A rigid racing sole usually fights a skier the moment they step off the snow, but the Rossignol X-9 Skate Boot's Sport Sole solves that with Tech Grip rubber for the walk to the start line and central insert cleats for precision once the ski is underfoot. Neither compromises the other, so the transition between the two doesn't cost a stride. What Our Gearhead(R) Experts Are Saying:"I can feel exactly where the boot goes rigid on the push and where it lets my ankle roll through the finish of the stride. Dual Core puts the stiffness only where I actually load the boot, so nothing about the fit feels stiffer than it needs to be."