Outdoor Central Oregon Issue 3 | February/March 2018 | Page 9

FEB/MAR 2018 I would say I do approximately 150 boot fits in a season (actual boot fits, not just trying and buying) and out of those 150 fits I might encounter 1-2 customers that we just can’t nail down a solid fit for one reason or another. 6. As technology has changed, how has the boot fit kept up? Is there ongoing training? The ski industry is always experimenting with the latest technological advances. The most recent innovation has been in the co-molding of plastics to increase comfort and decrease weight. As ski boot manufacturers develop new concepts they educate shop employees regarding features and benefits that pertain to our customers. 7. Did you ever plan or strive to be a boot fitter or did it just happen? If you weren’t a boot fitter what would you be doing? The funny thing is I started working on ski boots when I was focusing all my effort in to snowboarding, so no I did not plan on becoming a ski boot fitter. I love my job at 9 Skjersaa’s and I could not imagine not work- ing in a ski shop in the winter months! 8. What keeps the fire burning? How stoked are you every day sending people out on the slopes to enjoy life to the fullest? The love for the mountains runs deep in my family, so I can not remember a time that I was not stoked for the snow to fly. I feel very fortunate that I have worked in several facets of the ski/snowboard industry and nothing gives more pleasure than sharing my lifelong stoke to slide on the snow. 9. What is the best monetary tip you have ever received or possibly the strangest? I have received some extremely generous tips but quite honestly, and yes I know this is cliche, there’s nothing better than running into a customer and seeing the smile on their face and to hear them say how you made there skiing experience amazing! MATT WARREN Shop: Powder House Hometown: Montrose, Colorado Outdoor sports/activities: Skiing/snowboarding, backpacking Years in Bend: 10 1. How long have you been bootfitting and how did you learn your skills? Are there certifications? This will be my 6th season bootfitting. I have been through quite a few clinics at the Pow- der House along the way and that was how I got my wheels turning when it comes to bootfitting. I have been to Masterfit Univer- sity 3 different times, each one focusing on a specific aspect to bootfitting, whether it be fitting a boot, assessing problems, building custom footbeds, or being able to identify issues involving the bio-mechanics of skiing. 2. What are some common misconcep- tions about a boot fitting that customers come in with? Relating a shoe size to a ski boot size. No one would wear a shoe in the way that you would wear a ski boot, that would be awful. There other difficult one to get past his ideas about brands. Boot companies are constant- ly changing molds and liner materials, not to mention every company makes ‘narrow’ and ‘wide’ boots. Their goal is to constantly be improving, and to not keep the mass market from being able to wear their boots. 3. Quickly, what are procedures you take a customer through when looking for new boots? It’s all about the discussion we have while I’m measuring their feet and assessing flexibility and shape. I want to get an idea of where you ski, what style of skiing you’re into, how aggressively and how often you ski. 4. A customer comes in complaining about foot pain. Break it down, where do you start? Lets shell fit. I pull the liner from the shell and check how the overall size and shape look in relation to your foot. If the size and model look right, I check into the problem area in relation to the shell and the liner independently. Also, we have to look at your foundation in the boot, the footbed. There are a huge array of problems that relate to a lack of stability inside a boot. 5. How many boot fits do you figure you do in a season? Is it possible to send every single customer home satisfied? From a mathematical estimate, at least 400. It isn’t possible to send everyone away with a boot, not if it is the correct fit. In the case that we don’t have a boot in stock, or are unable to order the correct one, my goal is to collect as much information for that customer as possible and send them on their way with it. That way if they end up online or at shop in another town that doesn’t have as much info, they aren’t hung out to dry. 6. As technology has changed, how has the boot fit kept up? Is there ongoing training? Every year throughout October, we spend a lot of late nights at the Powder House doing brand specific clinics. At a clinic the rep comes with new equipment to cover, training aids, and of course beer and pizza. We talk about what’s new, what hasn’t changed, and how to work with new materials. It’s not all boots, it’s everything, but that’s how we stay up with advances among brands. Otherwise, we send at least two fitters to Masterfit every year and there we hear about everything else new and exciting. 7. Did you ever plan or strive to be a boot fitter or did it just happen? If you weren’t a boot fitter what would you be doing? I never would have guessed it! I used to be a Mercedes Benz mechanic in Denver and lived a very different life there. I wound up in Bend moving around in the ski industry and found a job at the Powder House through a friend. One thing leads to another. 8. What keeps the fire burning? How stoked are you every day sending people out on the slopes to enjoy life to the fullest? When I haven’t been able to ski for a good few days due to the shop being busy, you’d think the stoke level would fall. Luckily, I spend all day talking about something I love and am passionate about as well as vise versa with the customer. Also, if you have ever seen the look on someone’s face when they say, “I hate skiing” and it’s because of their boots. There is nothing better than get- ting them comfortable and all of the sudden, “Hey! I love skiing”. That’s my favorite part. 9. What is the best monetary tip you have ever received or possibly the strangest? Definitely what I said in the previous ques- tion. I love seeing someone return that has been in the shop for a complicated problem or has never been comfortable in boots. When I first see them and don’t know what they are about to say, then they show that ‘look’ that says “I just had the BEST day!” and thank me. Also, I have met (and retained very few names) so many people that I normally would get the chance to that I genuinely enjoy talking to and seeing around town.