14 DAY TRIAL // Skiing is a fun and exciting sport, and also one that works all your muscles, not to mention your adrenaline glands. It is, however, also one that people over a certain age cannot easily take part in.
This is because of the toll it takes on the body, toll that people past their middle age can't just shrug off. Just the slightest imbalance can lead to a fall and injury.
However, a good ski boot can help reduce the chances of that happening. A man by the name of Franz Egger and a company called CRP Technology just got an award for creating what could very well be the best ski boot ever.
Called EasyStand, the boot was 3D printed through SLS tech (selective laser sintering) from a Windform SP material: a polyamide-based substance reinforced with carbon fibers.
Usually used for aerospace and motorsports parts, the material has now allowed for the creation of a new type of ski boots with a split insole and an integrated wedge connected to a regulator.
The wedge can be moved in three separate positions by adjusting the regulator, controlling the height of the foot inside the boot.
The existence of three different boot insoles adds to the comfort, since they offer a different height for the front of the boot, providing more toe room while ensuring a better fit.
All in all, the EasyStand ski boot makes skiing a lot safer by improving balance and control over when and how to turn the skis.
Add to that the elasticity of the material and the water resistance and most of the stress placed on the joints is eliminated.
