'll be guaranteed to get a boot fitting and alignment that is Harb certified!

[KFC]

I am going to CO the coming weekend. I could not find the address of Harb's shop. Please help.

Thanks!
Leo

[rlspalding]

I know your probably already gone but I believe the shop information is at pmts.org website. its called Skunkworks.