The Sole Technology Institute or “STI” is the world’s first and only scientific sports research lab dedicated to the study of action sports. As skateboarding and snowboarding have advanced and evolved over the years, so has the need for better performing footwear for the athletes involved in these activities. Realizing that much of today’s action sports footwear technology has been “borrowed” from other sports due to a lack of research, STI decided it was time to step up and do something about it.
At our on-site 10,000 square foot biomechanics research laboratory which houses state-of-the-art testing equipment and a variety of obstacles like mini ramps, handrails, stairs, and ledges, STI studies every successful landing and fall in order to get a better understanding and learn more about the movements and impacts incurred by action sports athlete’s bodies.
But that’s not all. As the pioneer and leader of action sports scientific research, STI also develops and tests new technologies in its very own physical testing lab so that it can capitalize on what our biomechanical research teaches us. The result of all this research conducted at STI is better technologies for better shoes and boots. All which can be used to promote the longevity, reduce the risk of injury, and improve the performance of riders around the world.
