Abstract: A boot having a flexible upper for snowboarding. The boot includes a flexible upper portion and a rigid reinforcing frame, wherein the rigid reinforcing frame includes a lower reinforcement portion surrounding the heel at least; a dorsal reinforcement portion surrounding the rear area of the lower part of the leg; both parts are connected via a narrow connecting portion that includes, on the lateral side, a stiffening arrangement that stiffens the connecting portion only during lateral tilting of the dorsal reinforcement portion on the lateral side of the boot. Because of the aforementioned construction, the boot retains its qualities of comfort and, at the same time, ensures the transmission of the essential forces by virtue of a frame that provides flexibility on the medial side of the boot and support on the lateral side of the boot.

Abstract: Interface device between a ski and front and rear bindings (3, 4), designed to hold in place the ends of a boot on the ski. The device comprises a longilinear plate (15), each end of which is fastened to the ski to the front and rear of the bindings. One end (16) of the plate is attached to the ski. The other end (23) of the plate is movable in relation to the ski, and linkage (24) exerts a force against a block (20) fastened to the ski, thereby pretensioning the plate (15) under traction, and, by reaction, prestressing the central portion of the upper ski surface under compression. Preferably, this pretensioning ceases beyond a determinate ski flection.

Abstract: A cross-country ski and an apparatus for supporting a shoe or boot on a cross-country ski which has an upwardly projecting longitudinally extending rib. The apparatus includes a front support element positioned on either side of the longitudinally extending rib proximate an area of the ski at which a front binding is to be located, and a rear support element longitudinally spaced from the front support element and located on either side of the longitudinally extending rib proximate an area of the ski at which the heel of a shoe or boot is to be located during the course of skiing. The materials from which the front and rear support elements are made and their respective mechanical response characteristics are selected with respect to the ability level of the skier and with respect to the type of skiing that is to be performed.