A Basic Study on Design of Ski Boots Based on Features of a Frame of the Skier

Ski boots are generally important for assisting progress in ski turn technique as an interface between a skier and a ski. This study is aimed at developing a new ski boot that can improve the results of alpine ski races for Japanese players. In this paper, a new design of a ski boot that is adjusted to the features of the frame of Japanese athletes was experimentally examined. As a result, it was demonstrated that the front part of the upper shell of a ski boot should be lower and the rear part should be higher than the normal upper shell for providing well-balanced quick leaning of the leg in the ski turn. Finally, the effect of the new upper shell was verified in giant slalom and slalom test by Japanese alpine ski players of the first rank.