Masterfit & Bonnier Group to Partner on Ski Boot Test Program

Masterfit Enterprises will again partner with Bonnier Corp.’s Ski and Skiing Magazines to provide exclusive 2012-13 boot content including all reviews and test data for their print and web properties.

Masterfit will also coordinate the joint America’s Best Bootfitters/Ski & Skiing Magazines On-Hill Boot Test at Mt. Bachelor, Ore. April 10-17. The annual boot test is the largest independent test of Alpine and sidecountry boots in the world.

“Masterfit brings an unequalled knowledge and sophistication to our boot coverage and provide our readers with the most comprehensive consumer tests and reviews in the industry,” said Ski and Skiing Magazine editor in chief Greg Ditrinco. “The Masterfit pros are the experts who train the experts.”

Masterfit Enterprises is the parent company of the Masterfit University Fit Training Centers for ski and snowboard bootfitters and America’s Best Bootfitters, the international organization of select snowsports shops that specialize in bootfitting. Reviews and content generated from the test will also appear on the America’s Best Bootfitters website, www.bootfitters.com.

More than 35 skiers will assemble at Mt. Bachelor to test over 75 models from every brand that distributes products for North American Alpine and sidecountry use. Last year, more than 500 on-hill tests were conducted during the week-long test period.

The test team includes Masterfit University instructors, professional boot fitters from America’s Best Bootfitters, ski instructors, coaches and patrollers as well as journalists and expert skiers with boot testing experience. The boot test program is spearheaded by Mark Elling, one of the world’s top bootfitters who works out of Mt. Bachelor Ski & Sport and The Masterfit Tech Center, both in Bend, Ore.

This marks the 24th consecutive year that Masterfit founders Steve Cohen and Jeff Rich will be involved with the boot test program. The pair founded the first-ever on-hill magazine boot test in 1987 when Rich was boot test program director at Ski and Cohen was executive editor.

Companies providing test product for review this year include: Tecnica, Scarpa, Salomon, Rossignol, Nordica, Lange, Garmont, Head, Full Tilt, Fischer, First Degree, Dynafit, DaleBoot, Dalbello, Black Diamond, Atomic, Apex and Alpina.

The ABB/Ski & Skiing Magazine Boot Test is sponsored by: Boot Horn, Dry Guy, EazyOn Spray, Hotronic, Leki, Midland Radio XTC Wearable Video Cameras, Pistil Hats, Ski Skootys, Slide-On Spray and Transpack.

Media Contact | Eric Henderson | Denny,inK | erichende@gmail.com