Ski boot system

A method of customizing a ski boot, comprising:

• selecting a lower shell and an upper cuff;
• installing a boot board within the lower shell;
• temporarily mounting selected closure components to reinforced attachment locations on the lower shell and upper cuff;
• evaluating fit and performance;
• and
• permanently mounting selected closure components based on the evaluation.

A ski boot system configured for onsite assembly and user-specific customization, comprising:

• a lower shell defining a foot-receiving cavity;
• an upper cuff configured to surround a lower leg of a user and pivotally coupled to the lower shell;
• a boot board positioned within the lower shell beneath an inner boot;
• and
• a plurality of closure components including buckles and flexible bales,
• wherein the lower shell and the upper cuff each include a plurality of pre-defined, reinforced attachment locations that:
• are structurally reinforced relative to surrounding shell material,
• include interior recesses aligned with exterior mounting regions, and
• are visually marked to indicate allowable positions for mounting the closure components,
• wherein the closure components are selectively and re-positionably mountable at the reinforced attachment locations using removable fasteners to permit temporary installation and repositioning by a user,
• wherein at least one of the closure components is configured to be mounted in a cross-wrapping configuration across the lower shell using the flexible bales to distribute closure forces across the foot, and
• wherein the ski boot system enables independent customization of left and right ski boots based on anatomical differences of a user.