Oh gawd, don't get me started on boots. Here's a good read on the history of ski sidecut. http://www.skiinghistory.org/sidecut.html My friend George Tormey, Bode's coach, gave him those first pair of K2 Fours. A couple of years ago we were in the start tent over in NH and had a great talk with Bode about his ill running DP 935. He didn't feel it was making the 650hp that it used to. Jayzuz. The boy loves speed!
My current boots are the 150 flex Doberman plug boot; hand made by PJ Dewey ex US Team boot technician. Ralves won Kitzbuhel on PJ's boots. These are the stiffest friggin' boots out there but feel like bedroom slippers until you buckle them one click tighter at the top of the course. PJ really knows his stuff. It's an honor to have him do the work and he's right here. I actually put heat into them being the pussy that I am.
It always amazed me to see Lange boots molded into the various liveries of competitor's boots. A racer would have a particular sponsor but wanted the performance level that only Lange could produce, so, Lange's back room would supply any color boot necessary to pull off the ruse. Right down to the correct logos. Hah!
Have you heard of the Dodge carbon fiber boot?