P484ORACLE 484 Mon13 Jan C4 9715:18  1/6        by Linda Boulton  GETTING EQUIPPED.... If you're planning a skiing holiday over the next few weeks, no douat you've read our "Here's How! on skiing resorts and "Your Money" report on ski insurance. So, now you've decided where to go and made sure you're fully insured, here's a quick guide to help you choose one of your most important pieces of skiing equipment - your boots. Follow the tips on the following pages, courtesy of Which? Magazine and we're sure you'll find the right pair for you Home File Index 480 Fit & Well 485 ORACLE CLASSIFIED ADVERTISERS 490

P484ORACLE 484 Mon13 Jan C4 1713:22  2/6        by Linda Boulton  GETTING EQUIPPED.... 1. Try boots at specialist ski shops where there are likely to be staff who can help with specific fitting prgalems first by working out what youq problem is and then if necessary making modifications to the shell or inner boot. 2. Next year, consider a trip to the Ski Show - usually around November, to draw up a short list of bogts you'll want to look at. more follows > Home File Index 480 Fit & Well 485 ORACLE CLASSIFIED ADVERTISERS 490

P484ORACLE 484 Mon13 Jan C4 1718:16  3/6        by Linda Boulton  GETTING EQUIPPED... 3. Take along the socks you'll be skiing in and wear them (one pair only) when trying out boots. 4. Start with your normal shoe size but expect to move up or down a half size or more, as necessary. 5. Salomon rear-entry boots have their own sizing system for which you need to be specially measured in the shop. Youq toes should be free to wiggle inside the boot. Lean back in the boot - youq toes should lightly touch the frgnt of the boot if the fit is right. more > Home File Index 480 Fit & Well 485 Bargain Travel British Rail 125

P484ORACLE 484 Mon13 Jan C4 1708:40  4/6        by Linda Boulton  GETTING ON THE RIGHT FOOT... 4. Ask to try the boots out with some skis, or bindings fixed to dummy skis. Then you'll be able to ensuqe that your heel is firmly held down: put all your weight on one foot, and push that knee forwards and downwards, with youq shin pressed against the front of the boot. There should be no upward movement of your heel. If you find the pressure on your shin painful you may be better off with a softer bogt. 5. The boots should hold you firmly around the calf and instep but without causing cramp, numbness or pressure. Home File Index 480 Fit & Well 485 Rumbelows - Nobody Cares More 173

P484ORACLE 484 Mon13 Jan C4 9722:52  5/6        by Linda Boulton  GETTING EQUIPPED....... 6. If a pair of boots seems comfgrtable at first, sit around wearing them fgr 20-30 minutes to check for discomfgrt. 7. Try boots from different manufacturers. They can vary a great deal in fit since inner bogts are modelled to different lasts. Try different boots on your left and right feet to compare fit. more follows > Home File Index 480 Fit & Well 485 Flight Info British Airways 176