east coast / midatlantic bootfitters?

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east coast / midatlantic bootfitters?

Postby dougtee » Tue Oct 15, 2019 2:18 pm

hi all,

I was really hoping to be able to make it out to Dumont for a bootfitting this year, but forces are conspiring against me. That said I do need new boots and was hoping for some suggestions about hopefully some next best options. I am in NYC but willing to travel. Thanks for any tips!
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Re: east coast / midatlantic bootfitters?

Postby noobSkier » Tue Oct 15, 2019 6:32 pm

Accumulate 18 pages of MA requests over the course of 3 years :lol: Oh, and get real friendly with your local ski shop...many will (a) flat out refuse to sell you a "race" boot and (b) refuse alignment work thats exclusive to "racers", because you aren't skiing gates so why the hell do you need sole canting? /sarcasm. This is all assuming you can even find someone with a sole canting rig. In my area (major ski area) only one out of a dozen or so ski shops even know what sole canting is.

All this to say, this is the path of most resistance...but technically feasible if you have some years to burn, post video every week, can tolerate extreme frustration, and can arrange all the above. In not so many words, I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy...but best of luck!

edit: sorry dougtee, I incorrectly assumed you were considering non-pmts bootfitters! You can also get in touch with Welch village, really nice guys.
Last edited by noobSkier on Tue Oct 15, 2019 7:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: east coast / midatlantic bootfitters?

Postby HeluvaSkier » Tue Oct 15, 2019 6:54 pm

Paging zuschauer.

Seriously, send him a PM. Richard has a shop in Pittsburgh and does great work (HSS boot fitter). He knows boots and is one of the few I trust outside of HSS. I think he's the only HSS fitter in the east these days. There was a guy at Stratton years ago, but I don't think he's still doing boots or even coaching anymore... could be wrong on that one though.
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Re: east coast / midatlantic bootfitters?

Postby dougtee » Wed Oct 16, 2019 8:49 am

i am a pittsburgh native that heads back for the holidays so that would be so convenient the mind boggles. fingers crossed!
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Re: east coast / midatlantic bootfitters?

Postby WNYSkier » Wed Oct 16, 2019 11:03 am

I second HeluvaSkier's recommendation. Richard is top notch - he is the only guy who will build my boots. He has built 3 pair of boots for me: footbeds, alignment, fore/aft balance. Perfect right off the shop floor. Same for my daughter and a national championship winning masters racer that I coach.

The only correction is that this summer he has moved from Pitt to Camden ME.

I'll be making the 9 hour drive in the coming weeks for my new pair of boots...... Yes, it's worth it.
M

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Re: east coast / midatlantic bootfitters?

Postby dougtee » Wed Oct 16, 2019 12:50 pm

oof thats a very thrill of victory / agony of defeat feeling
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Re: east coast / midatlantic bootfitters?

Postby Roundturns » Thu Oct 17, 2019 3:49 pm

Richard or Jimmy both very good. Have been fitted by both and very satisfied.
Taken a number of friends there as well.

You could do way way way worse.

One or the other can't go wrong!
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Re: east coast / midatlantic bootfitters?

Postby njdiver85 » Fri Oct 18, 2019 11:53 am

What shop in Camden, ME is Richard at?
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Re: east coast / midatlantic bootfitters?

Postby jbotti » Mon Oct 21, 2019 6:39 pm

I deleted the post recommending a non PMTS trained bootfitter.
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Re: east coast / midatlantic bootfitters?

Postby h.harb » Tue Oct 22, 2019 11:30 am

I can't endorse anyone who is not current with our methods. We improve, learn more and upgrade every year. These up grades to our fitting and alignment process are not universally understood or adopted. I'm mostly referring to boot alignment and foot performance and matching everything to the skier.

I'm sure some people can stretch and fit adequately but that's the least involved aspect and a small part of a total set up. We don't adhere to the term "Expert Boot Fitter" either, because that definition is all over the map. We have experienced numerous people's set up by quote "Expert Boot Fitters" who have the so called, "best boot fitters" title. I find out from this experience more often than not, after doing a total assessment that nothing was set up correctly. So take your chances with a 9 hour drive to Maine or other places. The flight to Colorado is only 3 hours and you get to ski on some of the best snow in the world.
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Re: east coast / midatlantic bootfitters?

Postby jbotti » Tue Oct 22, 2019 2:53 pm

Probably a good time to bounce this thread:

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=5287
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Re: east coast / midatlantic bootfitters?

Postby ToddW » Wed Oct 23, 2019 5:22 pm

Following up on what Harald wrote, I posted this review of Harb Ski Systems on Google Reviews some time ago:

Great owners and staff. They are the best bootfitters and alignment specialists in the industry. I ski in Vermont, but I hop on an airplane to visit Harb Ski Systems for boot work — the difference in skiing outcome is that large.


I've taken the Harb Alignment Technician training, I've made footbeds, I've tweaked boots on snow, and I firmly believe what I wrote in that review.
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