When it comes to backcountry skiing, your gear is one of the most important factors in the high country. Performance, comfort, and warmth are key players that dictate a day in the mountains verses an unforgettable experience. We asked backcountry ski guides and founders of Inspired Summit Adventures, Weston Deutschlander and Shaun Deutschlander, why they choose SCARPA when they set out to push boundaries and earn their turns with their clients.

Q&A

What do you look for in a ski boot?

Weston: “Tied for 1st is performance and comfort. When you spend as much time as us in boots both are equally important. Dependability comes in third- we can’t have gear fail on us.”

What do you think is the most important aspect when choosing a ski boot?

Weston: “For me, at this stage in my life, fit is the most important aspect in choosing a boot. Straightaway I look at the boots last. While this doesn’t tell the whole story it is an excellent starting point for me. In my youth I used to be all about performance and wore the smallest tightest boots possible - that wasn’t the best for my lifelong foot health.”

What do you think sets SCARPA boots apart from other brands?

Weston: “Consistency. I know when I get that product from Italy that it will work. No matter what model, what year they were made, they will work.”

What SCARPA boots do you use and why?

Weston: “TX Comp, F1, Maestrale RS. The TX comp allows me to drive big skis and ski in a powerful style. I am a large human, and this boot pairs well with my body type, preferred style and is of the highest performance. The F1 for all day comfort, long days, and everything in between. The 102 last, generous volume, touch thicker and warmer liner make this one of my all-time favorite boots. While the flex is a 95 this boot can still drive 110mm skis and is an unbelievably great walker. I will take out the Maestrale RS when I have a bit steeper objective in some firmer snow. The 130 flex gives extra confidence in variable snow.”

Shaun: “F1, Quattro XT. The F1 is my daily driver. It is what I teach courses in, spend long days on the skin track in and have spent years in. The Quattro XT is what I take out when I have some higher end clients, or where I am doing a steep objective. This boot walks unbelievably well but the performance is just out of this world.”

Why would you suggest SCARPA to your clients?

Weston: “We run a full fleet of SCARPA boots for our Inspired Summit clients. Of all the boots we could have chosen, we pick the Maestrale and the Gea as our main boot (we also have a few F1 boots thrown in as well). So much of what we do at the guide service is about the experience of being in the mountains. If your feet are killing you, cold and generally uncomfortable you could be in paradise and still not appreciate it. The Maestrale is warm, comfortable and has a flex familiar to resort skiers with the touring capabilities to allow our clients to get the most out of their day of earning turns. It is the perfect boots for our clients - easy to get in and out of and fits a wide range of foot shapes. Even a high-end client with a race background will get in a Maestrale and love how it skis.”

If you would like to learn more about Inspired Summit and book an experience with one of their highly experienced guides, visit www.inspiredsummit.com and take SCARPA for a ride.