Our Town: The art of ski boot fitting

Brian Potempa leverages his ski industry knowledge and experience in his business, The Ski Shoe and Biomoto, to perfect any ski boot fit. Photo: TownLift // Meredith Kluever.

PARK CITY, Utah — For Brian Potempa, skiing is more than a hobby—it’s a way of life. He “caught the ski bug” in high school, and though he may have started later than most, Brian quickly became competitive in freestyle. Inspired by iconic ski films from Greg Stump, seeing the mountain lifestyle, riding his bike every day, and skiing regularly, he knew, “that’s what I want to do.”

The Art of Ski Boot Fitting: Brian Potempa’s Journey

For Brian Potempa, skiing is more than a hobby—it’s a way of life. He “caught the ski bug” in high school, and though he may have started later than most, Brian quickly became competitive in freestyle. Inspired by iconic ski films from Greg Stump, seeing the mountain lifestyle, riding his bike every day, and skiing regularly, he knew, “that’s what I want to do.”

Brian made his dream of living in the mountains a reality when he moved to Park City 30 years ago.

The Birth of Ski Shoe & Biomoto

Brian has worked in some of the most renowned ski shops in the country, developing a deep appreciation for ski footwear along the way. Amused by the European, specifically German term, ski shoes, he chose Ski Shoe as the name for his business—simple, and reflective of his expertise.

Though he learned from the best boot fitters in the country, Brian noted a gap in the industry: the process often felt intimidating and lacked personal experience. He wanted to offer something different—to analyze his customer’s needs differently—and provide the best possible ski boots fits in Park City. His goal is for his customers to not only have a comfortable fitting experience, but for their experience on the snow to be the best they’ve had from their first turn.

A Unique Approach to Boot Fitting

Over the years of fitting boots, Brian has learned to combine traditional boot-fitting techniques with modern technology, specifically utilizing 3D scanning. This approach allows him to work more efficiently, providing a new level of fitting boots.

“They’re more comfortable, and they’re skiing better,” Brian shared, “and that is my personal goal.”

Precision Meets Personalization

A visit to Ski Shoe begins with an in-depth foot assessment. Brian takes time to understand a skier’s history, past experiences, and preferences. From there, a 3D scan provides precise dimensions, helping select the ideal boot model. This advanced method eliminates guesswork and guarantees a personalized fit.

Beyond just choosing the right boot, Brian offers shell customization, full alignment assessments, and custom insoles from Biomoto. For those seeking the ultimate fit, he provides custom liners from ZipFit. Every detail is fine-tuned to enhance comfort and maximize performance.

What Mountainkind means to him

For Brian, Mountainkind means being involved in the community. “I do this because I’m out there biking with the local bike group, doing bike races on the weekend, skiing 4-5 days a week,” Brian shared. “I run into not just my customers, or clients, they’re also my friends. I build those relationships so that when I run into them at the grocery store we can talk about daily life and how their feet are doing,” he laughs.

From ski-obsessed teenager to master boot fitter, Brian’s journey is a testament to passion and dedication. Through Ski Shoe, he’s not just fitting boots—he’s enhancing performance and transforming skiing experiences, one perfect fit at a time.