My latest project: the sugar plum synthetic snakeskin short track speedskating boots. Without straps or laces they each weighed 280 grams. Update: with laces and straps they each weigh in at 300 grams. The boots are probably about a size 5 or 6. Very stiff sole, not as stiff in the ankle as I wanted, but I am mostly happy with them. The tongue's are 65 durometer EVA foam. That is very hard but how the skater wanted them. One innovation, that I copied from the new Bont Patriot (a new entry level boot, specific for short track) are metal rings on both sides of the boot so that the straps can be easily replaced. Styling is mostly like SS Boots and Marchese, which are the short track boot maker leaders in the USA anyway. The lining is nylon covered neoprene with additional padding a soft EVA foam. Now I just need to find somebody that will pay me to make them boots. It would be nice to have a hobby that paid its own way!
