Undercover interview at BOA's headquarters in Colorado, U.S.A. These are the points that attract attention to the new revolutionary BOA® Fit System for ski boots!

When new models were released for the 2023-24 season, alpine boots equipped with the BOA® Fit System immediately attracted attention. The novelty of tightening the wire with a dial, rather than with a buckle, attracted the attention of discerning skiers. STEEP has already introduced the impressions of guides who have worn the new models before the general public

The BOA® Fit System for alpine boots released this season is a new system that tightens with wire instead of buckles. This system has been used for some time in snowboard boots and has become a standard, but it is interesting to see how it will fit into the shell of ski boots, which require a high degree of rigidity, and how its effectiveness will change compared to the previous system

So the STEEP editorial team attended a media presentation held at BOA headquarters in September 2023. We interviewed the developers directly at the Colorado headquarters to find out more about the BOA headquarters and the highlights of the BOA® Fit System, which was first installed in alpine boots this season

BOA® technology in alpine boots took nearly five years to develop

After 700 tests and roughly five years, the BOA® Fit System featured in these alpine boots has finally been unveiled. When development first began, testing was carried out using a system from snowboard boots already on the market. However, due to the rigidity of the shell, this was not compatible with alpine boots, which differ in design, so an entirely new technology was ultimately developed. This resulted in the creation of the new "H+i1" system. More details are provided in the article below, so let's take a look at the new technology first

The key features of the new system developed for alpine boots are as follows:

• The development goal was not to replace buckles, but to provide better performance and more comfort than traditional buckle-type boots
• It has been redesigned from the ground up to meet your strength needs while maintaining ease of use and a customized fit
• Covering a wide range of styles and situations. In addition to professional alpine racers, backcountry and freestyle skiers also participated in the development and testing

Compared to existing buckle-type boots, the pressure on the top of the foot is reduced by 13%, and the BOA dial provides a precise and uniform fit, allowing for millimeter-level adjustments. The improved fit improves the transmission of force to the sole of the foot, resulting in a 10% increase in the rate of force generation when initiating a turn. In other words, the goal was to "improve performance while providing better comfort." The results of this research  have also been published in Frontier in Sports and Active Living

We will explain the above points of interest later

In the freeride category, K2 and ATOMIC have adopted it in their top-of-the-line models with walk mode. Fischer and Salomon also feature it in their expert and advanced on-piste models. Why did BOA® first feature it in ski boots in a high-end model? This is BOA's strategy.
First, they want expert skiers to experience the comfort, control, and performance compared to conventional boots. Then, after spreading word about its benefits and proving the technology, they will consider incorporating BOA® in other models.

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BOA, where innovative technology is born

BOA was founded in the United States in 2001 by snowboarder Gary Hammerslag. He used his experience in the medical device field in his previous job to develop the BOA® Fit System, which he applied to boot tightening methods. K2 and Vans were the first brand partners to team up. K2 has had a close relationship with Vans since the company's inception, and is one of the brands that has adopted the new BOA® Fit System

The company has expanded from snowboard boots to other sports shoes, including golf and cycling. Now, with branches in Japan and around the world, BOA is entering markets in each region along with its home country. Its market share is growing year by year, and the momentum shows no signs of slowing down. Let's take a look inside the headquarters, the heart of BOA

BOA has its headquarters and development lab in Denver, Colorado, USA. Colorado is dotted with numerous ski resorts, and Denver is also a base for trips to famous resorts such as Vail and Aspen

The office, where outdoor-loving employees gather, is spacious. In addition to a room lined with desks, BOA headquarters also has showrooms for each category, where each product is on display. In the "SNOW" area, in addition to the alpine boots featured in this exhibition, many snowboard boots are on display

The spacious "Town Hall" is a tiered area, and in the past, movie previews have been held on the large screen

And then there's the Performance Fit Lab, where BOA® development testing takes place. This is where athletic tests leading to product development are conducted, measuring foot shape and conducting simulations to see what kind of athletic performance will be achieved when wearing BOA® shoes

There's even a bar on-site. There are many breweries near BOA's headquarters, and they offer local craft beer. I'm envious of the idea of ​​stopping off for a drink after work before heading home. From work-related topics to personal matters, it's likely that groundbreaking technology is born because of spaces like these that allow employees to communicate freely

When I asked about the culture at BOA, I was told that "everyone is very cooperative." Good teamwork allows people to accomplish more. There is also a culture of challenging each other. There are sometimes strong arguments, but it is not a competitive spirit; rather, everyone is focused on the same goal: to become better, to become greater. It is precisely because employees with this kind of mindset come together that groundbreaking technology is born