Since the initiation of the turn starts with the foot, and the foot rests inside the boot, it seems logical to begin this ski equipment series of articles with the ski boot. If your boots are uncomfortable, don't flex adequately, or your feet are out of alignment, your performance and technique will be adversely affected. In addition, foot comfort and alignment are critical for expert skiers, since they affect the ability to maintain a balanced stance.

Softer Ski Boots for Shaped Skis

With the advent of shaped skis, subtle foot-and-ankle steering has almost replaced the need to apply strong forward pressure to the tips of the skis. To compensate, boot manufacturers began to make ski boots with more natural flex built right into the design. The result is a softer more comfortable ski boot, with better handling characteristics.

With regards to the aspiring all-terrain skier who has recently purchased shaped skis or is contemplating a new pair of super side-cuts, we'll take a look at a number of different manufacturers and models in a future article. The ski boots we examine will be geared to the expert skier. First, we