[net.rec.ski] Seeking advice on installing boot lifts.

michaelo@tektronix.UUCP (Michael O'Hair) (03/29/85)

[ I don't believe in ... ]

I need some information to help me deal with the following situation:

I have come to skiing late and, as I feared, like it a lot. However, due
to my misspent youth, my left leg is an inch shorter than my right and does
not have a full range of motion at the ankle ( going into a full racing
tuck pulls my left heel up ). 

Informational aside:
I recently bought a pair of Nordica 950's, mainly for the fit. I love the
wide range of adjustments across the foot, instep, and ankle.
(I have feet like a duck and large ankles.)

As I see it, there are three ways to make up for the inch difference:

	1)  Insert a (tapered) lift between binding and ski.
		The lift could be in one or two pieces. A simple
		machining job.

	2)  Attach a one inch lift on the left boot-sole.
		More effort. The plastic would have to be
		full-surface welded for safety.

	3) Lowering the right foot bed and raising the left, then
	   inserting a thin angled shim between the left ski/binding.
		Stays close to the original boot/binding/ski geometry.
		Spread the "impact" throughout the system.


Number 2 brings up all kinds of problems, so that leaves 1 & 3 as viable
choices. So the question for netland is:

What are the factors involved with putting lifts between binding and ski?

I come up with:
		altered release geometry, 
		altered release pressures due to altered leverage,
		altered ski flex if a one piece lift is used.

Has anyone out there any solid engineering arguments for any of the above
methods? Does anyone out there have access to any manufacturer's engineers?
Has anyone dealt with a similar problem? How much of a lift is possible?

I'd be interested in any pointers, advice, or general comments anyone has
to offfer. If I can solve this problem, then maybe I can tackle why the 
on-sale ski jackets always have sleeves two inches too short.

	Thanks much.

	Michael O'Hair
	M/S 50-782
	Tektronix, Inc.
	P.O. Box 500
	Beaverton, OR 97077
	627-6515
	tektronix!michaelo

michaelo@tektronix.UUCP (Michael O'Hair) (03/29/85)

[ I don't believe in ... ]

I need some information to help me deal with the following situation:

I have come to skiing late and, as I feared, like it a lot. However, due
to my misspent youth, my left leg is an inch shorter than my right and does
not have a full range of motion at the ankle ( going into a full racing
tuck pulls my left heel up ). 

Informational aside:
I recently bought a pair of Nordica 950's, mainly for the fit. I love the
wide range of adjustments across the foot, instep, and ankle.
(I have feet like a duck and large ankles.)

As I see it, there are three ways to make up for the inch difference:

	1)  Insert a (tapered) lift between binding and ski.
		The lift could be in one or two pieces. A simple
		machining job.

	2)  Attach a one inch lift on the left boot-sole.
		More effort. The plastic would have to be
		full-surface welded for safety.

	3) Lowering the right foot bed and raising the left, then
	   inserting a thin angled shim between the left ski/binding.
		Stays close to the original boot/binding/ski geometry.
		Spread the "impact" throughout the system.


Number 2 brings up all kinds of problems, so that leaves 1 & 3 as viable
choices. So the question for netland is:

What are the factors involved with putting lifts between binding and ski?

I come up with:
		altered release geometry, 
		altered release pressures due to altered leverage,
		altered ski flex if a one piece lift is used.

Has anyone out there any solid engineering arguments for any of the above
methods? Does anyone out there have access to any manufacturer's engineers?
Has anyone dealt with a similar problem? How much of a lift is possible?

I'd be interested in any pointers, advice, or general comments anyone has
to offer. If I can solve this problem, then maybe I can tackle why the 
on-sale ski jackets always have sleeves two inches too short.

	Thanks much.

	Michael O'Hair
	M/S 50-782
	Tektronix, Inc.
	P.O. Box 500
	Beaverton, OR 97077
	627-6515
	tektronix!michaelo