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sunrise

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Posts posted by sunrise

    Tokyo ski shops - staff and prices

    in Snow talk, trip reports, Japan avalanche & backcountry

    Posted

     Quote:
    Originally posted by Antonio:
    Sunrise...boots are always the big issue. I'd be hesitant to recommend the shop i went to as experts. I kind of knew what i wanted and just needed someone to go and fetch the right sizes of a few different brands.
    I agree that it's vital you get the right advice. They don't sound the like right guys for me unless I already know what I need (like you).

     Quote:
    There's a boot specialist on the corner in Jinbocho near Alpen (i think) that might be able to help. Anyone been there or know if they speak english?

    Before you go though you need to do some research on your feet. For example, do you have narrow feet or wide feet, are you knock-kneed or pidgeon toed, do you need inserts or do you have a balanced stance.
    Right, I've been doing some reading on the web about it. My arches are a little fallen thus when standing I have a tendency to collapse inward (toward the knock-kneed stance), though I tend to be more balanced when in ski stance. I'm not sure if my foot is wide or narrow. I think it might be wide but I'm not sure - uh oh, I've just realised another complication which could be quite important - women's boots as opposed to men's boots. I'm a woman with foot size 25.5, which is half a size larger than the largest 'regular' size for japanese women. I can't buy women's shoes in Japan easily (I always buy overseas) so it might be hard for me to find women's boots my size here, assuming that it's preferable for me to get women's boots. Anyone know if that's an issue as long as the boot fits properly?

    I had what I guess you'd call custom foot beds (or do you call them inserts??) made when I last bought boots in Canada 7 years ago. They're probaby still okay to use now, but I can check that out, too. The boots I had then fit fine, but were a little too soft/flexible for my level of skiing, as a good intermediate. It was recomended that I got something a bit stiffer next time.....

     Quote:
    One other suggestion...don't be afraid to ring a boot specialist in your home country and ask for advice, that's what i did. Most of these guys love talking shop are more than willing to talk you through a few ideas. After that, all you can do is go and try them on. Best of luck.
    That's a great idea, Antonio. Thanks. I'd be more than happy to do that if I could find someone that would be willing to do that. Anyone recommend anywhere? Oz? US? Canada? elsewhere? Anyone got any knowledgeable sales friends anywhere that would help out? I don't mind paying for the advice, it will surely be worth it.

    Tokyo ski shops - staff and prices

    in Snow talk, trip reports, Japan avalanche & backcountry

    Posted

    Thanks for all the info, Antonio. I think I can probably figure out skis with that and other online help, and last years skis on sale sounds like a good idea, I'll check it out.

     

    It's the boots that I'm the most concerned about. I've never been able to get the right boots. I'm worried that even if they let me try on lots of different types, I'm still not going to get the best ones for my level of skiing, correct alignment, etc without assistance of someone who is very knowledgable in this field. Do you think the people there would qualify?

     

    Bindings - uh oh, there's another thing to research....!

     

    Where does everyone else living in Japan get their gear from? Just curious....

     

    thanks for the other replies - I agree, I'm always sceptical of the knowledgability to be found in city stores especially in Tokyo... Nice to hear of one actually recommended....

    todays skis

    in Snow talk, trip reports, Japan avalanche & backcountry

    Posted

    I just checked my old skis - they're 180s (longer than I thought). I guess that means I should think of getting something around 160s or maybe 165s... I'll start looking into it, thanks.

     

    Ah, this brings me to another question for anyone who wants to answer: - I assume that I should get new bindings and not use the old ones even if they seem to work okay? Also, how about poles? Will it make a difference upgrading them also? Excuse the lack of knowledge here. I've really been out of the race....

     

    Thanks.

    todays skis

    in Snow talk, trip reports, Japan avalanche & backcountry

    Posted

    I haven't skied for 7 years, but I'll have a month in Hokkaido this season - ski lengths seem to go in and out of fashion. What's happening nowadays? Shorter skis, longer skis? Last time I was skiing on 175cm or maybe that was 165cm, gosh can't remember now (I'm 63cm tall, and am reasonably good intermediate skier, or at least I was...!).

     

    Also, anyone recommend boots that won't kill someone with large calves?

     

    thanks.

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