At Pic Negre, we remain committed to the ongoing training of our team as one of the keys to offering the best service. This season, two of our most outstanding professionals, Juli and Marce, section managers at the Pic Negre group and bootfitting specialists, have completed the Salomon Boot Certification Program 2026.
And they did so with a special milestone: Juli has been recognised as the first woman to complete this certification.
Two days at Salomon's headquarters in Annecy
The training took place at Salomon's headquarters in Annecy (France), as part of a programme that brings together a small group of sales staff from shops specialising in alpine skiing and, above all, in boot customisation. The goal: to learn from some of the world's best bootfitters and pass that knowledge on to the advice given to customers.
Over two intensive days, Juli and Marce worked on:
- Foot and boot analysis, using the Salomon range, the BOA system and professional bootfitting tools.
- Visit to the Annecy Design Centre, where the brand's alpine boots are developed, to understand the whole process from design to arrival in store.
- Advanced shell work and hands-on workshops tackling real fitting problems and their solutions.
- Race boot preparation: shell grinding and stretching, cuff alignment, angles, lifter plates with FIS height measurement and liner selection.
The final session was the most demanding: each participant built and fitted their own pair of high-performance boots from start to finish.
What bootfitting is and why it matters
Bootfitting is much more than choosing a ski boot in the right size. It is the process of analysing each skier's foot and adapting the boot to it: its shape, its pressure points, the skier's stance and the way they ski.
It matters because the boot is what transmits every movement to the ski. A poorly fitted boot causes pain, cold and fatigue, and it also reduces control. A well-fitted boot means more comfort, more precision and longer, more enjoyable days on the slopes.
Every foot is different, and so is every skier. That's why having professionals trained in ski boot fitting makes it possible to find personalised solutions you won't find in any catalogue or standard product.
Special recognition for Juli
During the training, Juli received special recognition from Salomon for being the first woman to complete this bootfitting certification.
It is an achievement that highlights her career and technical expertise, and also an important step forward in a traditionally male-dominated field like bootfitting. For Pic Negre, it is a source of pride as a team and a reflection of the talent and commitment of the people who make up the group.
Ongoing training for better service
For us, training is part of the way we work. Working with leading brands like Salomon allows us to update our knowledge, adopt new techniques and bring them directly to the service we offer in our shops in Andorra.
Because behind every ski rental, every sale and every piece of advice, there is a team that knows the equipment, understands what each skier needs and works to find the best solution. And if your boots need a tune-up, our ski workshop is ready to help.
Specialisation is also part of the Pic Negre experience: a team that is constantly training to offer the best advice to every skier.