Scarpa T-Race Telemark Ski Boot - 2008 BCS

This is pretty much the stiffest tele boot on the market. Not ideal to learn on but with your background and alpine preferences you should be able to grow into it quickly. Only other boot I'd consider thinking about would be the TX Comp which works with the new NTN binding system.

Usually new gear comes out in October. Nick, Noah, and the likes get stuff early, obviously, but I honestly can't answer that one precisely. I did a little checking and can't pin anything down for sure. I'd suggest contacting Scarpa via email, or Brian the Scarpa guy probably has better info. Remember, you can always buy the T Races now, and return them if you like the new one's more when they come out. Good luck, and happy turns!

Agreed! Wrap around is way better. One of the main reasons I don't like Garmont boots is because of the tongued liner.

Brian..Scarpa guy here. Jack had good advice. I would add that you could wait until next season to buy a pair of T-race with Walk mode or if you like Red. But I think you could get yourself a great deal on T-race right now and the walk mode will be available seperately for $60 and you can retrofit next season. One thing I would also add is that the current Race has a wrap style liner , new ones will have a tounged liner. The wrap style will be way better on your navicular problems( no seams over the forefoot). Hope this helps

You should go try on some boots at a shop. It sounds like you need some special attention, and you may be in a (literal) world of hurt if you just order some online without trying them on. Bear in mind, too, that the T Race doesn't have a walk mode, but next years model will! Also, they're going back to red! The lack of a walk mode may hurt your foot more, is all I was thinking. I would highly recommend that you try some boots on and make sure to get them molded when you purchase them. I think it's a good move going to Scarpa, though. Scarpas have always been a superior boot in my experience. Good luck, and make sure your feet are happy!

Hey man, I think you are definitely making the right decision. The T-Race do take a little getting used to, but bear in mind that they will soften up quite a bit in the bellows as you break them in. I too tried the Ener-G's and also found them to be too soft. The stiffness of the T-Race will also force you to ski more aggressively and make you a better skier (definitely improved my abilities). As for the pressure on your arch, try wearing really thick socks when molding the liners, and then skiing in thin ones to create a little extra room to breathe...you'll be amazed at how much that molding can change the feel of the boot on the inside, I wouldn't worry about it.

I disagree with Jack, I think you should get the T Race. The difference between the T Race and T2x is going to be HUGE. You would be moving from a soft three buckle to a stiff 4 buckle, with more forward lean and a stiffer bellows. O1s are burly bindings, they can definitely handle the T Race, getting Hammerheads (while they rock) is not going to solve your problem, in fact, it might make it worse. Having a more active binding and still pairing it with a soft boot will run you into the same problems that you described. I'd buy Rid Stiff cartridges for the O1 and get the T Race, it's an amazing boot that will add the power and stability that you need to handle those high speed turns and that variable terrain.

I would suggest instead of buying new boots, think about new bindings. Sell those 01's for $150 to $200 and buy some Hammerheads.
The difference between Hammerheads and 01's will be incredibly greater than the difference between the T2X and the T Race.
The Hammerheads drive the Sick Birds so well! Get them! T Race boots are nice, too, and they might help a bit, but I think that there is not that much difference between the T2X and the Race except when skiing really gnarly terrain, bashing gates, or stomping big airs.
The control of Hammerheads is far superior to that of 01's.

The liner is overlapping, which I dig, you can crank it down really snug across your calf.

Riley,

I think Alexander nailed it. Touring is fine as long as you have a free pivot binding. Also, the T-1 seems to 'break down' quicker and provides less performance after time. My 2 cents.

Hey Riley, if you telemark aggressively, you're going to love the T-Race, straight up. It's stiff and responsive, great for every kind of turn and terrain. The main differences between the T-1 and the T-Race are: T-Race has stiffer plastic and a stiffer flexing bellows, T-Race has a power strap across the top to really crank down the upper part of the boot, and the T-Race does not have a walk/tour mode. The lack of a tour mode doesn't bother me when touring unless I am skinning on flat ground. On the uphills, your foot is naturally angled forward anyways, so I don't even notice. If you are charging hard on teles, don't even think about the T-1, the T-Race is the boot you want.

I've heard the idea thrown around, but haven't seen it done. I think by doing so you would loose the control that makes the T-race so great. I know tons of folks who just tour in the T-race now with a free pivot binding. Takes a small bit of getting accustomed to, but after a few tours you'll hardly notice it. Strolling through the flats is the only time it's a bugger (if you have the cant very far forward it doesn't allow you to straighten your legs, your quads stay flexed and it's a good workout).

Not quite sure what you mean. The T-Race is a completely different boot, much stiffer, with a stiffer bellows and more forward lean. Do you mean just permanently locking the walk mode in a T-1?

Hey Alec,

The BD Customs have a wider fit than the Scarpas (a little narrower than the Garmonts) and will provide the power that you are looking for. The Ener-Gs are not nearly as stiff in the bellows as the T-Races or the Customs...

customs are stiffer, and these run narrower in general, particularly in the front.

The Customs are actually a lot stiffer, can't help you with the fit.

buy the T1, seriously, you do not need the T-race. The T-1 is much more versatile and will have stiffness to spare -- even after you become an expert

It depends, from your description it sounds like you like to take it easy on the groomers most of the time and you like powder (obviously.) :) Being an intermediate you might want to go for the T1. But if you plan on charging hard all over the mountain in the near future you would want the T-Race. P.S. The T1 has a walk mode and the T-Race does not.-------The T-Race requires an aggressive skiing style in order to perform. Additionally, you are going to need bindings with stiffer cartridges to really get the most out of the boot. If you aren't skiing with a lot of power, it's going to be too stiff for you. I'd go with the T1.

yes, they make the t1 raceThe reason they're not using the lace up is because they're now using the intuition liner, and putting laces in it might void the patent, but i'm not sure.The intuition liner is really nice, and i think when heat molded, there would be no need to have the laces

Good luck with the drive home Angus, I believe I-84 is closed over Meacham right now... You should hit up Anthony Lakes if you've never been on your way east... hidden gem. In any case, I'll show you around there next semester sometime. I may be at the 10th mtn huts with Luke b/t X-mas and New Years, maybe I'll see you in that funny square state of yours.Last year I skied on the yellow Crispi CRXs and liked 'em OK. I'm thinking of testing a pair of BD custom or push this season. I think I'll try the customs even though I'm planning on doing more touring than lifting...Anyway, happy holidays mate. Go Missionaries!

Well, the BD Push is similar to the T1 in flex. So the stiffer boots would be the TRace and the Custom. I would personally go with the BD Custom since it has the Boa lace system in the liner and the BD Custom has a tour mode unlike the T-Race.-------I've heard of issues with the BD Custom (and BD boots in general), like rivets coming out, and the Boa tightening wheel becoming damaged and rendering the liner unusable. Buying any boot in it's first year of production is a gamble...I'd go with the tried and true T-Race.---------The Custom is a little stiffer than the T-race and the Push is a little stiffer than the T-1. Try them all on and buy whatever fits best.