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Anyone done it?
Just wondering as i've got a pair & don't get me wrong they're great but they're not quite as stiff as my previous alpine boots & seeing as i can't afford or really justify at the moment having 2 pairs of boots. I was just wondering if anyone knew of any relatively simple ways to stiffen them up? Preferably methods that don't require permanent modifications of the boot.
its a lost cause. they will never be *that* stiff. trust me, i tried.
but a intuition liner is the best step in terms of locking your foot in there
I agree……after spending 7 days on them in the resort, I bought some alpines for the in bounds shit. Sux, really thought I could get away with 1 pair of boots.
By-the-way, watch out for the allen screws loosing up. Lost 2 so far.
Nordica used to make these yellow plastic 'flaps' that screwed into the upper cuff behind the buckle latches to give a little more stiffness (especilly laterally) these are hard to come by now, but would definitely help if you could find some. I'll definiitely be looking for some for extra cuff reinforcement on my denali's.
Step one, MAker sure the boot is fully flexed forward before switching into ski mode. This locks it into the stiffest flex mode and has the most forward lean.
Step Two, add booster straps and rivet them into place where the factory strap was.
Step Three, Have the boots foamed. Go get a pair of Conformable / shurefoot custome foam liners, these will greatly stiffen the boots.
I have done all of the abouve and they are now just as stiff as my solomon Xwave 10's and still tour like a dream.
Intuition liners may also help, they retail for only $190 are super light and hold you foot as well as foam (the tongueless overlap is also really nice). I replace all stock liners with intuitions after a season of use. The conformables would probably be stiffer, but if you are paying straight up you could get some new alpine boots for almost the same price.
If you don't want to throw down 100+ on new liners, Go to your local ski thrift store and pick up a pair of old 98' racing boots, and pull out the liners. I snagged a pair of rossi kevlar courses for 25 bucks in frisco and those liners have made a world of a difference. They definetly make the boots heavier, but it allows you to ski them hard as shit. Obiously, go back to your Gfit when touring, but this makes the boot so much better inbouds, on hardpack, in the park, ect.
Enhancements to my Garmont MegaRides (will work for your Adrenalines, too):
1) Intuition alpine liners (the beefiest ones)
2) Custom footbeds (you should have these, regardless of boot)
3) Booster strap
4) Flexon tongue (or Denali TT tongue)
As marshalolson said, they will not be as stiff/rigid as the stiffest alpine boots, but, then again, that's not really the point. They will hike/climb far better than alpine boots. There is always a trade-off, unfortunately.
I think it's all about technique and you can adapt your style a bit to your equipment, and once you do, you can ski the hardest stuff just fine on that gear.
For whatever it's worth, I just skied a 50-55 degree line, with a small air (10-15 eet) on my Dynafits and MegaRides.
Also, I saw Doug Coombs rockin' his Adrenalines on many inbounds days earlier this season. I'd say if they are stiff enough for him, surely they should work for us mere mortals.
For me, I found the stiffest alpine boots were a bit of a crutch. I know find the good ankle flexion must more key to controlling even big boards (190cm/100+ underfoot) -- but I tend not to ride the stiffest skis. (Stiff alpine boots are more vital for that.)
My transition to riding AT boots full-time (starting with Denalis 9 years ago) involved some "I wish I had alpine" moments...but they started to come fewer and further between. It's also great when you can have a setup that you use everyday that allows you to actually climb and ski peaks like Denali and the Grand (and, yes, I've actually done this) and enjoy both the climb up and not have to adapt your skiing on the way down because you are fully comfortable in your AT gear and not switching up with full-on alpine boots. I think the switching back and forth can accentuate the difference (loss) in stiffness, and doing so will cause one to focus on that instead of appreciating what the AT boots can do.
Just my $0.02. I hope to offer up a slightly different perspective than some other folks, but neither way is "right".
The plastic flaps I was talking about are called Nordica Direct Drivers (I think they still come standard with the doberman's). Pillage your local shops to see if they have any lying around. I found putting one of those inside the outer cuff towards the inside of the shin where there is a big gap with only liner exposed (no plastic) definitely helps.
[hijack] ok, up all night, what'd you do?! Central? Do we get a TR? [/hijack]Quote:
Originally Posted by upallnight
Sorry...yep...that was Central...Quote:
Originally Posted by alpinepronghorn
I recently purchased a my first pair of AT boots- Garmont SheRides. I love the traction they give me on the rocks, but I felt like I could not ski in them at all. I am so used to alpine boots (Lange World Cups--- stiff) and I just felt like I was constantly skiing backseat in these AT boots. I went to my bootfitting guy in Winter Park and told him he had to make them work for me. Of course a foot bed is a good thing (just transferred from my other boot), but they also gave me a custom fit liner. The liner is one that is silicone-injected, and then reinforced with plastic around the ankle/calf area both in the tongue and the back. This reinforcement made a world of difference as far as making my boots much stiffer-feeling. They almost feel like alpine boots. Plus, having a custom fit liner made the boot just fit better. I found my foot floated around a bit in the liners that came with the SheRides even after the liners had been baked. I skied on my SheRides today and I was all smiles :) :)
Central on cody pk I'm figuring? How gnar is that anyway? Sounds like its steeper than the main lines on Headwaters at moonlight or the big couloir at Big Sky, with the exit huck too.Quote:
Originally Posted by alpinepronghorn
And anyone know if the tram is going to be running late spring/early summer for corn/bc access?
"I just felt like I was constantly skiing backseat in these AT boots." Holy shit, no kidding. I can ultimately deal with the soft aspect of my G-Rides (which I do not ski inbounds, except on race day where I'm standing around all day in more comfortable AT boots), but that backseat feeling is what I hate. I figured it might the Freerides with their flat to backward angle, and I do try to ratchet them forward before locking into ski mode, but I always feel like I'm fighting to stay forward. Are you saying the different liners made a difference in forward position?
I mounted my freerides without the toe shim. Over the weekend I borrowed some skis with freerides that had the toe shim still there. I was amazed/dismayed at the difference. Felt pushed back and couldn't find a nice balance spot. Was skiing alpine boots, so no blaming AT boots :)Quote:
Originally Posted by lingcod
One further thing I've noticed, the steep it is the happier I am with the flat binding, and conversely if I'm just pointing the skis on lower angled stuff I really like a bit more ramp. The toe-piece free fritschis feel like a good compromise, I can't tell the difference between that and the axial 140s I've got.
Yep, Central on Cody.Quote:
Originally Posted by corn dog
Tram will be running through the summer season. Not 100% sure of the summer opening date, but that is a big money-maker for JHMR.
Central is fairly steep, though there is plenty steeper around here. I've not been to Moonlight or Big Sky, so I can't compare.
2 challenges on Central are a narrow section leading to a big right-hand turn & the air, which is big in most years but not so bad this season. I usually carry a rope with me on those type of descents...just in case I don't like the air/landing.
Thanks for reporting back! This is the first I've heard of someone doing a comparison to show the difference removing the shim made. Was your friends ski the same ski as yours?Quote:
Originally Posted by corn dog
Then again, I'm fine skiing standard freerides in AT boots...but maybe as you point out the problem is less an issue on steep terrain where you're making more turns and skis are across the fall line a bit more.
My skis w/freerides are 186 atomic stomp, mounted with Andy plates. Borrowed skis were 188 stiff bros. Both have a rather/very forward mount, bros were on the line. I've also used diamir 3s with standard shim/ramp, but I'd put quite a fat amount of material added under my heel inside the AT boot (GSM). I did briefly ski those with an extra heel riser, felt better on low angle, not really necessary on steeper stuff.Quote:
Originally Posted by upallnight
If I could just shove some shims behind my calf to force the forward lean.. there is so much slop in em for/aft gives even my franken g-rides a backseat feel
Any bootfitter should be able to fit a hard foam pad (/spoiler) in that area by attaching it to the upper rear cuff of your innerboot.Quote:
Originally Posted by Summit
Give it a shot!
Its easy to do yourself too, just get a sheet of foam from tognar ($6.50), cut some pieces the size of your spoiler, stick em on your liner and shave down the bottom with a razor blade so the whole thing is kinda angled. one sheet of foam makes a noticable difference to your lean (1/8 inch foam ~ 1 degree)Quote:
Originally Posted by upallnight
Hey, APH...Quote:
Originally Posted by alpinepronghorn
Since I didn't get any style points for Central on that last trip, I went back today. Snapped a few pics. Will post in a separate thread.
I skied my 177 R:ex's and Freerides extensively with and without a 1/4" heel shim. The shim made a huge difference, and the ski never felt natural before adding it. Afterwords, everything came together and it was so much easier to stay centered and actually have my center of gravity in a position to flex the boot. Helped carve on the hard pack and helped balance in the pow. However, I was in Salomon boots (Course 130 and X-wave 10) which are more upright than most.Quote:
Originally Posted by upallnight
Having similar but less drastic issues on Megarides and Dynafits, I think because the Megarides have a touch more lean.