My friend Stephanie and I were chatting on a sidebar at our book club a couple months ago about our jobs. She’s a ski boot fitter and I’m a bra fitter. I casually mentioned that I wondered if fitting ski boots was kind of like fitting bras, to which Stephanie declared, “It’s EXACTLY like fitting bras!” I decided to do a little interview with her to understand what she meant. Substitute an under-the-bust measurement here… a little wire or push up in a bra there… and well, Stephanie’s right…
Where do you work, Steph?
I work at Equipe Sport, in the Stratton village location
What kind of measurements and assessments to you take into account when finding the right boot for someone?
Many! I measure length, width, arch length, instep size. Plus, I check an array of range of motion in the ankle and foot. All of these will help me find the correct series of boots to try on an individual.
What elements go into a good fit?
Matching a boot to a person, using all measurements above, and determining proper flex depending on range of motion will create the best fit possible.
Do feet change as we get older, or put on weight or lose weight? With bras, sometimes the same style doesn’t work as your body changes.
Feet definitely change as we age, loose or gain weight, have children, injuries, and participate in regular activities.
Are there certain boots for wide feet, high arches, etc?
Every boot manufacturer does a great job creating boots for a wide array of feet. It’s no longer the case that that only 1 manufacture is good for a narrow or wide foot. They all have boots to fit any size or shape.
Do people sometimes want a boot because they like how it looks, but it’s not going to fit? Yes! Many times people (especially women) are drawn to how a boot looks. I once had a woman tell me she would only buy a black ski boot, so she could wear it to apres ski…challenging! Another factor is price. If a boot is on sale, a person will opt for price point instead of fit.
Is it all about the footbed or the actual boot or both?
Well, the boot is the place to start. Footbeds definitely enhance the fit, by centering and stabilizing the foot. Footbeds are not always necessary though. Depends on the foot.
How is the skiing? Are people psyched?
The skiing is fantastic!! People are so stoked on the conditions! It’s dumping right now!
As a bra fitter, I can relate to just about all of what Stephanie is saying. Taking measurements, assessing body and tissue, bringing a style that works best given all the factors that are uniquely you…this is what we do!
Hope this finds you comfortable in your bra and in your boots today. Find your joy! Let it snow!
xo – Joy
Joy Slusarek is the owner of JOY all things underthings in Manchester Center, Vermont. Although she hasn’t skied in a couple of years, she does remember being amazed by her first pair of ski boots that actually fit. She remembers the exact moment on a chairlift at Stratton when she really couldn’t believe her feet didn’t hurt. She might have even made it down a blue that day.
The book club book was “A Man Called Ove.” Joy highly recommends it, especially on a snowy day.
