Painful feet while on ski-lift!

What are these ''Super Feet'' things? I am wondering because I have hideously flat feet with no instep whatsoever! This year my ski boots were really uncomfortable and it took about 4 months before my inner ankle bones no longer hurt! As this is not normal any suggestions? Makes me a bit nervous about buying my own boots. Have just been referred to an orthotist who may recommend an insole for my shoes but at 43 I feel it may be too late to learn to walk properly! Thanks

Eggman,
I'm sorry to hear about your poor feet. They sound really painful. I hope you get them sorted okay. And you did very well to find some boots you could wear comfortably, and I expect they were cheap as well if they were ex-hire.

Bandit - that's okay, these little misunderstandings happen all the time when communicating via typed messages, especially when I'm not very good with my smileys. Thanks for the apology :-)

Ally

sued wrote:What are these ''Super Feet'' things? I am wondering because I have hideously flat feet with no instep whatsoever! This year my ski boots were really uncomfortable and it took about 4 months before my inner ankle bones no longer hurt! As this is not normal any suggestions? Makes me a bit nervous about buying my own boots. Have just been referred to an orthotist who may recommend an insole for my shoes but at 43 I feel it may be too late to learn to walk properly! Thanks

Sued, Superfeet are supportive footbeds that come in lots of different styles and sizes depending on your activity and feet.

http://www.superfeet.co.uk/

You can buy them by mail order, or go to a stockist and try them in your shoes.
For skiers the range is bigger. My Superfeet insoles are quite stiff with a cork backing, and were made by cem who uses a vacuum method to mould them to my feet.

If you going to be fitted for Orthotic footbeds, ask if they can make a pair for your ski boots also (not all have the skills/knowledge)

Ski boots are not a very forgiving environment for sensitive feet, we need all the help we can get.

I was recommend "Super feet" by local outdoor specialist when buying some hikeing boots, he said they would stop my feet sliding to the front of the boots when walking downhill. He is in the local Mountain Rescue so he should know what he's talking about.I have some in my work boots too. I have bought some for my daughter as she has flat feet like her Dad :shock: I find my feet don't ache as much now ) They come in differnt colors to indicate which overall size you are and you trim them down to size to fit your shoe/boot.

Ah, superFEET ... :lol:

(sorry Admin, pic was a bit big!)

There are plenty of footbed (insole) companies out there. You can get mail order ones and off the shelf too. Because everyone's feet are different I would always suggest getting custom made footbeds. Makes skiing and running sooooo much better, even for someone like me with very "normal" feet. Any decent ski shop that sell boots will nearly insist on you having custom or semi custom foot beds. Personally I use Profeet.
www.profeet.co.uk

Proper footbeds really transform your skiing experience. Do remember that you cannot use your skiboot footbeds in runnng shoes ue to the different stance an pressure profiles (they are different sports afterall).

Also on an earlier post. Can't believe that someone is even contemplating skiing with their boots undone. Mad. This is how you can do yourself a serious injury. Boots should be snug. Particularly around the ankle and lower leg. If too tight you will loose feeling and have pain. If too loose your feet will move too much and your skis will not respond so well. When you do a tough run (moguls or racing etc) most people tighten their boots and then at the bottom of the run loosen off a bit. I am flabbergasted that someone would contemplate skiing in boots undone. Glad I will be off piste and will not have to scoop these people up.


Chers

Sobeuk,
I think the idea was to ski with boots undone as an exercise, and I'm sure no-one was going to try and ski an icy black or moguls like that.

I would think it's no more dangerous than some of the other daft exercises I've done in ski-ing lessons - like; with my eyes shut, on one leg, touching my downhill boot, holding the tips of my skis with both hands (very difficult), bouncing up and down with both skis, backwards ... etc. etc.

Ally