Finding the Right Fit
Finding the Right Fit
Understanding why women-specific ski gear makes a difference
Photo / Provided
When it comes to finding the perfect ski boot, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution - especially for women. That’s where Hanna Lee, an expert boot fitter at Mud, Sweat n’ Gears, comes in. With over a decade of experience in the shop and specialized training from ski boot fitting school in Waitsfield, Vermont - made possible by the Blizzard Tecnica Women 2 Women Education Scholarship - Lee is passionate about helping skiers find the right fit for both comfort and performance. Drawing on years of hands-on experience and the latest advancements in women-specific ski gear, she’s helping to break down misconceptions about what female skiers need and ensuring that every skier she fits leaves feeling confident and supported on the slopes.
eNOW: What do you think are some of the biggest misconceptions when it comes to women-specific gear? How do you go about addressing these?
LEE: When bootfitting in particular, I run into a lot of women, and men, who think women need a softer or more flexible boot because they are smaller in stature perhaps or have less muscle mass than men. In reality, the stiffness someone needs out of their ski boots depends on more than that. It can have a lot to do with flexibility and range of motion in the lower body. Women tend to be more flexible, in general, than men which can sometimes require them to need a stiffer, more aggressive ski boot to keep them balanced.
eNOW: In what ways does women's gear differ most significantly from gear designed for men?
LEE: Women's gear is designed with the anatomy of a woman in mind: lower center of mass, overall shorter with less muscle mass. Because of these differences, some women's skis are built with lighter materials such as less dense wood in the core. Women's boots are generally designed with a lower cuff to accommodate for the calf muscle sitting lower on a women's leg. Women tend to be slenderer in the heel so the boot shell is often a bit narrower through the back of the foot.
eNOW: How does understanding the design of women’s gear and outfitting herself accordingly help a woman to improve her technique and/or her overall experience on the slopes?
LEE: Every person is different! So, taking the time to come in and work with an associate to get the right gear is worth it. The right gear will make everyone's skiing experience less stressful/painful and more fun. We have the gear for you, it's just a matter of dialing it in correctly.
eNOW: How has the ski industry changed when it comes to making gear for women and marketing it to them?
LEE: The ski industry is definitely listening to the feedback from women working in the field. Women's specific equipment is being designed and tested by women. Blizzard Tecnica's W2W program is an excellent example of this. The products coming out of that program are the best performing women's specific equipment to date. The past few years have seen an uptick in the number of women-focused ski events such as demos and clinics. Marketing this equipment and giving women a chance to try it is important, but I also think this helps women feel a sense of belonging in a male-dominated industry while building a community.
eNOW: In your training and experience as a boot fitter, what have you learned recently that you're incorporating in your day-to-day work at MSG?
LEE: This year has been a good snow year! As a result, more and more people are coming out to ski. Maybe they haven't skied in a few years or are looking to replace their old equipment. This year, more so than ever, people are curious about what is new in ski boot technology. I think it's important to take the time to talk to people comprehensively about their ski boots and how they are supposed to fit. There is certainly a learning curve when coming out of old equipment into new. Explaining the process helps people feel at ease about their new purchases.
Meet Hanna Lee and find the best fit for you at Mud, Sweat n’ Gears’ flagship store, located at 18 Monroe Street in Ellicottville. Store hours are 9:00am-6:00pm Monday through Thursday, 9:00am-8:00pm on Friday, 8:00am-8:00pm on Saturday, and 8:00am-6:00pm on Sunday. Call 716-699-8300 or visit www.mudsweatgears.com for more information and details about the East Aurora location. Be sure to follow the ski shop on social media!