The Pro’s Gear: Cody Townsend (Ep.314)

19 comments on “The Pro’s Gear: Cody Townsend (Ep.314)”

1. Cody: “Try boots on. You just gotta try boots on….”.

   Oh yeah. I’m currently doing a project to pick out my next pair of RD boots (92-95 mm), and thus far I’ve managed to try on four different pairs, with one or two more to go. It’s interesting how they all fit completely differently. Thus far one does a pretty good job of matching the overall shape and volume of my foot (it’s an RD boot, so it’s of course still going to need lots of griding), while the other three did not.

   The problem is that you’re not going to find which one is best for you by walking into a single retailer, because essentially no one carries five or six different brands of WC boots. So unless you live in a place with multiple race shops, or in a city that has a race club with a race night where all the brands bring samples, you need to order them from the manufacturers, find the one with the best fit, and then bring it to your bootfitter for work.

   Jon: “For 20-some years of skiing in pretty tight ski boots, I think that I’ve just gotten real used to your feet just going number pretty early in the ski day…..”

   Of course everyone is different, but I’ve found, ironically, that the warmest boots are those that are so close-fitting that the hold-down comes from the shell rather than the liner (so I use them with the thinnest, most supple race liner I can find, which thus far has been that from a ZB). I find when the hold-down comes from the liner, you need to buckle the boots tightly to get sufficient compression, which reduces circulation and leaves my feet cold. But when the hold-down comes from the shell, one doesn’t need to leave the boots as tightly buckled.

   To visualize the latter hypothetically, imagine putting on a thin liners, putting your feet in a bucket, and then filling the bucket with plaster of paris. Once it hardens, your feet will be locked in place withouth needing pressure to do so.

2. I’m boggled by zip fits for touring. Clearly it’s me because they’re quite popular. But talking about a 1200 gr tour boot, and then later saying you’re mostly also in a 500+ gr zip fit liner is a bit misleading. You’re netting out to a ~1500 gr all-in boot. Curious then on a solly summit + zip fit vs say a stock hoji or maestrale RS.
   I do like the liner quiver idea though. I swap between tongue and wrap to skew more uphill or downhill.
   Good talk!

   • Well, I can imagine 3 reasons for that:
     1 Cody is a sponsored Salomon Athlete. He can’t really go out and ski Dynafit or Scarpa boots.
     2 He mentioned that the Intution Tour liners last a very short time for him. So, a lighter shell with the durable Zipfit liner will last longer than a beefier shell + lighter liner.
     3 Fit. The zipfit gives him a better fit and heel hold, which seems to matter more to him than a stiff shell. I am guessing that, with great fit, he can use his expert level technique to stay balanced, and control the skis, even though, at his size and speed, the Summit flexes really soft

     • I’ve actually tested and skied quite a few Scarpa and Dynafit boots. It’s part of the process of boot development. Otherwise the rest of what you said is accurate.

       • How did you find the heel pocket? I need to find some time to try them on, but I have the issue of skinny heels. I have been using Ezeefit heel sleeves to pad out some space (even in my summits)

         • That’s what makes the ZipFit GFT’s so damn good, the best heel cupping and heel hold of any liner by far. Other liners aren’t even in the same category when it comes to heel hold.

3. I always enjoy these podcasts, but something i caught that i haven’t heard before is pole length. i have used sternum length — inch above or inch below. i have always noticed that in steep terrain, i perform better with shorter. what you described sounds a lot shorter than i have used. Could you guys elaborate more on this.

   • I just find shorter poles emphasize being forward, driving down the hill and being in a much stronger body position…especially in the steeps. Obviously you can go overboard with this, but to me, I find it far better to ski with shorter than traditionally suggested pole length…which for my height would be a 130cm and I typically am at 115cm or 110cm.

     • Thanks for taking time to reply , I will remark my poles and test this out , have had my adjustable poles so long all the markings are gone , gotta love older carbon poles they flex and don’t break .

       ps Work your magic with salmon to build smaller kids boots something under size 15 also check out elan uflex kids skis !! They work ! There is not much great kids gear out there use your connections !

4. Came here just to say to Cody that Brock Purdy does not belong in the same sentence as Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers. And Brock Purdy “fastest to process and evaluate the field”, that’s enough reason to stop watching that youtube channel. No hate on Purdy he is winning games, but he isn’t the best at anything until he beats Mahomes.

   • You’re wrong. I’m right. I win.

5. Ill have to see how a 28.5 summit fits with a thicker liner. I tried my 27.5 with a sidas liner and it killed my feet. The liner was just too thick, even after molding. But also need to go try on the Shift Alpha boots for a travel boot.

   Or @OneNerdyKid/Matt Manser, can we get the Backland XTDs in an Ultra last?

6. Jonathan, thanks for getting Cody to talk about how his training and how he prepares for the ski season! I’ve been really curious about how athletes like Cody get ready for the season. I’m curious if he took a different approach when he was more focused on filming for MSP and pushing it in freeride? I know he’s old and probably doesn’t remember…

   Cheers!

   • I was far more focused on explosivity and pure power back in the freeride days. Lots of Olympic style lifts, plyometrics and max lifts.

     • Thanks for the response, Cody! Also, nice left quad.

       I like to think my gym/run/bike routine is at least as half as effective as whatever the ideal formula is.

       Love that you’re willing to geek out over gear with Jonathan and I effectively get to be a fly on the wall. I’ve been stuck in a sling and this convo helped me get through a longer ride on the stationary bike today.

       Hope you have a rad winter!

7. Again, great convo and thx Cody for jumping on here!
   To clarify on my semi-rant above, I’m not saying Scarpa or Hoji boot > Solly boot. More just talking about the performance of a presumably stock 1200 gr boot, and then later noting that usually running that actually with a 500 gr liner (prob 250-300 gr heavier than stock I’m guessing).
   And really just cuz I have a friend or two who brag about their superlight tour boots but gloss over the fact that with their zipfit liner, they’re boot weight is right about on a midweight (say, hoji or maestrale) stock weight.
   Whatever, this is mega gear nerdology. And not knocking zipfit either, because they have a growing following as well these days.
   Thanks all, carry on!

8. I’d love to hear more about which litric backpack cody uses – is this an ortovox? What size? Thank you!

9. 4 listeners and two of them were doing the talking

   I’m not American and am not into football but hang in there for the hell of it

   • I feel like there should be some sort of karmic reward for hanging in there. If everything starts coming up Aces for you or you win the lottery… it’s probably because you stayed till the end.