At Blister Summit 2023, we brought together ski boot designers, Tom Pietrowski (K2), Christoph Lentz (Fischer), Riccardo Bonaiti (Dalbello), Ross Herr (Dynafit), and pro skier / designer / obsessive tinkerer, Hoji, to discuss ski boot design in general; the hype and skepticism around BOA (are boot buckles dying??); the role that weight plays in the development of boots of all types; the balancing act of designing a walk mechanism; the challenges presented by the boot-binding interface, and more.
TOPICS & TIMES
Intros & Latest Products (4:07)
Weight & Downhill Performance (12:38)
The Rise of BOA (24:28)
Walk Mechanisms (33:13)
Boot-Binding Interface Challenges (44:01)
Evaluating Fit (54:16)
Women-Specific Boots (59:29)
Crashes & Close Calls (1:06:56)
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23/24 Blister Winter Buyer’s Guide
Not sure the mtn bike analogy works…the best DH athletes have pushed the bikes towards the suspension, derailers and other special new innovations. DH athletes in skiing have pushed boots as well but you’ll never see a walk boot on a podium in a race. Apples to apples not apples to oranges please.