 Poster: A snowHead
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Hey everyone!
Does anyone know of a reputable bootfitter in either Christchurch or Queenstown? I've decided to take the plunge on buying some boots and I'm prepared to spend the big bucks, even as much as £100 British pounds! 
So, where do I go? What do I ask for? How much do I spend?
Thanks, NB.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I was recommended browns in Queenstown. I think there is a Scottish guy that owns it/works there and he is supposedly good. This was back in 2004 so it may have changed. NZ gear is not cheap though. Probably more expensive than the uk and you'll never get a pair of boots for £100 quid that are not last years or used!
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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scottishskier, I was kidding about the £100 - I was thinking more along the lines of £250-£300 for some custom moulds - not sure if that's realistic?
Sarge McSarge, - Thanks - Very much appreciated - any info would be very helpful!
NB
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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NomadicBoo,
I did a search and came up with these guys http://www.brownsnz.com/winter/shop/custombootfitting.
I've never been to NZ let alone been in their shop but they talk the talk which is a start and seem to stand over their service.
Make sure you wear THIN socks for your fitting and when skiing afterwards. You will have more comfort and contact with the boot. Sock materials are so good now you dont need thick ones to stay warm.
When you try the boots on make sure EVERY PAIR IS SHELL CHECKED you should verify that the space in the shell with your barefoot is not excessive ie greater than 20mm.
The bootfitter should be able to match brands and models of boot to your foot shape try what they suggest and give them as much feedback as you can. Be open minded to all brands the best one is the one that matches your foot.
Get custom footbeds. You could ask them to do this first then try on the boots that have passed the shell check with your custom foot beds. I found this made a difference to how boots felt and reversed my preference over trying without them. Your going to be skiing with them in you would there fore be better trying boots with them in.
Warning even boots that are 2 sizes to big can feel snug when new. When the liners pack out they will be useless big boots cannot be made smaller. Tight can be made to fit.
They offer an alignment service too I don't know if it is included in the boot fitting but It is worth getting this done.
When doing a search on google use google.co.nz and select pages from new zealand I searched ski boot fitter. google.co.uk did not get me good hits when I searched ski boot fitter new zealand.
There are a lot of good tips in previous threads here about bootfitting and CEM and Smallzookeeper have posted loads of good advise (both of them are bootfitters). As for me I just bought the wrong boots a couple of times and learned the hard way.
Hope this helps do let us know how you get on.
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NomadicBoo, Well after a few enquiries I have have this for you. Browns has a good name as does Outside Sports and as far as I know all the established ski shops have good staff. Due to the demand for work during the winter season the shops are able to be picky with who they hire. The guy at Outside Sports (Sebastian) has been there for some years and learned his stuff from a guy who is now a ski boot designer so should know what he is doing.
Just make sure you buy your boots in the town where you are going to spend the first few weeks of your adventure so that you can go back for any adjustments required. As for prices new upper performance boots range from $800 to $1100 NZ dollars so that is about your £250 - £300.
I did buy new skis, Dynastar Legend Mythic Riders woohoo can't for Monday when I get to try them out.
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RPF, Great info - thanks - I will print this out and take it with me when I go! I will definitely let you know what I end up with and how they work out.
Sarge McSarge, thanks again. I think as Browns has been mentioned a few times I will start there and if I don't find what I want I will head for Outside. Nice buy on the Dynastars BTW. Very snazzy  .
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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RPF, Be jealous. When I left for work at 6.30 this morning the whole of Coronet Peak was lit up as all the snow guns have lights on them and it looks like the mountain is covered with jewels. 200 plus of the latest guns pumping out the white stuff. If you go on google earth and go to the little village of Arthurs Point which is between Queenstown and Coronet Peak you can see some photos taken from my house which give you a good look at Coronet.
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Browns are good, and the staff do back to back seasons, plus the range is good. Failing that check out Wanaka - go see Neil at Racer's Edge... he is EXCEPTIONAL and my first choice. Be weary of who you see at Outside Sport, a chap there last season was telling all sorts of monstrous fibs to a question he did not know the answer to! Ironically he was French 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I just wanted to say........7 nights until I hit the snow.
I'm going to do this everyday  .
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Oh actually, a serious question. Let's say I go out and try a load of boots on and find the make model I like. If I then buy that make model secondhand can I then git it fitted by a bootfitter? The reason I ask is VictoriaSkiSport in Christchurch have a HUGE range of ex-rental boots. I could probably get what I want there and then maybe have some custom footbeds put in? Thoughts?
Cheers NB
Last edited by And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports. on Tue 9-06-09 0:31; edited 1 time in total
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Yes you can but you will have to pay for the service if you then move to somewhere like Queenstown
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You know it makes sense.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Poster: A snowHead
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I don't know the brand but you will be better off buying to suit your ability with some allowance for improvement rather than getting something high performance that will be hard to handle.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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NomadicBoo, Full Tilt make great boots if they they fit. They are basicly the old Raichle Flexon of old which was a classic. The perfect boot is the boot with the perfect fit.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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NomadicBoo, From what I know the FT have a range of boots in various flexes. Raceboot?????? I think not.
Its often marketed as a Freeski boot. From what good boot fitters say about them they are a good boot IF, as kiwi1 said, they fit your feet. Some boots and some feet dont go together, square peg round hole etc.
I think CEM some where previously posted that a lot of classifying boots for certain types of skiing is largely a load of toss (not his exact words) (race boots excepted) (CEM forgive and correct me if I'm wrong on this  )
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Hi everyone. Just a quick one to say thanks for all the input. I ended up getting a pair of solamons and some custom foot beds. I have been out on them 3 days in a row and they have been fantastic! No pain, really tight but 100% comfortable and they have made a HUGE difference in my skiing!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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NomadicBoo, nice one, You do know that you have no excuses now.
Where did you buy them in the end?
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And where have you been skiing???????
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RPF, I ended up getting them from Victoria Ski Sport in Christchurch and my girlfriend bought a pair too. We've both been really happy with them - 5th day today and still a good fit and no pain. As for no excuses that's fine, I can honestly say I have come further in the last 5 days than all of my previous skiing put together. Other than flying down every piste in perfect control with great turns I have also managed two high speed jumps of at least 5 foot. Unfortunately, neither have been landed successfully but I'm getting there!
Sarge McSarge, Currently I am skiing Mount Hutt. I leave tomorrow for Coronet Peak so I will get a report up for Mt Hutt in the next few days.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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spyderjon, Not as tight a fit as yours, but I think CEM must have had to melt you down and pour you into your boots 
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FAQ
Obviously too big then 