Ski Boot Canting
If you can’t keep evenly balanced or flat while you’re skiing, its possible your boots need to get some customization to your ski boots canting.
If you have problems with your balance and stability because of the angle of your foot and your lower leg, altering the canting will be the way to fix it. This will alter the angles of your foot or lower leg and will put you in a better position.
Do not be confused with cuff alignment. Canting is forcing your body into a new position and cuff alignment is matching your existing angles.
So we need to take a look at your alignment. Good alignment is when you flex forward in your boots your knee is tracking right over the 2nd toe. Most people will achieve this with a footbed getting their foot into a neutral position. When this is the case, it is highly unlikely that you need canting. Just cuff alignment.
If you do need some alteration still though, there are a few options in how you can attack these angles.
Wedging
This is installed below your heel of your footbed, or in some cases your forefoot also, depending on the extent of pronation or forefoot twist. it will aid in forcing a bit more tilt of the foot, transferring to the angle of the lower leg. Very useful for rigid, pronated foot.
Canted volume reducer
This one is very similar to wedging, except that its volume reducer is going along the whole base of the boot. Unlike the wedge it goes below the liner and above the shell. It gives the same result but a little more solid. This can be done only if there’s extra space in the boot regarding height, because the volume reducer will lift you higher in the boot shell.
Canting your bindings
You can get canting adjustments to your bindings. You get wedges installed under the bindings of your skis just to get that small tilt. However, it is harder to source these and you will need to get your shop to install them.
Canting the cuff
You can fix the angle leg by canting the cuff. Your boots may have the options to adjust the cuff angle to meet your needs. In the case no cuff adjustment is available; you can install a shim on the outside your liner. This will tilt your leg out a bit. Hopefully it will be enough to get your stability back!
Alterations to sole of the boot
This will be your most involved option for canting. It can be costly excercise and it is a job for a specialist.
This process involves either planing a new angle into the sole of the boot; or by adding canted toe and heel pieces and matching the new angle by routering the toe and heel lugs.
It is by far the most effective option for very high performance or race fit boots.
I encourage you first try your wedging options first to see where you need to be.
Peace!