[Developer Interview] Precision fit improves comfort and performance! What are the three key points of this groundbreaking system?
Now, we asked the people involved in the development directly about each key point of this groundbreaking system.
1. BOA's goal is not to tighten the shoe, but to create a "foot-hugging fit."
Previous boot mechanisms, such as those tightened with buckles, applied downward, one-sided pressure to the foot. In contrast, BOA aimed for a fit that "wraps the foot." The wire tightening system wraps around the entire foot, reducing pain and the dispersion of force caused by buckle pressure. This creates a more comfortable environment inside the boot. At the same time, the dial allows for precise fit adjustment, leading to improved heel lock. The better fit and stability allows for more confident turn initiation and direct power transmission from the boot to the ski, improving edge-to-edge control.
Ilya: " You may not fully appreciate the benefits of this product until you actually try it on and ski. It's hard to believe just by hearing about the even pressure distribution, improved heel hold, and benefits to turn initiation and power transfer on the skis. It's hard to fully understand until you try it out in a store and, most importantly, on snow. Because we've introduced a completely new system to the alpine ski boot market, we felt it was necessary to publish test results showing how much performance is improved at the same time as the product was released, and we've published the test data, including specific numerical values."
Adam: The good thing about the BOA® fit system is that it's intuitive to put on. This is something I found interesting: users of buckle-type boots tend to tighten them too much. They tighten everything more than necessary to make it tight, and then they ski. Then they realize, "Oh, I've tightened it too much," and they loosen it. It's tight enough, but it's too tight. When people like that put on BOA® boots, they feel, "There's no need to tighten it that much." This is because BOA® boots feel more comfortable than traditional boots. However, the design allows you to tighten them to your preferred tightness. As long as you don't overtighten them and they break (laughs).
2. A completely redesigned alpine fit system to accommodate the stiffness of the shell
When the project first got underway to incorporate it into alpine boots, they tried it out with commercial BOA® snowboard boots, but it just couldn't withstand the hardness of the alpine boot shell. So they reexamined it from scratch and created a new system.
Ilya: It's completely different from the BOA® mountaineering boots we've been selling for some time, used in skimo and other sports. The shell thickness of the boots used is different, and the skis are different too. For the BOA® alpine boots, the wire may come into contact with the edge of the ski, so we made it stronger and more durable, and we also developed all new dials and guides (fasteners, etc.). We started development almost from scratch, so it took more than five years to complete.
3. A perfect fit that satisfies top athletes in any situation, whether it's freeskiing or grooming.
Development testing was carried out over two seasons with 53 BOA field testers across the United States and Austria. Field testing was conducted under a variety of conditions to create a product that would work on any snow type and for any skiing style. Two-time Olympic gold medal-winning alpine racer Benjamin (Benny) Reich was deeply involved in the development from the very beginning. From the first day of testing, Benny was convinced that "BOA would become a very important innovation in alpine skiing."
Ilya: We tested it all over the United States. If we test it in the Pacific Northwest or on Mount Hood or Mount Bachelor in Seattle, the snow conditions are completely different from those in Colorado, New York, or Vermont. Unfortunately, we weren't able to test it in Japan, but we tested it under a variety of different environments, just like the snow in Hokkaido and Nagano in Japan is different, so I don't think there will be any problems. The fact that Japanese guides used it last season is a great testament to that.
Ilya: In the freestyle category, Sam Kuch personally prefers to use the K2 Mindbender with BOA®. It wasn't something we or the manufacturer forced him to do; he chose it out of his own interest and after testing it out in the field many times. It's an honor for us to be chosen by such a great skier.
Adam: As the development test director, I spent about a year in Austria conducting tests with actual race athletes. They gave me feedback on the sensation of initiating a turn and the changes in pressure and force from the snow surface. They also gave me accurate feedback on the fit, such as "this part of the ski wraps around your foot well," which was very helpful in development.
Adam: " These are the things we look for when developing and testing all of our products: they need to be able to be fastened as tight as we want, they're sturdy, and they're durable and can be used for a long time. We didn't just test them on groomed terrain, we also tried them on mogul slopes and in situations where you jump off from a high position, like freeriding. We also tested them repeatedly in situations where you ski at high speeds and on complex terrain where you put more force into the load, and we've put that knowledge to good use in this product."
Highly praised by the world's top skiers, boots equipped with the BOA® Fit System are set to be available to many users this winter. This new system is a dream come true for many engineers and skiers. If you've managed to get your hands on this season's model, be sure to try out the new, comfortable fit on the snow. BOA will also begin full-scale promotion this fall. Riders' performances and comments are being posted on social media. Keep an eye on their progress.
the person who taught me
Ilya Minkin
Director of Global Strategic Planning, BOA Technology, Inc.
Before joining BOA, he worked for a long time at a ski shop, where he was involved in everything from selling skis to fitting boots, rentals, and product purchasing. He is a true industry veteran, having joined BOA about 15 years ago and experienced work in various departments. He is currently planning the company's business expansion with an eye to the future.
Adam Auell
Development Test Director and Engineer, BOA Technology, Inc.
He is responsible for conducting lab and field tests, selecting test standards, and incorporating test results into development, and his development work covers a wide range of areas, including not only the development of BOA® products for alpine boots. He is also a telemark skier and has tried BOA® boots on snow.
Interview and writing: Ai Fukuda.
Interview cooperation: BOA Technology, Inc.
BOA
official website: https://www.boafit.com/ja-jpOfficial
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