Tele boot, Walk mode

[joeatomictoad]

Probably this has been discussed before, but it's kind of new to me.

Couple weeks ago decided to descend on Scarpa T1's in walk mode. I actually liked it better. Vice traps, with normal springs (not stiffy springs).

With the cuff in walk mode, I felt more ability to make micro-adjustments...
- to my balance and maintain a centered stance.
- steering each ski throughout the turn, yawing about the x-axis
- especially on the front ski, pitching about the y-axis, which helped for the loose stuff

In walk mode, I felt more leg fatigue carving the groomers, but I blame my [lack of] pre-season training.

Hoping this is not beginning the slippery slope of embracing "less is more"... because my marriage will not support any more gear right now.

[Stephen]

Yes, but will it fly?
I see rudimentary landing gear,lots of rudder, and a fuselage, but no wings?

[bauerb]

check cloud ceiling before use, that looks like a VFR setup, prob not ok for IFR.

[joeatomictoad]

Ironically about flying, I was more inclined to land small jumps / kickers (e.g. side of trail, near the charlift tower) in a tele stance with the boot in walk mode... doesn't make the landing any better/worse, but it does increase my sense of skiing vanity if I can land mildly genuflected.

[connyro]

Unless I'm skiing ice, I'm in walk mode. I just don't need to be locked into an aggressive stance all the time.

[12gaugesage]

I find it easier to do tele's with a softer flex boot.
Much smoother in that transitional phase with my excursions than my t4s. I've never used cable bindings, and wondered if a cable would smooth things out while I bring the inside knee lower.

[fgd135]

Skiing with unbuckled boots, or in this case, in walk mode, is a solid and classic instructional technique. Teaches balance and wt. distribution. Try that and also without poles. Good for skill development, and as mentioned, similar to skiing in leather boots.

[phoenix]

I've left my T1's in permanent walk mode (duct taped 'em open) for many years, same with my T2's when I was on those. I also modified the 4 buckle T1's to a 3 buckle configuration; I found this also smoothed out the flex considerable. So you don't need new boots, some easy mods might do it for you.

[joeatomictoad]

Just another reason to love tele. Customization. Thoughtfulness. Dialing in the gear, with a purpose. Less static with the gear & more dynamic with the mind. Embrace the Franken-tele. I know... flipping a walk mode toggle is far from Franken-tele but it sounds more cool than, "Embrace the bespoke!"