Ski boots use a number of specific terms to describe their parts and adjustments. One of the more critical aspects is the angle of the footbed, in other words, how much higher is the heel than the toes? Some heel height is required for good balance but too much can cause stance problems and actually hinder balance. Raising heel height is often thought to be a remedy for skiers that tend to sit back.
Ironically, raising the heels may cause the skier to do just the opposite. Because of being pitched forward, higher heels often causing sitting and an arched back as the skier adjusts stance to stay in balance. If there is lower back pain or fatigue it could be caused by too much ramp angle as illustrated in the exaggerated diagrams.
According to studies done on speed skaters, maximum force and leg function is achieved with a heel to toe differential of only about 1 cm.
Inside the boot shell there is a moveable plastic platform called a boot board or Zeppa. Unfortunately the angle of the boot board is not adjustable in most boots. It should also be remembered that bindings are usually higher in the heel than the toe so the boot will be further pitched forward when in the bindings. Lastly, for short feet the bindings are closer together so the forward angle is even greater.
Sometimes a good boot fitter can make adjustments to tune ramp angle or recommend an under-binding plate to change heel-to-toe differences.
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