Big brands take part in ‘world’s largest’ Alpine ski boot test
10/04/2013
Around 45 testers will try out models from companies including Alpina, Black Diamond, Fischer, K2, Lange, Nordica, Rossignol and Salomon.
Test director Mark Elling, from training centre Masterfit University, said: “Only with experience can a tester learn to put aside personal fit issues and assess a boot strictly on how well it serves the type of skier for which it’s built. The core of our team is comprised of the Masterfit University instructors and personnel from America’s Best Bootfitters member shops that specialise in bootfitting. To that we add experienced instructors and patrollers, former racers and other long-time skiers with testing backgrounds and an understanding of how a boot should fit and perform.”
Masterfit CEO Steve Cohen co-founded the boot test in 1988. “It’s incredible to see how the programme has grown,” he said. “When we started we worked out of a closet with a handful of local ski instructors. Now we have people coming from all over the world.”
Thor Verdonk, technical product manager at Rossignol and Lange who is attending with executives from Europe, said: “As a boot developer, I find the Masterfit boot test incredibly important. The test is well run and produces great information, a true road map to the current ski boot market.”
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