European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - October 27, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Getting in gear. Skis Wilh radial air Core ethnology. Revolutionary Dill Al construction. High Speed flour scene sintered racing bases. Ceramic and Carbon  boots with an Energy transmission system. Programmable features. In tech internal overlap symmetrical Forward flex  it s enough to muddle Ihu m kinds of even the experts How arc you supposed to know what to buy if you re a beginner Don l buy rent. Before investing in equipment make sure you enjoy he sport. Be sure you intend to continue skiing. Both Usa eur ind Safe outdoor recreation centers rent ski equipment in reasonable rates. Prices May vary slightly bul figure Aboul 46 per Day for rental of boots poles and skis. These facilities encourage customers to come in prior to a trip to have a file card made Oul with the necessary data about their Boot size and ski length. This information will be kept throughout the ski season to be used whenever equipment is needed. It s Best to Reserve equipment several Days ahead of Lime. When you decide you re ready to buy your own equipment be savvy. Many observers say american skiers in Europe lend to Over buy parity because . Facilities often offer top of the line equipment no bargain prices. Every skier no matter what his ability wants the Besl. Prestige and status come Wilh owning the Blest Bool the Hollerl ski. Too often skiers end up Wilh gear that far outclass their ability. The equipment May look Good to s bound to impress folks in 1hc life lines. But it s also Likely to hinder ski Progress. Beginners can t learn the Basic Maneu vers when the ski equipment is Loo stiff said Herb Seaton president of the Heidelberg International ski club. Dick a Cunard Avalanche adviser for the na1ion.il ski patrol inc National divison said beginners need flexible boots and skis that Are nol too stiff. Former ski instructor Siegi Baumgartner who runs the ski Lour company Siegi Tours in Austria agrees. Beginners should not buy what the experts buy. They might buy boots because of the Brand or the Price bul then find out they can l handle  Reppard has found the big problem is thai people tend to overestimate their ability racing boots and racing skis Are not for recreational  there is however a great variety of Good recreational equipment on the Market today. And thanks to technology and new developments in is constantly improving. Skis Are getting More responsive., boots Are More comfortable than Ever before. People who Start skiing today have in made said Ohn Schwartz a seasoned skier who manages the travel company Scherer Tours. In used to be that a Good Boot had to hurl if it fit. Today it s possible to get a Bool that you can both walk and ski  when you decide to buy equipment allow plenty of time for selection. Find a shop whose sales personnel know the equipment and the sport. Boot selection is the most critical and time consuming aspect of choosing equipment. Baumgartner said boots Hal Hurt can ruin a ski Holiday. He urges beginners to rent if the rental boots Hurt Lake them Back and try another pair. Before purchasing a pair of boots plan to walk around in them for Al least a half hour bending from Side to Side he said if a Boot is going to hurl you won t know it in five minutes. A Good ski shop will let you Lake a Boot Home to walk around  see the following articles and charts reproduced from the Heidelberg International ski club ski guide for 1989,  Bools and skis. Bindings and poles Are the other essential parts of ski gear. There arc some excellent bindings on Ihu Market today. Ask sales personnel for assistance. Proper sunglasses Are also important. To filler High level of ultraviolet and infrared radiation common Al High altitudes and to reduce Glare that can create discomfort and interfere with vision skiers need Good Quality sunglasses. When purchasing sunglasses look in the Mirror to see if you can easily see your eyes. If you can the lenses Are too Light and will not provide proper Protection. . Us Branda hotter ski doctor Sam Marks works on a i it a Heidelberg club meeting. The right ski experts suggest thai ski buyers test the make Model and length of the ski they re interested in before they make the Purchase. Be sure the skis you lest whether borrowed or rented Are properly tuned. Comparisons Between models Are Besl made on the same slopes and in the same Snow conditions. To select he right ski length Here s a Chart from ski Magazine. Select the appropriate number in each category then see the explanation below. Weight Over 200 52 Isolo 200 0 Igo Tolbo 49 140 0160 8 12010140 5 100tolm 43 to to 100 0 6010 80 35 under 60 0 skiing style fast and fearless 50 generally game 41 gelling belter 45 easygoing 43 cautious 0 timid 35 suing Pitt uni smooth and stable 55 fast in bumps so motoring quietly 42 not always upright 35 Type of skiing wide open spaces 50 All terrain 48 deeps and crud 7 mostly moguls 5 packed runs 43 easy stuff 0 add up your score from the four categories. The total equals the recommended ski length in centimetres. Divide that by your Welgh Factor from the table. If the result is ins than 4.0, consider a longer or Sloffer ski. If ifs More than 4.3, select a softer flexing ski. Boots that fit a skier who feels the skis .1 an Extension of himself is one who will do belter experts say and it is the proper filling Boot that provides hat connection. The first lip on Boot selection is la remember thai a proper filling Shell is the key to Good fit. The closer the Boot Shell is to the fool the More responsive your skis will be to your fool s movements. Try on several pairs of boots starting with different models on each fool. Flex the boots frequently while walking. You May think the boots feel Loo soft bul remember plastics become More rigid in the cold. After 15 minutes remove the Boot that Ficeli less comfortable and put on a third Model or different size on that foot. Remember  sizes Are Only reference Points one size May feel Good bul not Fil   this procedure unlit you find a be and Model thai is comfortable and snug bul nol to the Point where your feel  or feel numb. You should be Able to wiggle your toes and they should nol touch the boo tip when you re standing up straight. Your Heel should be held firmly no lateral or up and Down move men even when flexing Forward and the instep ind Ball of the fool should be virtually immobile. There should be no pressure Points or numbness Over your Ankles along the sides of your feel or Over your instep and shins. It s often difficult to Tell if you Are in the right Shell. M s even More difficult with rear entry boots because of All the Fil adjustments in the boots. A skier in ,1 rear entry Boot even two sizes Loo big can still be held secure by cranking Down the fit system. The larger Shell however makes the Boot less responsive and tends to fit incorrectly under the Arch and or Bull of the foot resulting in disco Lorl. To test for proper Shell length pull the inner Bool out place your Bare fool in the Shell and slide your fool Forward until your big toe just touches the front of the Bool. You should have about Yilo a Inch space at the rear. Choose a Bool thai is compatible Wilh your skiing style and ability. To use this Chart from scr Magazine Check the appropriate number in each Calegory then local your Points Ami see the explanation below. Expert advanced intermediate beginner Novice 50or More 30la 2