Is increasing binding ramp angle equivalent to adding heel lifts?

[rjenz]

For skiers with poor ankle dorsiflexion, who might find it useful to add heel lifts in their boots to increase boot ramp angle... would increasing binding ramp angle achieve the same thing? It seems like that would be the case, but wasn't sure if there was some other factor(s) that I wasn't considering.

[turnfarmer]

No. Inside the boot addresses foot/ankle.
Outside the boot addresses above the ankle.

[Core Shot]

No. Inside the boot addresses foot/ankle.
Outside the boot addresses above the ankle.

Correct. As a sufferer of poor dorsiflexion my boot fitter always uses heel lifts to open my ankle.
A more upright boot cuff also helps.

Once your boot fit is dialed then you can talk about ramp angle.

And more ramp and more forward cant are brutal for limited dorsiflexion.

[rjenz]

Oo right, okay yeah that does makes sense! In what situations might you consider addressing above the ankle, via increasing boot (edit: meant to say binding!) ramp?

[turnfarmer]

Oo right, okay yeah that does makes sense! In what situations might you consider addressing above the ankle, via increasing boot ramp?

Oo right, okay yeah that does makes sense! In what situations might you consider addressing above the ankle, via increasing boot ramp?

You mean binding ramp? Let’s step back and clarify terminology.

Inside the boot is ramp angle.

Binding heel to toe differential is generally called delta to keep confusion in check,

Binding delta IMO chiefly is used to address tibia to femur length ratios. If you have a relatively long tibia to femur ratio, flatter binding delta will keep the skier from being overflexed. If the femur is longer relatively to the tibia ratio, a higher binding delta will keep the skier from being being underflexed.

Ironically, without proper binding delta, being overflexed or underflexed puts the skier in the backseat.

If your tibia to femur ratios are in the normative range, most will find binding at irrelevant.

There is also likely a relationship to torso to leg length ratio and possibly hip anatomy that I haven’t sorted yet.

Best way to test this is with your boots on on a level hard surface. Most modern binding have 3-5mm high. Put a 5mm shim under your heels, then take it away. Which position provided better balance?

[turnfarmer]

If you are doing the above test with GripWalk soles you will need a 5-6mm shim under the heel just to get the boot on the floor in the same position it is in the binding. This is due to the outsole under the fore foot. The GW boot sits differently on a floor than it does in a binding.

[rjenz]

You mean binding ramp? Let’s step back and clarify terminology.

Oh ya, I did mean to say binding ramp there, thanks for the catch!

Binding delta IMO chiefly is used to address tibia to femur length ratios. If you have a relatively long tibia to femur ratio, flatter binding delta will keep the skier from being overflexed. If the femur is longer relatively to the tibia ratio, a higher binding delta will keep the skier from being being underflexed.

Ironically, without proper binding delta, being overflexed or underflexed puts the skier in the backseat.

If your tibia to femur ratios are in the normative range, most will find binding at irrelevant.

There is also likely a relationship to torso to leg length ratio and possibly hip anatomy that I haven’t sorted yet.

Best way to test this is with your boots on on a level hard surface. Most modern binding have 3-5mm high. Put a 5mm shim under your heels, then take it away. Which position provided better balance?

Super interesting! That sounds like a nice & simple functional test, I'll give it a go.

[Tjaardbreeuwer]

If you are doing the above test with GripWalk soles you will need a 5-6mm shim under the heel just to get the boot on the floor in the same position it is in the binding. This is due to the outsole under the fore foot. The GW boot sits differently on a floor than it does in a binding.

or just click into your skis, and feel like that. That way you are guaranteed to have the boot the same angle as you do when skiing.

Then play around with shims under the ski, underneath heel or toe.