ASSOCIATES COURSE
Associates Course
The Essentials
A Year’s Worth of Knowledge in Just One Day!
This one-day course will get new hires, seasonal retail and rental employees running at full speed immediately. Tuition includes instruction, copy of Bootfitting Basics training workbook, lunch and a free pair of EZ·Fit drop-in insoles.
Early-Bird Tuition: $300 / Standard Tuition: $325
Early bird discounts end 14 days prior to event
Course Curriculum
BASIC ANATOMY & BIOMECHANICS FOR BOOTFITTING
- Basic foot structure and bones and how they affect fit and performance
- Understanding the three planes of movement
- The Tripod Connection: The three key points of foot balance
- Matching boot design to the body and movements of snowsports
CUSTOMER INTERACTION & BASIC ASSESSMENT
- How to connect with customers to improve sales and create better fit solutions
- Basic assessment skills that identify key pieces of information including:
- Measuring and determining size and foot shape
- Identifying arch flexibility for proper footbed matching
- Recognizing ankle joint range of motion issues
TECHNIQUES & TACTICS FOR SUCCESSFUL SALES
- “Speed-reading” customers to identify their needs
- Understanding last width, stiffness and model differences
- Streamline the sizing and try-on process
- Introducing complimentary add-on products and services during the sales process
- Utilizing props to help make sales and direct customers to effective solutions
- Techniques for closing sales and adding additional items
SELLING & FITTING DROP-IN FOOTBEDS
- Understanding the importance & benefits of footbeds
- Tactics for conveying the importance of the footbed as a fit solution to the customer
- Sizing and model selection skills for all brands and styles of pre-fabricated footbeds
- Proper techniques for tracing, trimming, and fitting drop-in footbeds for all footwear
- Prep, install, and modify your own sample pair of drop-in footbeds
- Understanding the when, why & how of selling custom footbed products
BOOT LINER MODIFICATIONS
- Must-have items and tools for your bootfitting area and back-shop
- What, when and how to use common liner mod fit aids for ski and snowboard boots
- Accurately marking problem areas for targeted boot work
- Adhesives, tapes and cutting devices that make liner modifications a snap
- Understanding modern thermo-molding products and protocols
- Working with lace systems, Boa closures and other liner styles
- Low-risk, minor liner “surgeries” that can make the difference for a customer
SHELL MODIFICATIONS: GRINDING & HEAT STRETCHING
- Basic understanding and safe use of tools for grinding and stretching boots
- Knowing when to grind, when to stretch and avoiding common pitfalls
- Accurately marking problem areas for targeted boot work
- Using various plastic heating methods and techniques
- Understanding different plastic types and modification methods
- Using specialized tools and tactics for professional results
- Smart techniques for progressive modification
STANCE ALIGNMENT & SET-UP TECHNIQUES
- Understanding the goals of proper stance alignment for skiing and snowboarding
- Basic fore-aft and lateral stance for skiing
- Stance set-up fundamentals for snowboarding
- Advanced alpine stance—introduction to canting issues and techniques
Early-Bird Tuition: $300 / Standard Tuition: $325
Early bird discounts end 14 days prior to event