Anatomy: Boots

1 Boot board The platform inside the boot shell on which the liner rests; usually removable; also referred to by its Italian name, zeppa.

2 Footbed The removable platform— located inside the liner— on which your foot rests.

3 Liner The removable inner boot, usually made of foams, leather and plastics; it provides padding for your foot to protect it from the rigid shell.

4 Lugs (toe and heel) The portions of the shell’s sole that interface with a ski binding; must meet industry standards for size and shape; sometimes replaceable in the event of wear.

› Shaft alignment The lateral orientation of the cuff in relation to the lower shell; usually adjustable on at least one side so that the cuff can be angled to match the angle of the skier’s leg.

› Cant The lateral (sideto- side) angle of the boot in relation to the ski. Boots can be canted to lean inward or outward, usually by grinding the sole at an angle, to give the skier optimal access to all four ski edges.

› Shell The plastic exterior of the boot, usually comprising two components: the cuff and the lower.

› Last The shape of the interior cavity of a boot. (Traditionally, a last is a footlike form around which cobblers craft shoes.)

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