On Sun, 20 Jun 2004 18:02:48 +0100, "NC" wrote:

After exhausing the cross country ski specialists in the UK (Aviemore*2,
Braemar, Ilkley), I find that nobody carries traditional leather touring
boots and does not plan to get stock in the future. I've done some Google
searching for retailers with no success.

Not all information is on the Web.

This is a bit of a problem as I really don't want to go to plastic touring
boots; I'm of the view they are second-best and over-heavy for what I want
to do, and would force me onto wider skis, etc...

Some traditional and useful gear choices are sometimes lost in the
mass rush to the latest greatest new stuff.

XC ski gear seems to have gone to the two extremes: ultralight
high-tech in-track race oriented ski gear, or full blown BC/telemark
gear. Very little left in between, of the "traditional" skiing out in
the woods on untracked trails sort.

The sort of boot I'm after are like the Garmont Tour, 75mm binding. Suitable
for off-track touring. The makers list them on their website, but it seems
that importers/retailers feel there is insufficient demand to be worth
stocking.

The first step is to see what is manufactured which meets your
requirements. Then contact those manufacturers to see who retails in
your area. Often a retailer for that brand can get a special order of
another model.

Can anyone suggest a supplier with stock ? Or other makers of boots ?
I guess its likely to be in Norway, so a shop which can discuss things in
English and/or mail order to the UK would be useful.

How big an activity is XC skiing in the UK? Do you have enough snow in
England, or do you need to travel north?

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)
------------------------------------------------
at the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence

Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA
Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom