Hi,

Thanks for the response.

skis that has a lot of skis to choose from. If they try to fit you by
length of ski alone and not take into account your weight then don't buy
skis from that dealer.

REI is having a sale and they have some Fischer BC Country Crown's in 210cm
for $85. When I asked how long a ski I needed, the salesperson said length
is based on weight, and he looked at a chart and said the 210's would 'work'
for me.


Boot fit: Like a running shoe. Snug but not too tight.


I wear size 14 shoes, so I was surprised that REI had both a 49cm(Alpina)
and a 48cm(Salomon) shoe on sale--marked down to $20 from $120 and $100
respectively. The 49cm Alpinas had a wider bar at the toe, and the
salesperson said that wasn't quite appropriate for the Fischer skis.

The Salomons in size 48cm have the narrower bar on the toe. They are very
comfortable, but I am worried about how much room there should be for my
toes. How should my toes be positioned relative to the front of the boot?
Should my toes be just touching the front? For a running shoe I would never
buy a pair of shoes where my toe touched the front. REI can get 49cm
Salomon's for me from another store, but then I won't get the super
clearance price--they will be around $45 instead(v. $20).

Pole Length: For Classic Style skiing poles should reach about 1/2 way
between armpit and top of shoulder. Stand in your shoes on the floor
with pole upright next to you.

The poles they have are $12 and at 160cm are in the range you mention.



"Ralph" wrote in message
...
In article , "7stud"
wrote:

Hi,

I've never x-country skied before, but I would like to get out for some
exercise as an alternative to running in the winter. I'm 6'4'', 225 lbs.
How long should my skis be? How long should poles be? And, most
importantly, how should a boot fit? Toes touching the front? Or, just
fit
them like I would a running shoe with plenty of room for my toes. I
searched google for about an hour, and I couldn't come up with a whole
lot
of information.

I will probably be skiing alone most of the time, so I imagine I need to
stay on busy trails with groomed tracks near roads or something like
that.

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks.

Boot fit: Like a running shoe. Snug but not too tight.

Pole Length: For Classic Style skiing poles should reach about 1/2 way
between armpit and top of shoulder. Stand in your shoes on the floor
with pole upright next to you.

Ski Length: Depends. You'll probably end up with the maximum length in
the model you purchase. But fit is very dependent on finding a ski to
work with your body weight. Go to a shop specializing in cross country
skis that has a lot of skis to choose from. If they try to fit you by
length of ski alone and not take into account your weight then don't buy
skis from that dealer. You could also try some mail order places like
Eagle River Nordic (www.ernordic.com) or others who will know hoe to fit
skis. Being 225 pounds it is likely you'll have to shop carefully for a
ski stiff enough for you.

You might also try renting skis and taking lessons from certified
instructors.
Ralph Thornton

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