(Feb. 10, 2022)
ZipFit worked with the team at SnowBrains to share the stories of different ski professionals using ZipFit ski boot liners. Check out the original story here or read on below. Words by Katy Shipley.
About ZipFit
Foot health and good skiing go hand in hand. It goes without saying that boot liners can make or break your performance and comfort. For those who find themselves in foot pain, ZipFit Liners are the answer to happy feet and longer days on your skis.
ZipFit has quite the following in Tahoe with multiple retailers from Truckee to South Lake Tahoe. To learn more about the brand, I reached out to ZipFit’s Tahoe-based athletes, Kyle Smaine and Aimee Doran. It was clear that these liners are key to their lifestyle and career. Thanks to Aimee, I was also able to learn about Zipfit’s #1 retailer in the world – Olympic Bootworks.
ZipFit is an acronym for Zero Injection Pressure Fit (system), developed by Sven Coomer, one of the most recognized ski boot designers in the world. As I researched the product, I could see the tech behind these boot liners is incredible. One thing I found unique was the self-molding cork composite (OMFit) that properly secures the heel and ankle in place. This is huge when it comes to controlling your skis. Compared to foam, the cork doesn’t pack out and lose its fit. They also are durable, warm, and comfortable. It’s no surprise professional skiers and Tahoe locals turn to these liners.
High Performance Touring with Kyle Smaine
Kyle Smaine is a decorated halfpipe champ and backcountry enthusiast. He hails from South Lake Tahoe and calls Sierra at Tahoe his home resort. In 2015 he was the FIS Halfpipe World Champion in Kreischberg, Austria. In 2018 he won the Mammoth Grand Prix, which was also an Olympic Qualifier Event. He rides for Fischer and Zipfit, a lethal duo that fuels his current backcountry adventures. Skiing at his level means high mileage days, big objectives, and 100% control.
After years of competing, Kyle now spends most of his ski days in the backcountry. He has eyes on big peaks and deep powder, rather than groomed halfpipes.
“Since retiring from halfpipe skiing I’ve just come to love the escape and solitude of backcountry skiing. Plus you can ski soft snow for weeks after a storm which my body and my soul really appreciate after years of skiing 22 foot tall ice sculptures called halfpipes.” – Kyle Smaine
Kyle’s favorite backcountry ski setup is the Fischer Ranger 102 with Kingpin Bindings. He admitted it might be a little on the heavier side, but he is able to ski firm steeps and float in deep powder without any compromise.
“I can charge variable snow, drop cliffs, or hit massive jumps like Pyramid gap without really questioning whether my equipment can handle it. I might have “retired” from contest skiing but I’m not ready to give up challenging and improving my skiing ability.”
Zipfits are Kyle’s liner of choice in his everyday touring setup. He mentioned how Zipfits have given him the feel and control over his skis that he used to have in high-performance plug race boots. His everyday touring boots have this feeling of control with better all-day comfort and warmth as well.
“In the past I’ve struggled to find boot that has the performance I want while still having the comfort for long days on the mountain. I was alternating year after year of going smaller so I had a tighter fit and better control and then going back larger to have more comfort. The Zipfits solved that issue for me, I can run the boot that fits the length of my foot but get way better heel lock, and performance than my stock liners.”
Kyle found that Zipfits solved his boot issues, allowing him to focus on the fun of long ski missions instead of foot pains and aches. He is looking forward to big objectives in the Eastern Sierra and sitting atop volcanoes in the PNW this spring. For him, it’s also all about escaping the day-to-day and appreciating good company in the mountains.
“… really it is being out there for enough hours to disconnect from the tedium of daily life and past the surface level conversations. It just reminds me of how simple life can be. How the places and the people in your life can really shape you.”
