1 week skier

Manston wrote:I would also like to know if its worth buying my own boots and can someone explein the difference in skis from beginer to intermediate. All advice welcome and im a solo skier most of time.

Steve

Hi Steve

After 4 trips of boot hiring I decided to buy my own.

I never had particular problems with the hired boots - didn't have to return any because they were uncomfortable - but often felt I had to 'overtighten' them because they felt loose.

I visited a pukka bootfitter/supplier and had custom footbeds moulded - bought Nordica Speed Machine 8s.

Gave them their first test run out at Hemel on Saturday - what a difference - after a few tweaks to the clips they were soooo comfy and there there was no foot movement or toe clenching as here had been with the hired boots.

As for buying skis - I am still progressing from lessons and I think if I had bought skis after one week skiing I would be looking to upgrade by now.

I would say hire for a couple more trips, then consider buying.

Aitch

All

Thanks for all the advice, I think based on that I will definatley book some lessons and will hire for a few more trips, I suppose its easy to think that becasue I had six lessons in Castleford you should be able to just get on with it, but like everything else I believe there is always something to learn and im not the type to not take advice from more experienced skiers.

Thanks to all

Steve

Good advice all round here.
Lessons - definitely, but make sure you have some time to play on your own and really enjoy it.
Boots - worth an investment once you reach an intermediate standard as they will help with comfort and technique provided you get the right ones for your feet: best purchase you will ever make!
Skis - hold back a while and rent for the time being, try out a few different models until you find something you get on well with and then seek lots of advice before commiting to buying. Always worth buying slightly better ones than how you rate yourself IMO.

Well done for listening, Steve, and I hope you have a great time.

Ally

Always happy to take advice and generally will follow it, i cant wait to get out there again I really do have the bug, thanks all

Steve

Socks? I have read various threads on here about socks, having worn Tube socks last year I was thinking about buying better ones this year. Is there any point baring in mind I will be hiring kit and not using my own (as I dont have any yet). I am looking at at getting boots fitted next year should I wait and buy proper socks then or go with it and buy them now. Juts a bit worried how they will feel in hired boots.

Steve

Manston wrote:should I wait and buy proper socks then

No. Do not wait. Tony's avatar shows the only valid use of a tube sock.

If your puppet-fabrication skills are deficient then a sensible alternative is just to burn them. Please.

Treat your feet to foot-shaped socks; it just makes sense. 8)

Absolutely agree about the lessons - I've skiied for 6 weeks and lots of days in Scotland, and I have at least a couple of hours of private lessons every time I go skiing. Last year in Les Gets I had an hour with a BASS instructor who changed my skiing entirely in that one hour - my husband couldn't believe the difference in my skiing the next day, and I got far more out of the rest of the week as a result.

As for boots - yes, definitely invest! Again it made a big difference to me, especially as I have custom made footbeds to sort out my knee!