How about that -- interesting story and a good data point.

Do that at Timberline and I can gurantee that you get a puzzled look. Most of the time they are lucky to get kids a left and right boot.....

Very good to know. My niece skis only 1-2 times a year and always rents. She's in college now and has learned to keep trying on boots until she gets it right.

I've always used my own boots even when only skiing once every couple years. Just got some new boots (last year's model) that are made for women. My old ones are from 10 years ago. Having something not as far up on my calf is very nice! Between those and shaped skis, I'm a lot better skier than 20 years ago.

Interesting.
I am very late to this post but I just skied for the first time this past Friday at Whitetail. I am male and wear a size 12 shoe. I had to get a size 13 boot before I could wiggle my toes for fit. both pair I tried on (12.5 - they were all out of 12s - and 13 were way too tight on my calves. I ended up just using the last notch on the top two straps of the size 13 because my beginners class was starting...
Well I got used to the feel and did OK for the 4-5 hours I skied. When I took the boots off I had very sore calves and later when I got home discovered that I had very small blister like burns on the front of my calves and a couple on the side of each calf where the boot top met my leg. I call them burn like blisters because they are the clear kind you get when you burn yourself filled with pus.
It was nothing too serious they just itch a bit, but it makes me wonder if i want to go skiing again until I am sure where ever I go can provide a boot that doesn't hurt my calves. I am a big guy but my feet are not wide so I have never experienced this before in any walking boot I have ever worn. I doubt I would go skiing more than 2-3 times per year so buying is probably out of the question.
Based on what you said it sounds like I could have asked for some special boot which would have been lower on my calves, and there for less painful?
The place was jam packed and the rental counters were flowing with people and staffed by kids who were probably waiting to go ski themselves.
thanks for any advice in advance.
PS - I never got off of Northern Lights and Velvet - too scared and no where near good enough.

PSS - you stated that your friend who had only been skiing 5 days total in her life went out and skied 3 of the black diamond slopes at Whitetail? incredible. Are you available for lessons?

Thanks for the reply.
I am in Northern VA. (Herndon/Reston area) They used to have a ski shop (famous) in Vienna, but it closed down. I was not aware that you could rent equipment and take it to the slopes.
The boot extenders wouldn't have helped much as the boots were too tight on my calves just standing in them.
Thanks again for the reply.