UPZ Test Drive

[gradyh]

I rode my new UPZ boots this past Tuesday at Kirkwood Resort (south Lake Tahoe). They acted exactly like I thought they would. Way too stiff for EC riding, and not nearly enough forward flex. Frontside turns were OK but the low cuff of the boot along with the thin liners made my shins burn a little. Backside was a mess. I could not get my body in the right position, which resulted in the "sitting in the chair" look. Every bump my Swoard encountered backside, resulted in me losing an edge and slamming my hip into the hardpack. By the end of the day my ass/hip was black and blue. Eventually I had to switch back to my old Burton boots because my left foot cramped up so bad in the UPZ's. They were pinching my toes together too much. I rode the last hour on Tuesday and all of Wednesday on my old boots which although are ten years old, seem to be much more forgiving. The good thing about the UPZ's are the very short sole. I had to adjust my bails an inch and a half shorter for the UPZ's. They seem like a good good choice if you are racing. There is no movement of your foot inside the boot at all, but again way too stiff for EC. So, I will sell my new boots and keep looking for some .900's