Meet the Team | The Boot Lab

Meet The Boot Lab Team

Gavin Fernie-Jones

Best thing about boot fitting?
I like working with different materials, we work with lots of different plastics, foams, and metals. Using a variety of tools from sanders, grinders, heat guns to screwdrivers and spanners.
Which countries you have skied in?
France, Japan, Canada, Italy and Iceland. And next up in April Norway, we’ve just booked our flights to Tromso and we’ll be ski touring in the Lyngen Alps.

How many years have you boot-fitted?

This will be my 7th season boot-fitting, for one season I fitted boots in Banff, Canada. The following 6 have been since we setup in the 3 valleys.

What is your favourite part of boot-fitting?

I like working with different materials, we work with lots of different plastics, foams, and metals. Using a variety of tools from sanders, grinders, heat guns to screwdrivers and spanners. As a boot fitter you do alot of the work with your hands. And is really interesting to see how far you can manipulate the different parts of the boot to help create the perfect fit.

What are your current skis?

The Amplid Facelifts, I use these as my touring skis and they’re are setup with a pair of G3 ION bindings. The Facelift is a lightweight touring ski built with Amplid’s revolutionary Topless Construction which cuts almost half a kilogram of weight from each ski vs conventional ski construction. They’re 108mm underfoot so enough surface area to surf in deep snow, but due to the weight the Facelift literally flies up the skin track.

What is your favourite ski boot?

Tecnica Mach 120 LV – I love the Mach series of boots, both as a bootfitter and a skier. Tecnica made this range of boots for bootfitters. With the equipment we have at The Boot Lab each and every part of the boot is adjustable. The shell features areas that are easy to heat up due to the dimpled finish, this makes it possible for us to stretch the shell easily. The boot board inside the boot can be sanded to provide extra volume across the top of the foot. But one of my favourite parts of a Mach is the liner, it features Tecnica’s C.A.S material which gives the liner added rigidity and really increases the level of fit. With all these adjustable parts to the boot and our equipment we’re able to make this boot fit precisely. As a skier I really like the precise fit of this boot. It helps create a real connection with my skis and the snow.

Top Tip for boot care

Wear clean ski socks everyday! Don’t ski in the same pair of socks for the entire week, the foot sweats throughout the day, even in cold temperatures, and that sweat is absorbed by the sock. Wearing the same sock the following day can cause movement in a ski boot and cold feet.[/expand]

Tom Pinches

What is your favourite part of boot-fitting?
Well, obviously it’s seeing our customers’ happy faces when their new boots have given them the best ski day ever! Aside from the customer satisfaction, I also love being able to test the latest new gear and giving feedback to the manufacturers to help develop the skis and boots of the future.
How many winter seasons have you done?
I’ve done 13 winters, all here in the Three Valleys!”

Which countries have you skied in?

Well, mostly in France! But I’ve also skied Austria, Italy, America, New Zealand and most recently, Japan.

Which ski are you most looking forward to this winter?

Last year I was lucky enough to test a new ski from Head called The Kore which I was seriously impressed by. They’re exactly what I’m after: light yet skiable (which is normally quite hard to come by). My decision now is what length and width to opt for!

What are your current skiboots?

The new Tecnica Cochise. It performs just as well as a downhill boot even though it has a walk function. It’s a perfect all-rounder for me: it clips into an alpine binding when I’m taking new skis out for a test AND has tech inserts for skinning and my own personal skis. It’s also super light and has the best standard liner I’ve ever used. Perfect!

Top tip for boot care?

Make sure that they’re dry when you put them on in the morning. BUT please be wary of boot warmers in chalets or hotels, which can affect the mouldings inside. Instead, put them in a warm spot (eg. underfloor heating or near the radiator) or think about investing in specialist boot dryers which will also be a good way of ensuring they’re fully dried out once you put them into storage at home.