Mark Festor “shoedog”

Total Feet > Mark Festor “shoedog”

Mark Festor ” Shoedog”

TOTAL FEET is, above all, the story of a man with a passion for sports orthotics and footwear. Mark was born to French parents in Calgary, Canada. His father, Eric, imported Pomagalski lift systems, over 70 of which were installed throughout the country between 1950 and 1964.1964-1976 To his great regret, Mark’s parents decided to move back to France. But after finishing his studies, he returned to his homeland.

What’s a Shoedog ? : let Phil Knight ( Nike founder and Shoedog himself ) give us the definition ““Shoe dogs were people who devoted themselves wholly to the making, selling, buying, or designing of shoes. Lifers used the phrase cheerfully to describe other lifers, men and women who had toiled so long and hard in the shoe trade, they thought and talked about nothing else. It was an all-consuming mania, a recognizable psychological disorder, to care so much about insoles and outsoles, linings and welts, rivets and vamps.”

No better way to resume my work experience throughout the skiboot and shoe industry. It’s unique based on passion, able to meet siblings all over the world. Never gave up. This has enabled to start TOTAL FEET and share this passion with my customers. Still got a lot of projects that will come through….

1964-76

Back to France

In 1977, having already developed his passion, Mark began his career in a sports shop in Banff, Alberta. Bootfitting was still in its early years: work was done with very limited equipment and tools (a hot air gun, a swiss army knife, a Dremel hand tool for sanding in tight corners, duct tape, common sense and a great deal of passion).

1979-84

Jean Blanc Sport, Courchevel 1850

Mark returned to France in November 1979 and started working for Courchevel 1850 as a technical rep for Hanson ski boots (the most innovative ski boot ever designed). Word quickly started to spread among ski instructors and patrollers about the “local ski boot wizard”. There, he met his wife Annie and decided to settle down for good on the old continent.

1984-94

Hofstetter Sports, Geneva

Mark worked for 10 years as a ski boot technician and then as manager of the sports shoe department in the most prestigious sports shop in Geneva, located in the banking district. 1987 He created the first sport podiatry center at Hoftstetter Sports, using cutting edge technologies for the production of insoles (Podiatech, SIDAS).His technical approach combining the biomechanics of movement, pathology and innovative production techniques led him to work with various sports doctors in the Geneva region.The customization of alpine ski boots continued to evolve in an ideal environment. Customized foam-injected liners were also in full swing. Word of Mark’s expertise quickly spread outside the region, to the Swiss national ski team, alpine snowboarders using rigid shells, alpine climbers and other elite athletes.

1987

Podiatry training

1987 He created the first sport podiatry center at Hoftstetter Sports, using cutting edge technologies for the production of insoles (Podiatech, SIDAS).His technical approach combining the biomechanics of movement, pathology and innovative production techniques led him to work with various sports doctors in the Geneva region.The customization of alpine ski boots continued to evolve in an ideal environment. Customized foam-injected liners were also in full swing. Word of Mark’s expertise quickly spread outside the region, to the Swiss national ski team, alpine snowboarders using rigid shells, alpine climbers and other elite athletes.

1994-00

Product Manager, Conform’able, SIDAS, Switzerland

As product manager, Mark was put in charge of brand development and training for technicians all over the country. More than 500 salesclerks were given theoretical and practical training in Aclens, Vaud, or during regional conferences. Mark’s work helped to establish Conform’able’s position in the Swiss market as a leader in custom-made sports shoes.

2000-01

2000-2001 : Alpine racing dept manager, Skis Rossignol, Voiron, France

Perhaps the most rewarding work experience yet: fitted the top 40 Rossignol skiers, monitored skiers and their footwear all over the planet and oversaw the racing department based in the main ROSSIGNOL ski boot factory in Montebelluna, Italy. Oh! The joys of doing what you love!

2001-05

Skis Rossignol R&D alpine sports footwear, Voiron, France

A new challenge: to develop a center entirely dedicated to the forming of ski boots within the prestigious R&D department of Skis Rossignol, Voiron. Mark actively participated in the creation of various machines and measurement tools that aimed to better understand the mechanical properties of ski boots.