Masterfit U Sets Fall Bootfit Training Schedule & Locations

Masterfit University (www.masterfituniversity.com), the world’s only center for the study of ski & snowboard bootfitting, modification and alignment techniques, is expanding this season, adding fall 2011 sessions in the Pacific Northwest and Europe.

Masterfit University will be held at:
• Mt. Snow, VT, Oct. 3-4
• Kitzbuhel, Austria, Oct., 18-19
• Denver/Lakewood CO, Oct. 26-27
• Seattle/Everett, WA, Oct. 31-Nov. 1
• Reno, NV, Nov. 7-8

In addition to the two new locations, Masterfit U is on the move with new venues in New England (Mount Snow, VT) and Colorado (Denver/Lakewood).

“Here in North America, we’ve simply outgrown some of our locations and needed more space to accommodate attendees, particularly in the Northeast,” says MFU executive director Steve Cohen. “U.S. Northwest retailers and those in British Columbia, Canada have been asking us to come back to that corner of the continent for a while so we’re excited to be back there after a three-year absence.”

Attendees can address their shop’s specific needs with five different training tracks, all offering extensive hands-on experience in Masterfit’s state-of-the-art traveling boot labs.

“Bootfitting is the one snowsports market sector where retailers can demonstrably differentiate themselves from their competition,” says MFU curriculum director Mark Elling. “And it’s got a tremendous return-on-investment. You buy knowledge once, you sell it thousands of times over.”

“Interest in bootfitting worldwide is off the charts,” adds Cohen. Masterfit experienced record crowds at events this past May in Australia and the program has increasing drawn European retailers to U.S. events over the past few years. “So now we are going to their backyard and our Kitzbuhel event is tracking to be our largest gathering ever,” says Cohen.

Now in its 18th year, Masterfit U is recognized as the world-wide standard in boot fit education, having trained individuals from North America, Europe, Australia and Asia.

“In an increasingly challenging business climate, the ski and snowboard retailers who are surviving—and in many cases thriving—are those who have dedicated themselves to providing outstanding bootfitting service,” says Cohen.

Attendees this year can look forward to new state-of-the-art equipment, improved multi-media presentation capabilities and a learning environment that provides expanded, topic-targeted, hands-on breakout sessions.

“Our less talk, more action and ‘Learn It, See It, Do It’ format better simulates an actual shop environment,” says MFU curriculum director Mark Elling. “And it accommodates people with different learning styles.”

Students can choose from five training tracks, all with extensive hands-on experience in Masterfit’s state-of-the-art traveling boot labs.

Associates Course
A Year’s Worth of Knowledge in Just One Day
This intensive one-day program hammers home the nuts and bolts of basic bootfitting. The program lasers in on the basics of boot sales, off-the-shelf footbeds and simplified problem solving for day-to-day boot bench combat. This course includes hands-on workshops on essential liner and shell modifications as well as snowboard specific fitting tactics. The Associates Course is aimed at returning seasonal employees, new hires and rental shop personnel.
Tuition: $220

Associates Plus Course
Kicking it Up a Notch
After completing the Associates program on day one, Plus candidates spend the following morning in a concentrated, hands-on custom footbed lab session that provides the expertise and confidence to jump right into the footbed fray. In the afternoon, attendees have a choice of exciting skills development breakout sessions on a variety of topics.
Tuition: $405

Masters Course
Intensive Training for Experienced Boot Techs
A two-day session for experienced boot techs packed with practical information they can use to improve their businesses immediately. Students learn everything from biomechanical analysis techniques that let them better match sliders to the right boots to advanced modification and stance balancing strategies and footbed construction techniques. The course provides more experiential learning sessions in seminar-style workshops with top industry pros.
Tuition: $425

Backcountry Connection
Training for AT/Tele/Hiking Boot Specialists
A parallel Master’s Course track for retailers who specialize in Alpine Touring, Telemark and hiking boots and trail shoes. Backcountry Connection attendees learn the biomechanics and assessment skills that are cross-platform for all footwear fitting but build discipline-specific skills in frequent breakout sessions that are part of the Masters Course.
Tuition: $425

Masters Plus—The Dark Arts
The Doctorate Program of Bootfitting
The two-day advanced curriculum is designed for techs that are already near the pinnacle of experience and knowledge and want an immersion experience to study more complex modification techniques and strategies. (Masters Plus held only at Stratton, Breckenridge and Lake Tahoe locations.)
Tuition: $440

All attendees receive Masterfit’s comprehensive training manual, lunch daily, a pair of Lorpen socks and the opportunity to make their own custom insoles.

Masterfit University’s content has been recognized by several national professional certification organizations. The Masters and Masters Plus Courses qualify for continuing education credits from:
• Board for Certification on Pedorthics (14 CEPs)
• National Athletic Trainers Assn. Board of Certification (13.25 CEUs)
• Board for Orthotist/Prosthetist Certification (14.08 CPEs)
• Professional Ski Instructors of America-East (Update credit)

Masterfit University is an industry support program of Snowsports Industries of America and is presented by Ski & Skiing Magazines. It is sponsored by: Blademaster, Black Diamond, Booster Strap, Cantology, Dalbello, Daleboot, Dry Guy, EZ Fit, Fischer, Full Tilt, Green Mountain Orthotic Labs, Hotronic, Instaprint, Intuition Liners, Lange, Lorpen, Rossignol, Salomon, Ski Kare, SkiSkootys, The Cant Co., Tecnica, Transpack and Zapz.