A Study of Ski-Boots

-On the Criteria for Choosing Ski-Boot with an Emphasis on the Pressure value-

Abstract

    Ski-Boots have undergone drastic changes and accomplished remarkable improvements since 1970, when the boot-makers began to study on the materials. In spite of these changes and improvements, the criterion for choosing ski-boot has remained almost the same. Probably, foot length has been the only criterion. Our study tried to search for other possible criteria corresponding to the changes and improvements in ski-boots. Findings are as follows:

  1. There is a significant variation of lower leg girth among the subjects according to their differences in sex, height, weight and past movement experiences, despite the fact that their foot lengths are the same;

  2. The depth of ski-boot   varies in the range of 2 to 4 centimeters among the subjects with the same foot length;

  3. When the subjects put on ski-boots, the dorsal-flexion of their ankles and the position of their knees vary to a large extent;

  4. When the subjects put on ski-boots, the pressure value (the degree of buckle fastening) is higher among the seniors (the subjects with more skiing days) than among the beginners (the subjects with fewer skiing days).

    These findings suggest that, in addition to the foot length, the actual measure of sole, the depth of ski-boot, the dorsal-flexion of ankle and the buckle fastening become obvious criteria for choosing ski-boots, and that researchers and boot-makers contribute to safer skiing through further discussion and knowledge on these criteria.