Hi All

As I have once again decided to bite the bullet and give attempting to learn to ski another try, I have decided to get myself some decent boots. My last four rather abortive attempts at learning to ski (last one in 2006) ended with me in such agony due to ill-fitting hired boots that each time I swore "Niemals wieder..."

Can anyone recommend a good ski boot outlet in the centre of Zürich (time is very short) where friendly staff will sort me out with a pair of boots?

All advice gratefully received,

Jim Farrington

I'm shooting myself in the foot as I might pick up some good deals there myself with limited selection. Have you tried any Migros Sports XXX branches or Oschner sport warehouse. There is one shop in Wettingen/Argau which have sale ongoing and you could pick items for as little as CHF75 (original price of same models CHF300 discounted 75%). Not joking! There is also a friendly bloke who speaks some Swisinglish to help fit them for you.

Jelmoli 5th floor....big sale....

This late in the season, I'd just rent boots until the end of the season and pick some new ones up on sale after the season ends. Presuming, of course, the Swiss are familiar with the concept of an end of season sale....

Do they still have decent stuff left?

As it happens, I passed through both the Oschner warehouse and the Sport XX in Wettingen last weekend in the hope to pick up some winter sports type stuff, and there was precious little left in either of them, they seem to have decided winter was over, and were filling up with cycling and swimming kit. Luckily I could borrow what I needed from a friend, and I doubt I'll get onto the slopes again before the autumn.

Robin

PS I made the mistake once of trying to find a website for Sport XX by typing the name into google. I made the mistake of typing 3 "x"s rather than 2, and you end up with a rather different sort of website with 3.