We’re feeling good about the boot’s performance and prospects. After our “C-to-C 1200 Trip” we’ve now had a really wide range of skiers/racers use the boot and every person has had positive comments.
Where it’s been on the clock (which, after all, is the only real measure) the boot has proven faster. We’re still looking forward to comprehensive timed-run comparisons by WC racers on injected courses, but early indicators are very favorable. And the race results have been pretty impressive, too! (Thanks Warner and Dane!)
The qualitative feedback and praise has been pretty consistent. Every skier has remarked on the DODGE boot’s improvement in the initiation of the turn and ability to effectively pressure the ski far earlier than with a traditional “rubber” boot. Further, we hear that, once initiated, it’s far easier to maintain a consistent edge angle and pressure during the turn. And, ultimately, the turn can be completed earlier and more precisely.
Long-time readers know Dave & I have been emphasizing the importance of buckling the DODGE boot loosely to ensure the foot is allowed to perform as part of the suspension system rather than clamped down as in a “rubber” boot where it must become part of the chassis. This was reinforced throughout our trip as boot performance was directly affected by boot fit and buckle pressure.
Buckle tension also affects the comfort. Properly fit and buckled, a DODGE boot can be buckled in the morning and doesn’t need to be unbuckled until you take it off at the end of the day. If you feel the need to loosen the buckles at the end of a run, you’re over-tightening the boot and reducing its performance! Hmmm, could this be a coaching boot, too?
We skied (and had others ski) the boot on a wide variety of snow conditions, from injected to powder to crud to everything in between. Frankly, we didn’t experience or hear any negative situations. Quite the contrary, the DODGE was better in all conditions. One notable finding we had was in frozen bumps covered with powder, where the boot’s progressive flex never bottomed out so we never experienced harsh shin bang like we have in traditional boots. Hmmmm (again), could this be an “all-mountain” boot?
More later.
Bill