Boots equipped with the BOA® Fit System, which is becoming increasingly popular in the freeride scene

BOA has a history of over 20 years in snowboarding. Since its release for alpine skiing in the 2023-2024 season, it has quickly become the talk of the scene. Katsuno Tenran and Sasaki Yu have been using BOA boots since last season. These two top freeride skiers are now full-fledged BOA users

With just a slight difference in force, it became easier to subtly control the skis. | Yu Sasaki

Yu Sasaki, who travels between Canada and Japan during the season, wears BOA boots almost exclusively, except when skiing on extremely hard-packed slopes.
"Once I started skiing, I didn't feel any discomfort in controlling my skis.
With buckles, my feet would sometimes hurt because they were pressed down from above, but BOA boots wrap around the entire foot evenly, so they're very comfortable.
When I loosened the buckles to walk in the backcountry, my feet would move around inside the boots and rub against things, but I didn't have any of those problems with BOA."

Gliding, flying, spinning, nothing to worry about | Katsuno Tenran

Katsuno, on the other hand, said that although he didn't try them during the FWT period, he used them often at other times.
"When you ski for the first time with new boots, you feel like, 'Will it be okay?' But there was absolutely nothing that bothered me, and everything—skiing, jumping, turning—was great."　
BOA, which allows for millimeter-level adjustments, provides an exceptional fit for anyone. It's easy to imagine that if there's no gap between the foot and the skis, there will be less loss of power transfer to the skis.

Refresh your existing senses. A familiar feel from the start

BOA uses a special insole to actually measure the static pressure on the top and bottom of the foot. The results showed that the force applied to the sole of the foot improved by up to 6%, and the force applied at the start of a turn increased by 10%.
At the same time, the pressure on the top of the foot was reduced by 13%, scientifically proving that it balances comfort and performance.

"I can't tell if my turns have improved, but the most amazing thing is that I've been able to ski in the first year with the same feeling as I would with boots I've been wearing for many years.
My ankles are more flexible, and it's easier to ski switch, freestyle, and in powder. I feel like I can control the skis more subtly with just a slight difference in the pressure I apply to the soles of my feet,"　
says Yu Sasaki.
Tenran Katsuno says,
"I used to force the buckles shut with sheer willpower, so I felt like the load was concentrated in certain areas.
But with BOA, the load on the boot is evenly distributed with no gaps. The uniform application of force might be the reason I was able to ski without stress from the start. Sam Kutsch (K2) is skiing without any problems, so it's proven that these boots are usable outside of competitions."

Two people who are active in competitions and video production unanimously say that the boots are incredibly comfortable and feel natural the moment you put them on.
If you're unsure, just try them on and stand on the snow. You'll understand what they're saying.

Model used by Yu Sasaki

Katsuno Tenran model used

BOA Technology

The BOA Fit System for alpine boots took over five years to develop.
To accommodate the rigid shell, a completely new mechanism was developed from scratch, rather than relying on conventional systems.
It wraps around the lower shell and securely fixes the heel. By evenly distributing pressure across the upper part of the foot, it enhances the feeling of unity with the boot, improves power transfer, and makes skiing easier.

Six brands use BOA

In the 2023-24 season, a total of 26 models of BOA-equipped boots were released from four brands: Atomic, Fischer, K2, and Salomon.
From the 2024-25 season, two more brands, Nordica and Tecnica, will be added, bringing the total to six brands. Nordica has announced the "Speedmachine 3 BOA," an all-mountain boot, while Tecnica has announced the "MACH BOA HV 130GW," designed for on-piste skiing.

Information

BOA

Official website:https://www.boafit.com/ja-jp
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