J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by pavelski

Sorry, forgot a very important point; that adjustment of the flex level!

Look in the back upper section of the boot cuff.

You will find a screw/or allen key slot or rotating device ( ski companies use various ways to modify flex)!

Always begin with soft flex, even if you are "expert"! You will discover very quickly why you should begin at soft level first!

Once you are at one level,,never but never change on the hill or in mid slope! Wait this next day! Then begin on easy runs for first hour!

Why you ask?

If you really want to get "feeling" on how the boots perform,,then let boots and skis do all work! You just are there to "feel" the boots flexing and skis responding!

Check this setting every month!

Happy skiing and remember, "flexing is allowed everywhere on the hill"

Flex Index

Just a short boot information 101 note.

Boot companies want to help you decide in buying boots that reflect your skiing ability and skiing type!

One of the factors which is critical for correct skiing is the flex ,,,that is the fore/aft motion you get from the boot!

To understand this boot flex index think of a car's steering linkage! Some cars have a soft easy steering feel ( power steering), some cars have direct rack and pionion steering so that the slightest motion from the steering wheel will be transmitted to the wheels! Many top level sports cars have this!

Finally there are some top level performance cars that have a computer which "creates gradual tight steering" based on speed levels! I am sure you all accept that as you increase speed you want more "direct" feel of the road!


Take this analogy and apply it to ski boots!

You can have soft flex ( level 70) which will give you lots of fore and aft play thus allow lots of ski freedom! You pay a price for this freedom,,,,,since as you increase speed you do not want to let skis to "wander"! You want to feel every mm. of play on your skis as you ski fast!


Some reference values will help you at this point!

Racing boot flex index ( for top level World CUP racers) is in the 150 range.


Expert skiers/Regional, national racers tend to have boots in the 120-130 range.

Expert skiers tend to have boots with a flex range of 90-110


Beginners should have a boot with a flex index in the 70-80 range!


As always in the skiing world,,,companies do not make life easy for us. There is no standard scale like the "metric" scale! There is no international standard which all ski boot companies respect as far as boot flex! So be careful in using only this index.

Second
On a boot you can have three flex settings. That is the kind of boot I recommend since as you get better in skiing you can "calibrate" your boot's flex according to your skiing competence!


To conclude,,you must also not think of only the boot flex!
The boot design works as a whole. For example you can have a boot with a high flex index of 130 however if the shell is too thin or the cuff is very thin that index is not very relevant since boot shell will constantly "give" as you ski aggressively! In such a boot you will not feel that "direct steering" on skis!

I hope this short answer gives you an idea what boot flex index is! It is not an angle!

In short the smaller the number,,,the MORE play or softer boot you have.

The larger the number,,the less play you have and the boot is stiffer!




Just a side note
Someone took some old 1989 boots and tested their flex and compared them to todays index range! Most top level boots were in the 190+ range! These were not racing boots , just boots for expert level skiers.

In short they were vices! No forward/backward give! You understand why! In those old dinosaure days you have 205 SL skis! You had to "muscle" them around!!!

What does that mean?
Never but never ski with your old great ski boots if you have bought new modern skis! Use them as pencil holders or flower pots!

Dshenberger,

It is not I who has created this time limite! I am getting emails from all sorts of people like, wifes, bosses, girlfriends etc,,,,who are complaining that...........

Also at the end you will see much discussion as the "experts" come out and debate the answers!

Also there will be a surprise ending,,so do post your answers soon or soon you will be saying, "I should have"!

So far top score is 1/10 I am, sure your answers will be on the top!

Finally I do have to think of those poor souls that have not slept,,,,there is only so much they can take!
07/31/08 3/190/68/325/8 169/13/ ( 117.4, 65,5, 100,5 )

Rose,
Thank you very much for your answers.

Just the fact that you did this posting will give you a very interesting "surprise" at the end of this quizz!
Your score is 1/10!

Your correct answer is one of the more difficult ones! You will have to tell me at the end how you got this answer!

Imagination score 10/10!

Your farmer answer is not far off! In North America the very first rope tow was put up by a farmer with a old Model T car motor, some pulleys and a long long old fashion hemp rope!
The most common ski injury at that time was dislocation of the shoulder due to beginer skiers holding to rope,,while they were dragged up hill!

Now for that nail polishing answer!!!! It could happen!

Do you know something about ski racers and their social activities that we do not? Birth is an important event,,but for ALL skiers,,I mean top level skiers to get together for longer than just a week and stay together......it must have been an "exceptional" birth!!!!!!

As some of you have noted, English is not my native (mother tongue)! In fact it is my fourth language that I learned at a late stage of my life.

I will be very, very careful how I communicate in the future.

Are some of you teachers?

Linquists?


Or just,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Just a small reminder that deadline is fast approaching!

Also a suprise ending for all who post answers!


So do post!

Perceptive Bandit!

Ha,,,,phase 5!!!!

You want phase 5? Really?

First tell me what you did in Verbier in phase 4.

Then tell me how you felt in Verbier.

Finally tell me what you feel NOW about Verbier.

Then I will tell you about phase 5,,,,, where the air is rarified!

Where time stands still.

Where speed does not exist.

And the runs last a lifetime.