As a kid, I grew up watching World Cup racers dominating in these boots.
Strangely, the same boots were the choice of freestyler-bumpers, aerialists and ballet-ists too.
Dudes like Bill Johnson and Nelson Carmichael ripped these boots.
The even flex and overall softness made this three-piece design the go-to.
(Somehow, these boots also became popular with the hard-boot snowboard community.)
Still, I suppose it is with random acts of kindess that most people get themselves indoctrinated into cults.
Giese eventually presented his designAAAwith the ribbed floating tongue and ankle hingeAAAto Raichle.
That was enough to produce the “Flexon.” The year was 1980.
Full Tilt archivesGlen Plake, circa ‘80-something?
Later, the boots went to the Thermo Flex liner.
This was a big move in the right direction.
By 1996, she succeeded; the company was nearing bankruptcy.
At this point Kneissl took advantage and bought them.
But they had some trouble with tongues breaking, and that put the hurt on the re-launch.
And so they returned to a regular liner.
But, coupled with marketing challenges, it was too late.
Kneissl then went under new management and that was that for the boots.
They were officially history.
Full Tilt archivesSome sort of airline ad, circa 1980s.
K2 bought the molds shortly after that, in the fall of 2004, but did nothing with them.
So they had the right idea back then, but now they had the cult classic.
Meanwhile, people like me hung onto old boots and boot parts for continue skiing them.
Some were new boots, some were almost worn out, and some were only slightly used.
You never knew where they would show up.
Full Tilt archivesBack when spread eagles had some actual wing span.
Once I found some at a shop in Whistler.
(I passed on that.)
I tried the Dalbello version and other styles and other brands; opportunites were there.
Flip McCririckSeth Morrison and the Full Tilt Seth Morrison Model: Great for stepping out of a heli.
But originally for me, I was using them for their fit and performance.
Boot bang became a thing of the past with these boots.
I’ll never try anything else.
So naturally I’m pretty stoked to have a Pro Model with them now too.
And maybe it has all paid off.
And now I only have eight pairs in the closetAAAjust in case.
