It seems that my post re: skibootalignment may have been misunderstood..
Firstly, re read my post...Davey is on the start of his journey and his boots need fixing before any meaningful MA can be given..and in the absence of an HSS boot tech, this is good a enough fix until he can get to one..
Without alignment, pmts is almost impossible, especially if you fall into the the ‘majority‘ of skiers issues with boot alignment..see the Italian demo ski team below to see the majority issue:
In the absence of an HSS boot fitter - The quick fix i suggested will get you to within 80% of alignment and therefore in a place where you can now start to practice & execute pmts movements..hopefully, you will then see the importance of boot alignment and then seek out an HSS boot fitter or better yet, go to a camp..
The beauty about pmts is in its simplicity, but it requires you to be able to balance. Imagine if on your initial attempts with pmts drills, you simply can’t balance - why then would you bother with continuing with the program or listening to the advice from a friendly pmts skier?
When I started with pmts - I simply couldn’t balance properly. And through massive amounts of research I discovered this quick fix...it instantly made a difference - enough for me to commit to the program and eventually seek out HH, get my boots properly sorted and attend camps..
The alignment manual is a great source info and greatly deepened my understanding. But, it is aimed at aspiring boot technicians who have access to specialist equipment. I did consider becoming an HSS boot tech after reading it tho..
On my last camp, my alignment changed over the week - (I think it was due to muscle conditioning and movement pattern development - first days back on the snow). It definitely gave DR and Walker something to think about. Anyway, Mid week, I experimented with using trail maps to readjust/ asses and tweak my alignment. This was then fed back to DR - and my findings confirmed what she then subsequently found. The corrections made from the initial setup were staggering - in the opposite direction.
The point being, that I was able to make a ‘good enough’ fix until I could get my boots re-adjusted..having knowledge of what good alignment fells like helps.
As any of you no doubt discovered, trying to convince a skier that their boots aren’t helping or that they need to try pmts is a minefield...I have had great success with ‘quick fixing’ skiers boots on the side of the slope. It may not be perfect, but it works enough to make an instant improvement in their balance..
Try it on a skier who hasn’t had boot alignment and could do with it..grab a handful of trail maps and stash them in your pocket. Fold them to make about a 2”x1” rectangle..then layer up about 3-4 to create a decent thickness. Loosen the cuff buckles and power strap and carefully stuff them between the liner and shell. Be careful not to stuff them too low, as it will cause a pressure point on the ankle bone. Re-tighten up the boots - note, the cuff is now slightly thicker, so you will have to loosen the buckles slightly..
You might have to use a different thickness for each leg. You are just trying to get the centre of knee mass somewhere closer to the middle of the foot..note, that during the day, the maps will move, so they will need to be checked/ repositioned. You can normally tell as their balance regresses..
Once I found what thickness worked, I taped them into position..the rest is history..
Remember, to 99% of skiers and boot techs, getting your boots worked on is all about comfort...I have wasted enough money on boot specialists to only discover that my quickfix achieved vastly superior results...enough to get me on my pmts journey and enough to get me to HSS..
Please read this on the spirit that it is given. Davey is at the start of his journey. I can see that his boots aren’t helping and sadly, no manner of MA is going to help at this stage.
As I originally stated -1. gets boots fixed. 2. Get acbaes 1 - work through it methodically and do not skip a drill...3. Post video of progress so that the coaches can help..
Ps. Sorry if I am coming across as grumpy - being in perpetual lockdown and no skiing this season is having its toll..