What To Look For
Park skiing includes some of the newest ways of skiing: moguls, jumps and actual races of up to four people. Unlike mountain skiing, which includes the slaloms and downhill, park skiing usually takes place in a more compressed area and demands more quickness on the part of the skier. In buying a park ski boot, the key is light weight since the skier will be spending time in the air. Degree of stiffness is also a key.
Common Pitfalls
The most common mistake a skier can make is to purchase a boot with an outer shell that is too stiff or too flexible. This plastic outer shell is the key connection between the skier's feet and the snow. If it's too stiff, the skis will be too sensitive to any movements of the skier's feet. If it's too flexible, the boot will give when the skier wants it to dig in and turn.
Where To Buy
It is essential that you buy your boots from a reputable ski store where expert salespersons can help you select a boot of the right size. Park skiing is a demanding and even dangerous sport, and having the wrong-sized boot can cause jumps to go off course, bumps to be inexact and simple turning to be difficult.
Cost
Don't skimp on cost. Consider your boots important safety devices. If the boots cost less than $300, you should be on your guard. Spend anywhere from $300 to $600, depending on what your budget is like. And by all means, if you need to pay a higher cost to get the perfect fit, do so.
Comparison Shopping
Of the few alpine ski boots that work well for park skiing, Salomon's Impact GT for men, which sells for $430, is lightweight and rigid enough to take on a lot of bumps and sharp turns. For women, the Tonica Diablo Race Pro 130 at $825 remains the standard due to its attention to the specifics of women's feet and its stiffness.
Accessories
Skiers need a lot of accessories: gloves, jackets, pants, goggles, hats. A place to find these for an affordable price on the net is skibudget.com. In addition, the site offers useful information about snowfall totals and travel.
Insider Tips
The two pieces of gear you cannot skimp on as a skier are your skis and your boots. They are what connect you to the snow and what make you who you are as a skier. Skimp elsewhere--on the coat, gloves, hat--but not the boots. Your skiing and safety will otherwise suffer the consequences.
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