Skate boot with stiffening cuff insert

A skate boot comprising:

• a boot body comprising (i) a sole extending from a heel end of the boot towards a toe end of the boot to receive a foot of a user thereon, (ii) two side walls extending upwardly from the sole at medial and lateral sides of the boot respectively to define a lower portion of a tongue opening of the boot between respective upper edges of the side walls, (iii) a rear wall extending upwardly from the sole between the side walls at the heel end of the boot, and (iv) an upper cuff having a rear portion above the rear wall and side portions extending forwardly from the rear portion towards respective front edges of the upper cuff to define an upper portion of the tongue opening between the front edges, (v) wherein the sole, the side walls, the rear wall, and the upper cuff collectively define a unitary molded structure formed of a plastic material having a first prescribed hardness;
• and
• a cuff insert at least partially embedded within the upper cuff of the boot body;
• wherein the cuff insert includes a rear section at the rear portion of the upper cuff of the boot body and two side sections extending forwardly from the rear section at the side portions of the upper cuff of the boot body;
• and
• wherein the cuff insert comprises a unitary structure formed of a second material having a second prescribed hardness that is harder than the first prescribed hardness.