There was indeed something better -- much, much better. The Boa Lacing System. Gary melded his extensive background in medical catheters with his passion for and understanding of the outdoors, and built the first prototypes of a dial-based closure system that would first appear on snowboard boots in 2001.
Since that time, Boa Technology has grown from the shared idea of a few visionaries crammed into a small office space on Lincoln Avenue in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, to a multi-national company based in Denver, Colorado.
Today, nearly six million pairs of footwerar with the Boa Lacing Systems walk, bike, hike, run, or ride the planet. That number includes some of the most accomplished, elite athletes, who have joined the Boa revolution and enjoyed huge success with the precise fit and comfort their footwear delivers.
Dean Karnazes, Badwater Ultramarathon Champion, ran 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 days wearing The North Face Arnuva 50 Boa.
Over 100 pro peloton cyclists choose the Boa Lacing System, including riders such as Andy Schleck, Carlos Sastre, and Fabian Cancellara (pictured below).
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Foot Joy pro golfers like Steve Stricker, Davis Love III, and Scott Verplank prefer Boa's performance and comfort while playing on the PGA tour.
K2 snowboarder, X Games champion, and Olympic medalist Gretchen Bleiler rides with Boa on her snowboard boots. Members of the Boa Snowboard Team include the brightest up-and-comers in the sport and represent powerhouse brands like Ride, Vans, Flow, DC, and K2.
One of the world's other most widely recognized snowboarders, Travis Rice, rides DC snowboard boots powered by the Boa Lacing System.
These athletes all agree that the shoelace isn't dead ...
It's merely obsolete.