Skiing areas

Question
Hi,

I have the following questions:-

1) I have recently heard of a new technology which allows one to make ski-boots that fit each particular individual. Apparently, all they need is to make a plaster-cast of one's feet and then they make the shoe around it. It sounds like my sort of thing as I dare not use hired ski-boots as they always hurt my legs and feet really badly(also, my feet are rather broad and EU-size 46(technically my shoe-size) is the upper limit that shops currently sell, so with one exception, most shop-purchases of ski-boots have been very painful for my feet). Anyway, how expensive is this new method, on average and how reliable is it?

Lastly, I have had extraordinarily good luck in my skiing holidays. My parents live in Austria and were always able, in the past,  to find very cheap accommodation in even the most expensive ski-resorts. I have now been skiing in the Arlberg for several decades and have had only sporadic access to other ski-circuses(Klosters-Davos/St Moritz/Trois Vallees/Val D'Isere-Tignes. I am now looking for other ski-circuses that are worth visiting(ie are high enough to more or less guarantee snow and are large enough to guarantee lots of challenging skiing either  on- or off-piste, though they, of course,  do not have to be as large as the Arlberg skiing area.Oh, and they have to have lifts which are generally running most of the time - for example, I have heard of some Eastern European ski-resorts where half of the lifts do not even work at any one time. I am open to suggestions and am willing to travel as far as Argentina or New Zealand if the relevant ski-resort is good enough.
Thanks, Geoff.

Answer
Geoff,

I have not heard about the type of custom boots you are talking about. There are a variety of ski boot makers that have moldable liners that give you a custom fit. It is just a matter of getting the size shell that fits your feet and then get the liners custom fitted. There are also aftermarket liners that can be used in almost any shell that would work the same way.  Just google custom fit ski boots for plenty of information.


As for good ski area that have reliable snow and all lifts operating, I would suggest British Columbia Canada. Revelstoke, Sun Peaks, & Big White to name a few of the more northern areas. All three of these are fairly new resorts and get good snow all season. Whistler/Blackcomb is also a great place but their best snow is usually Jan-March. Colorado also has some great resorts and Steamboat is my preference for great snow and affordability. Sorry I don't have much info on areas outside of North America.

Hope this helps.
Keep on skiing,
Windlover