Wing Chung is a martial arts discipline that deals with striking and position control. Wing Chung wooden dummy training is a common way to practice strikes and foot control. The wooden dummy used for training is called a Mook Jong. Wing Chung wooden dummy training allows a Wing Chung student to practice making contact, which is a very important part of the discipline since Wing Chung striking is all about control and precision. You cannot gain precision by punching and striking air. The Mook Jong gives the student a target and allows them to feel the impact of the strike which helps develop his or her sense of touch.

The reason Wing Chung wooden dummy training is so important is that it allows the skin and bones to strengthen and toughen up. When making contact in a real fight, your fists and shins are subjected to a lot of force and pain. Striking air does not get your skin and bones ready for a real fight. Hitting the Mook Jung allows your fist and shins to toughen up so you are prepared in case you ever need to use your striking skills. Your accuracy will also be improved, which allows you to make contact with the intended target on the opponent’s body.

Training with a sparring partner is also a great way to improve your striking, but you cannot hit a training partner with your full strength. Hitting the Mook Jung allows you to strike as hard as possible to develop your strength and toughness in a way sparring cannot.

Wing Chung is a very practical martial arts form because it stressed quick and meaningful strikes and control over the opponent with things such as joint locks. Wing Chung incorporates several offensive tools to develop a complete fighter than can succeed in any situation. The goal of Wing Chung is to have as few holes in your game plan as possible and to take control of the encounter in a quick and relentless fashion.

Training in Wing Chung is not about hurting other people, but rather, defending yourself. You train with a Wing Chung wooden dummy in hopes that you never have to use your powerful strikes against a human. However, if you ever have to defend yourself against an attacker you will have the tools and toughness needed to survive.

Since striking is such a large part of Wing Chung developing fast and effective striking is extremely important. Being able to strike as hard as you can against a hard, human-shaped target is the best way to develop all of the aspects of good striking, including speed, power, accuracy, toughness, and control. Wing Chung wooden dummy training is one of the reasons that training in Wing Chung is such a fast and effective way to become a well rounded fighter.

Yoshi Kundagawa is a freelance journalist covering
the martial arts world. Too much time at his computer
eating donuts reduced him to couch potato status.
He’s on a quest to recapture his youth and fitness.
You can read his blog at martialarts3000.com martialarts3000.com

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When you rent a car, the rental company normally requires you to purchase insurance. Do not immediately buy auto insurance even if you do not have coverage from your insurance company. Check your wallet! It will not be necessary to pay anything extra if you have your business credit card with you.

Virtually all the business credit card issuers provide free vehicle insurance cover for rental car vehicles that are paid with their business credit cards. Rental car insurance is often overlooked by holders of business credit cards when they rent a car. In case an accident or theft occurs while you are driving the car, the business credit card issuer undertakes to reimburse you for the cost of repairing or replacing the vehicle; the business credit card insurance may even extend to covering towing charges if it is necessary.

This feature is not necessarily standard, so always make sure your business credit card includes it. Moreover, even if you do enjoy this business credit card benefit, there are instances when coverage will be excluded by your business credit card issuer. So check the terms in your business credit card agreement beforehand.

The rental car insurance feature that forms part of your business credit card benefits, is applicable only to car rentals for business use, that are paid for by your business credit cards. When you pay with your business credit card, it automatically activates the cover. If you meet with an accident while you use the car rental for your personal itineraries, there will be limited or no coverage at all in spite of the fact that the rental was charged to your business credit card. You should know the extent of your coverage before renting a car. You may want to call your business credit card company first, just to make doubly sure.

The rental car insurance from your business credit cards also excludes accidents caused by a person other than the authorized drivers. Generally, the insurance coverage extends only to the primary renter of the car and other additional drivers permitted by the auto rental contract. Hence, never lend a rental car to friends who are not authorized.

There will be an expiry date attached to the business credit card insurance coverage. If you continue renting the same vehicle beyond that specified period, the insurance from your business credit card will no longer be in effect. You should never assume that business credit card insurance coverage is active the whole time you rent a car – especially for extended periods.

When you need to file a claim, you should do it as soon as you can. The insurance coverage on your business credit card has set a maximum number of days, usually forty-five days, for you to file a claim. File a claim form at the soonest possible opportunity after the accident or theft occurred.

There are also a number of things that are not covered under the rental insurance in your business credit card. Personal injuries that you may cause to yourself or another person during an accident are not covered. Any damage resulting from your failure to protect the rented car is usually not part of the coverage. Despite these limitations, it is still good to know that you get coverage simply by using your business credit cards when you rent a car.

And if the car rental company insists that you purchase their insurance, the rule is: call your business credit card issuer first.

Richard Gilliland Provides Expert opinions and reviews to help you Compare and credit-wisdom.com Apply for a Credit Card – Compare credit-wisdom.com Credit Card Offers with Credit-Wisdom.com – Unraveling the best in Personal and credit-wisdom.com/creditcards/business-credit-cards.php Business Credit Cards.

Cycling is a sport which offers great fitness, competition, enjoyment and stress relief. However, in order to gain the most out of your cycling it is important to invest in the proper equipment and cycling clothing. It is also very important that your bicycle is set up correctly for you.

Lets run through a list of cycling apparel as a sort of checklist by which you can ensure that you get the most from your cycling. Of course you need a bicycle, and then a helmet, glasses, cycling jersey, padded cycling shorts, gloves, cycling shoes and socks.

When purchasing a bicycle, the first thing you should look at is whether the frame is the right size for you. The size depends upon your height, but also on the length of your upper body. These two factors will determine the height of the frame’s seat tube as well as the length of the top tube. Different frame builders often use different angles, resulting in variations in frame proportions. It is best for an expert to assist you personally in ascertaining the correct frame size.

Next you need to make sure that the saddle height is correct, usually allowing for 25 – 30 degrees of bend in the leg when the foot is at the bottom of the pedal stroke. Here again it is advisable that an expert assist you. Other adjustable settings include the length of the stem, the angle of the saddle (which is usually set parallel to the ground) and the fore-aft position of the saddle as it slides on its rails. Once you are fitted properly to your bicycle you can concentrate on kitting yourself out in cycling clothing.

Cycling jerseys (shirts) are made of breathable material and fit snugly so as not to flap around in the wind. On the front the jersey has a zip and at the back it has three pockets in which you can put your spare tube, pump, keys or other items. Cycling shorts made of Lycra and are padded to give more comfort on the saddle. There are cycling shorts with drawstrings around the waist, but many prefer “bib-shorts”, which come with straps which run over your shoulders to hold up the shorts. Cycling shorts fit tightly to reduce wind drag.

There are many cycling helmets on the market these days, many of which are highly adjustable. Look for an indication of whether the helmet of your choice meets the standard of the testing authority. A bicycle shop will be able to guide you in your choice, and will probably not sell a helmet which does not comply with safety standards. Make sure that the helmet is adjusted in such a way that it fits comfortably, yet firmly on your head.

A good pair of sports, or cycling glasses, will protect your eyes from both the sun and any insects or other objects which may fly into your eyes while you are cycling. Look for a pair that fit comfortably, provide adequate protection from the wind and give the required UV protection.

For added comfort on the handle bars, try a pair of cycling gloves, these fingerless leather palm padded gloves will also protect your hands should you come a cropper. Then all you need is a pair of ankle high cycling socks and a decent pair of stiff soled cycling shoes. The shoes should have a firm sole in order to reduce the amount of energy lost in the pedal stroke. If your sole is too soft, and your foot bends around the pedal, you are effectively wasting much of the energy your legs are working so hard to transmit into forward motion.

Cycling becomes much more enjoyable when you are able to ride comfortably and safely with the correct cycling gear. As a better prepared cyclist you will be more efficient in your cycling and get much more out of it.

What cycling-holiday.co.uk/cycling_clothing/index.htm Cycling Clothing is needed on a cycling holiday?

Are you desperately, looking for the best debt consolidation program? It’s high time you make an effort to bring yourself out of the chains of bad debt. Yes, bad debts not only destroy your self-esteem, it also snatches from you the capability to enjoy this beautiful world.

Before you take the plunge, let’s have a quick overview of the concept of bad debt consolidation and how a debt consolidation company works.

Who Can Go For Debt Consolidation

You cannot opt for debt consolidation if you have less than 2 unmanageable debts. With debt consolidation, you are actually merging your multiple debts into one. You are trying to save yourself from the hassle of remembering all the due dates and the corresponding payments. You can opt for a debt consolidation loan that you can use to clear off all your loans in one go. You can go for the option wherein the debt consolidation company gets in touch with your creditors and urges them to reduce the interest rates and may be even defer the due dates. Alternatively, you can take up the offer of debt management. Here the bad debt consolidation company distributes your funds every month among the multiple creditors and slowly your debt amounts go down.

Keeping these three options in hand, you can look around for the best debt consolidation program. With the internet easily accessible, nowadays, most debt consolidation companies have gone online with their dealings. Yes, you can easily opt for debt consolidation from the comfort of your home. However, you need to be wary about the company with whom you trust your finances. By working on the deal online, you are actually in a high risk of falling into the trap laid by fraudulent companies.

So, how do you protect yourself from being cheated? Simple, keep your eyes and ears open! Do not let a single line or pieces of information escape you. Surf the net. You are sure to find forums or people who know a great deal about the company you have chosen. What may look like a simple glitch can actually lead you to the escape route! Ask the representative whether you can meet him or her personally at their office. If there is something fishy, you are likely to get a hesitant answer dissuading you. In any case, always visit the office before you sign on the dotted line. Check whether the company is registered in your city. Enquire about the reputation the debt consolidation company has among the creditors. Finally, never refuse a free debt consolidation quote or debt consolidation counseling.

At the end of the day, always remember that is best you try to get out of this bad debt circle as soon as possible. Try to reduce your expenses and increase your monthly income. Debt consolidation loans are expensive too. What you pay the debt consolidation company you can do yourself. Be it talking to the creditors and reducing the interest rates or managing your finances intelligently.

If you are facing a bad credit status and multiple debts, you can consider a best-debt-consolidation-program.com/bad_credit_debt_consolidation_loan.html bad credit debt consolidation loan. Look for a company offering best-debt-consolidation-program.com/bad_debt_consolidation.html bad debt consolidation plans. However, before you opt for a bad credit debt consolidation company makes appropriate inquiries to avoid falling in the trap of unscrupulous operators. best-debt-consolidation-program.com Best Debt Consolidation Program provides more information on all aspects of debt consolidation and debt relief.

Vacations can be even more adventurous and fun with a car bike rack. Bicycling is an important part of your life and why wouldn’t you want the flexibility of being able to take your bicycle with you wherever you may go? A car bike car can give you that flexibility to bicycle in places that you have never imagined – from the beaches to the forests – it is entirely up to you.

It is possible that you can rent a bike, but there may be some problems with that. For one thing, it is quite expensive. The other problem may be that you will not be able to find a quality bike that you will be entirely comfortable with. By investing in a car bike rack, you will be able to take your bike on every trip that you make.

I am able to take my bicycle anywhere that I want to. My car bike rack makes it easy to load and take to any trails that I choose. I even find some unexpected places to ride on my trips.

If bicycling is one of your favorite things to do and you don’t currently have a car bike rack, then you are really missing out. You can find so much information online about different bike trails and trips that revolve around bicycling. By having a car bike rack, you can take your bicycle anywhere that you want.

Your whole family will enjoy being able to take their bikes on weekend trips. Bicycling together is a great way to bond and have fun. It will also create memories that will last a lifetime, as well as give you a great deal of much needed exercise. No matter what age of your children, they are sure to love bicycling.

A car bike rack will make it more convenient for bicycling. No matter where you want to go, you are sure to find bicycling trails that will be fun and adventurous. Just load the bikes onto your car bike rack and go! No excuses necessary.

Finding things to do with your children is sometimes difficult, but you will have no trouble getting them to go biking with you. Being able to take your bicycles anywhere you choose by using your car bike rack will give you that added convenience and flexibility. Your children will enjoy spending this quality time with you.

A car bike rack can give you the tool to make bicycling more fun and versatile. By allowing your kids to gain a love for bicycling, you will give them memories that they will always treasure.

Alastair Hamilton is the author and editor of many bicycle carriers articles and newsletters published at bikecyclingreviews.com bikecyclingreviews.com . Find more publications about bikecyclingreviews.com/car_racks.html car bike rack at his website.

The availability of credit for anyone no matter their credit history has caused many financial problems for consumers. When credit is available to those with a poor credit history, interest rates are jacked up, loan terms are hard to meet and the consumer finds that they are in a worse situation.

The average consumer has about $12,000 in credit available through their credit cards. Over 50% of those consumers only use about 30% of the credit available to them. The other statistics show that 1 in every 8 are using at least 80% of the credit available and 1 in every 10 are in debt at least $10,000. Some credit card companies report that at least 20% of consumers have maxed out credit cards.

There are more Americans in debt now than in the nation’s history. Not everyone keeps a budget. Not everyone knows where their hard earned dollars go. Not everyone is cost-conscious. According to Businessweek, families owe more on their cars, their homes, and their credit cards, than they they have as a net on their yearly income.

Even with this alarming information, money lenders, credit card companies, and financial institutions are not deterred.

The credit card companies have done a thorough market research and then with the demographics in hand they construct their targeted audience with a demographic specific sales pitch or ad.

If you have a good credit score, (630 or above), you can usually get a line of credit or credit card with an interest rate of 12% to 18% depending on the company. To get a Platinum status card you will most likely need an income of at least $25,000 per year with a low debt to income ratio. For a Gold card status, your income only need be in the $10,000 per year range.

In or around 1990, the credit industry introduced the subprime market. This particular market targeted those with credit scores of less than 500. The other issues that qualified you as a subprime target were little or no credit history, those who were finishing up a bankruptcy, and those who showed a history of not managing credit to the best of their ability. The credit card companies found a way to profit off the consumer who was usually in a desperate situation and was looking for credit help in the form of a loan or credit card.

Some of the interest rates on these cards were close to, or over, a whopping 30%, while the credit limit remained very low anywhere from $250 to $500. If you were late on a payment that could also cost you a hefty fee and the credit card companies were making thousands of dollars on these borrowers.

While this looked appealing to the lenders, they soon found out that a large percentage of their customers held true to not paying their bills and they were astonished to find out that more than 10% of their customers were delinquent. With the industry average only being 5% delinquent, this was a big cut in their profits. Even though some card issuers went out of business, others pushed the envelope even further.

In 2004 over 1 million credit card holders filed for bankruptcy. This sent a shockwave through the credit industry as a whole and so they lobbied for stricter laws related to bankruptcy. What’s really strange, though, is that while they screamed for bigger punishments, garnishments, and payback terms, they continued and some even increased, their ad campaigns to target this same subprime market.

You, as a consumer, should investigate all options before signing that dotted line. Have you really read the terms associated with your credit card? Do you have a fixed rate that is within your budget? What are the default fees, the over limit fees, the yearly fees?

Some Solutions:

1. Find a way to put at least $500 into a CD or Savings Account at your local bank.

2. In a financial emergency, you can borrow against your own CD or savings account with an interest rate of only about 2% to 3%. That’s a far cry from a credit card with a $500 limit charging you 28.9%

3. If you don’t have the cash, then don’t buy it yet!

4. Repair your credit score by paying off all loans, credit cards, installments, on time or before.

5. Set a goal to have your credit score reach at least 630 within one year. Then focus on improving it more through the next couple of years.

6. Have a way to make extra income devoted solely to paying off your debt. (Babysitting, garage sales, etc)

Rebecca Game is the founder of Digital Women ®, Digital-Women.com, an online community for women in business. She is a 30 year entrepreneur and dedicated to helping other women find business loans and business grants. Visit her site: digital-women.com” target=”_blank Business Grants and Loans for Women

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Unfortunately, life can throw expensive surprises at us at the least convenient times. If you are fortunate and have planned ahead, you can draw upon whatever funds you have stored for an emergency. The reality is, however, that few people have the luxury of choosing when to have a financial crisis. This is where payday loans come in handy. A payday loan describes where one enters into an arrangement with any financial services provider for a cash advance, based upon a quick means test of your ability to repay the loan.

Lenders will typically require a signed declaration that includes what your weekly income, and the particulars of your employer. You’ll also need to provide your own personal details, and possibly those of a friend or someone who knows you. You do not need to worry about a payday loan rejection due to your credit rating: Most lenders will not check your credit unless you default on a payday loan. One possible obstacle is that some lenders will only make an immediate deposit into an existing bank account, rather than actually handing you cash in hand, which could require up to three days to clear, depending on your bank.

Payday loans offered with instant approval will typically limit you to a fairly low maximum loan (usually between US$500 and $1500) and will attract a higher rate of interest than, for instance, overdraft, monthly credit card interest, or the rate offered by a pawnbroker.

The service offered by payday loan vendors is, in fact, quite similar to that offered by banks with credit and overdraft facilities: Both are based on an assessment of your ability to repay the loan with proven regular income. Since banks usually require a lower interest repayment and have a greater borrowing limit, one might consider taking this option if the cash wasn’t required immediately. If, however, you can’t afford to wait the few days it takes to be assessed, you have a poor credit rating, or your bank statements do not show proof of regular income, the convenience and availability of the offering from advance cash lenders will probably swing this option into favor for your particular needs.

There are a few things you can do to increase your chances of instant approval for a payday loan, after considering the arrangement from the lender’s point of view. If you’re filling out an online application, provide all that is necessary to convince the person assessing your loan application that you’re a safe risk That means providing more than the minimum amount of necessary information where you can. If anything you provide an assessor with is questionable or difficult to verify, they’ll be able to fall back on additional information you’ve provided them with, like references and employer details. If you’re applying in person, take some care with your presentation. Do your best to use neat handwriting, and if you go into the lender’s office in person, dress well. They are much more comfortable lending money to a well-spoken, well-dressed individual than someone with a bad attitude or who looks like they will have trouble paying back the short term loan.

Instant approval payday loans are an expedient way of getting an emergency loan. Regardless of your credit-rating, the only thing you need to do to secure a cash advance in the short term is provide ample proof that you are employed and that you have the income necessary to repay the loan within the agreed terms. While payday loans attract high interest compared to other methods of lending, they are also the quickest and most accessible way for most people to secure a loan on such short notice, short of leaving collateral at a pawnbrokers.

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Financial problems and emergencies can occur every day. This is why you need to be prepared for the worst. But how can you do that if you have no cash saved? Well, payday loans are the answer. Just imagine that the expenditure of every month has suddenly risen, or that you are over with the finances way before the payday. In any of these situations and many others cash is what would save you.

Payday loans are also known as cash advance or paycheck advance and are meant to offer some cash to the clients that are out of it between paydays. There are several advantages and disadvantages that this fast payday loan has. First, some people hesitate to get payday loans, mainly because they consider the rates of interest and the loan fees too high. Yet, due to their numerous advantages, payday loans are very common nowadays. So, here is why it is recommended to get payday loans every time you need them:

- Payday loans are characterized by flexible payment options, discrete and fast services
- If you decide to get a payday loan, the application process will only last for 20-30 minutes
- You need no paper work for this kind of loan; all you have to do is to go to the lender with your address, contact information and the documentation related to your checking account
- Once you get the approval (and this process is really fast) you will have the amount of money within 24 hours in your bank account
- There is no need for a credit check (and this is great for those with bad credit history)
- It is not necessary to go to the bank to get a payday loan; you can do it by phone or even online (just like the faxless payday loans)

The amount of money you can get in this case can be up to $1000. Remember though, that just because you can loan up to that amount, doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. This is a loan and must be paid back so only take out a loan for the amount you need. To get the best deal it is recommended to search for the best lender possible. Depending on the options they offer and the conditions the loans have, you can choose the one that suits perfectly your needs.

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Finding an auto loan online is easy regardless of you credit score. By simply completing a simple one page application hundreds of online lenders who will compete for your loan business. There are certain guidelines you should follow which could help you save money on a car loan even with poor credit. Careful planning, comparison shopping and persistence are necessary to find the best deals.

Firstly you need know how much you can afford to spend on monthly car payments. Use one of the many online loan calculators to help you with this. Then it’s just a matter of shopping around to get the best interest rate. The internet has made it easy to shop around and compare rates because you can compare rates with hundreds of lenders from one site. You can compare traditional lender such as banks, credit unions, etc. The lower the interest rate the more you will have available to spend on your car. You will also have to decide the term of the loan.

If you have fair to good credit you should have no problem getting approved. If you have bad credit you can find lender who will work with people with poor credit. The downside is the loan will cost you more as poor credit means greater risk for the lender and therefore a higher interest rate to you.

Most car dealerships are also happy to arrange finance for you. First, you choose the vehicle you want, test drive it and make the decision to buy it. The majority of car dealerships are honest and will gladly help you find the best rate of interest and save money on a car loan. However be sure to check out the online lenders first the be sure you are getting the best deal from your auto dealer.

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(c) Noel Hynes, 2005. Reprint rights granted to copy and publish this article so long as the article and by-line are reprinted intact.

If your downhill ski boots are uncomfortable, don’t flex adequately, and/or your feet are out of alignment, your performance and technique will be adversely affected. In addition, foot comfort and alignment are critical for expert skiers, since they affect the ability to maintain a balanced stance, as well as a flat ski.

With regards to the aspiring all-terrain skier who is contemplating a new pair of boots, we’ll take a look at a number of different boot manufacturers and models in a future article. The ski boots we examine will be geared to the expert skier.

First, we need to cover the following topics:

Internal Alignment of the Foot
External Lateral Cuff Adjustment of the Lower Leg
External Forward Lean Adjustment of the Shin
External Heel Lift Adjustment of the Foot
External Forward Flex Adjustment of the Shin

In this way, you’ll be knowledgeable about foot alignment, lateral cuff, forward lean, heel lift, forward flex, and associated terminology when you approach your local, ski boot fitter.

Internal Alignment of the Foot

Expert skiing depends on a balanced stance, and balance begins with the feet. Foot comfort and alignment are crucial. Most skiers need specialized boot alignment to achieve a stance that allows easy balance over one foot, and one ski at a time. From the Stance Test in the first article entitled Ski Boots: Testing 1,2,3 we found that a strong, stable foot that’s properly balanced makes for a strong skier.

In addition, from the Knee Tracking Test in the same article we discovered that ideally you want your knees to track straight when you flex forward. If they don’t, it’s a sign that you need the support offered by a foot bed, which is a custom insole molded for your particular foot.

During the boot fitting process, internal foot alignment woes can be minimized or even eliminated with the help of a pair of foot beds. The top part of each bed is molded to the shape of your foot, while the bottom part of each insole is designed to keep your foot aligned within the boot so it won’t collapse.

So, with foot beds you get the best of both worlds. Foot comfort is achieved by having insoles that are molded to the shape of your feet. On the other hand, proper alignment of the feet stems from the bottom of the foot beds. When you flex forward yours knees should now track straight. With the correct internal alignment you can establish a stance that is now balanced and stable.

After the foot beds are molded, you need to remove the insoles that came with your boots and replace them with the foot beds.

External Lateral Cuff Adjustment of the Lower Leg

If you are an aspiring expert, proper alignment is essential. Put another way, a strong stable foot that’s properly balanced makes for a strong skier. From the Stance Test in the previous article we found that a slightly knock-kneed stance is considered to be the best for downhill skiing. However, too much knock is not good. In addition, all bow-legged stances make it difficult to accurately pressure the edges of your skis.

Aside from the internal foot alignment from the use of custom foot beds, most boots are equipped with dual, external, upper-cuff adjustments to help you achieve the proper alignment and establish a balanced and stable stance. The cuff adjustments allow the upper part of the boot to be shifted laterally, which compensates for the angles of the bones in the lower leg.

A knock-kneed or bow-legged person can make adjustments that are geared to his or her particular lower body. The inclination of the cuff can be adjusted toward the lateral side, as well as toward the medial side, as necessary.

External Forward Lean Adjustment of the Shin

Many of the newer boots on the market now come equipped with external devices to control the forward inclination of the shin while you ski. This adjustment is usually located on the outside of the boot near the ankle.

Control of the forward inclination of the shin will determine at what angle your leg is held within your boot. It can also be described as the amount of bend at the ankle and knee that produces a given amount of forward lean in the shin.

If you feel your boots are keeping you from establishing a neutral, athletic stance, or restricting your range of motion, you can experiment with the forward lean adjustment, providing your boots are equipped with such a device.

Although you can adjust this control yourself, it’s best to have this shaft alignment and adjustment done by a good, boot fitter. Make sure you have the forward inclination set initially by the boot fitter in the ski shop after you’ve purchased new boots. If you have any alignment problems during the season bring your boots back to the shop for a fine tuning.

External Heel Lift Adjustment of the Foot

Many of the newer boots on the market now come equipped with an external device to control the canting of the foot while you ski. The control is located on the outside either behind the heel or near the arch.

Adjustment of the heel lift in the foot will change the angle at which your foot rests in the bottom of your boot. This works to get you centered over your skis by shifting your center of mass either further ahead or further behind depending on which way the screw is turned.

However, the hell lift is not a common adjustment because not many boots are equipped with this device. If you don’t have this adjustment screw on your boots, you can insert a tapered shim to increase the angle under the foot on the inside of the boot near the back.

External Forward Flex Adjustment of the Shin

From the Ankle Flexion Test in the first article, Ski Boots: Testing 1,2,3, we discovered that if you can flex the front of your knees forward to a point between the base of your big toe and approximately one inch beyond it, you have a good range of flexion. However, if your knees stop at your instep or go way past the big toe, you need to have your boots flex-tuned for your particular lower body.

If your boots are equipped with such a device, a 2-postion flex adjustment will be located on the outside of the boot near the ankle. This control alters the amount of resistance to the forward movement of your shins due to the bending in your ankles.

An all-terrain skier who does a lot of mogul or powder skiing may need to increase the forward flex in his or her boots to make them less stiff. The skier with softer-flexing boots will adapt much better because his or her boots will work to absorb such variations in the terrain or soft snow. Therefore, much of the energy of impact is not transferred directly to the skier.

About the Author

Jim Safianuk is a certified ski instructor and writer of the downhill skiing lessons in the course Skills of the Expert Skier. If you are interested in becoming an expert skier and/or you want to find out when the next article about downhill ski boots will be published, visit this URL: becomeanexpertskier.com/ becomeanexpertskier.com/