Ski Boot Love …

So, we skied today, and it was AWESOME – mostly because nobody was in any danger of hypothermia, or losing digits to frostbite (first time all year), and also because of yesterday’s fresh snow! Oh yes … perfect combo.

Just now I was putting the liners back in my ski boots to pack them away until skiing on Friday (because I love my ski boots so much that I always take the liners out and dry them before putting my boots away) and I was looking at my boots, and thinking of Lynn’s recent post about her ski boots, and I thought, why not?

My boots deserve a picture, too.

Aren’t they cute?

There are few things in life as important as the right pair of ski boots. Previous to having these boots, I had a pair that were ten-out-of-ten on performance and about five-out-of-ten in comfort. My previous boots put a weird twist in my feet if I wore them too long, so my feet started aching and also, putting them on was like the opposite of childbirth – pushing frantically, with all my might, and to the point of tears, to try to get my feet in.

But … performance. They were junior racing boots I had bought many, many years before, and I really loved the way I was able to ski in them. I was so scared of losing that, so year after year I dealt with the pain, and put off buying new boots until, finally, a buckle broke.

I went to a ski shop for the first time in years to buy something for myself, and it was intimidating.

They kept bringing me out pretty boots – not as pretty as Lynn’s – but fancy, with sparkles and fur trim, and I would try them on and think, how bad would it be to ski with a broken buckle?

Then, finally, I’m not sure what the break-through was, but I got them to understand I was used to very painful boots, and I would like more of the same but, if possible, a smidgen less painful because now I’m older.

And lo, my new blue boots were placed in front of me.

I slipped my foot in and buckled them up, and it was like heaven on the ski shop floor.

The first time I skied in them I was not at all disappointed by the performance and, bonus, no foot twisting and only minor grimacing – no tears at all – when putting them on.

I’ve loved them ever since, and I loved them enough to take a picture of them tonight and post it here for you.

I’m delighted Lynn has found the joy of a pair of ski boots she loves because that will keep her skiing. Yay!

I’m also happy she wrote about them, because it makes me realize there are certain pieces of sports equipment I wouldn’t trade for the world. Hmmm … I feel posts brewing about my paddock boots, running shoes, chaps … so many possibilities!