Surefoot saves feet … home and abroad

The world’s biggest supplier of custom ski boots is now teaming with SAVEarth to supply warm footwear to those who need it.

How? By donating all of its gently or unused boot liners.

According to Mammoth store manager Todd Koenig, who has been with the company for ten years and managed the local store for seven, SAVEarth inserts the liners into a basic rubber outer sole. Voila, a winter boot, which is then shipped to designated regions like Nepal and Mongolia, underdeveloped countries with cold climates where there is a great need for warm, durable footwear.

Koenig said the program began last spring, and in its initial phase, he shipped out between 60 to 80 liner pairs.

“Normally (in the past), we might bro’ out some liners, but at the end of the season, we would toss boxes of them,” said Koenig.

This didn’t sit well with company officials, since the liners, comprised of plastic and foam materials, take up to 2,000 years to biodegrade in a landfill.

Recycling obviously makes a lot more sense.

Koenig said other ski shops in town are welcome to donate their liners at the end of the season. Surefoot will bear the cost of “repurposing” and shipping.

Surefoot is located in the Village at Mammoth next to the Pita Pit.