 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi all,
1st of all my apologies if I've posted this in the wrong section or asking a daft question, sadly I'm new to this forum.
So in a nutshell I'm after some advice really & after searching the net this seemed the best place to ask.
I'm visiting Alpe d'Huez for my 1st time this Feb 2nd - 9th & I'm looking to hire a snowboard whilst I'm there.
This is where my problems begin.
Unfortunately I can't take a snowboard with me, but its my 6 consecutive year of going boarding & so I want to hire the best I can & crucially after renting before thought I'd get in contact with the companies beforehand to ensure that when I turn up to collect I will receive what I've paid for.
I started with Skimium at the start of Nov, but after the run around of calling HQ, shops directly, emailing & finally getting a friend who speaks fluent French to call, it worked out that they couldn't guarantee or even offer me any of the snowboards from the top level at all.
So I cancelled.
So I get in touch with Skiset (used before) & after well over a month of emailing & calling again HQ & shops directly, I'm in the same position in none of the snowboards they advertise on their website under their top package are available & although they've given me an idea of what I "might" get when I arrive, they can't guarantee it.
I'm now looking into Intersport, but only in the initial stages of asking the same old bloody questions.
I don't feel that I am asking unreasonable questions to find out what snowboard I am going to receive when I turn up at the store as after all I'm paying for a particular level / quality after all.
The problem is though that it would seem no company will guarantee a model even though surely they know what they have? & again more worryingly is no-one seems to have any of the boards they advertise on their sites?
My fear is I can turn up & be given anything, & unless I'm clued up as to every model, brand, year etc - god knows what level of rental I'm likely to receive???
So apart from having a rant, I guess I'm partly holding up a white flag & asking for any help or advice as to my situation & what I can do? (apart from buying my own board haha  )
Thank you for reading my post & I look forward to feedback,
Cheers
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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My sympathies - it's not unusual to get poor snowboard hire - unlike ski hire it seems a lot of shops knock out old poorly maintained or otherwise only beginner boards etc
I don't hire but on the occasions I have I've found that local snowboard shops can be the best bet - any of those in AdH? Otherwise you might be best to just get to resort and ask around or go And see what they stock?
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Bleds2k, but that's the same as car hire, isn't it? You can't normally guarantee what model you're going to get, can you? If you book the top gear, then find that you are given a board you've never heard of, the answer is to try it out on the hill and go back and complain if it's rubbish, surely?
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Bleds2k, Try this guy http://www.rocky-sports.com/location.html I have reserved specific skis with him before for friends. Both the owner Berni, and his right hand man Xavier speak good english so email them / give them a ring. I know Xavier is a snowboarder.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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PAM W - Um kinda the same as hiring a car in the can't pick the exact model, however they give you an indication or the range you'd get. & also when hiring a car you hire a type, eg small hatchback or 4x4 etc. In my scenario to make it car related I'm paying for the top sports model & they're telling me they can't guarantee I'll get a sports car & might get anything depending on what they have at that time, eg a hatchback.
I would really like to not have the hassle of picking up a board, arguing with someone who's native tongue isn't english & then wasting my holiday going to & from the shop.
SKITOW - Thanks for the link I'll check them out 
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Bleds2k, No problem. I don't know whether you will get the answer you what but it will be an honest answer. If you do ring them try and call during the day in the week, not Friday night / Saturday 
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SKITOW - just checked out the site & sadly the don't offer the top gear, however like you say it'll be worth a phone call monday to ask. Thanks
Any other help or advice appreciated
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Don't prebook and just see what they have when you arrive. As pam says I think of it like car hire, they can't GUARANTEE particular boards, just styles and conditions(fat, racing, this season/last season etc) so for flexibility if you really care you have to do it in person on that day.
If I prebook then I risk I don't like what they have categorised as 'sports', but save 40%. It seems reasonable enough to me, I've only once found the rental store to have nothing I considered suitable. I've more often had cars that I would argue are very much NOT the same as a VW Golf
Why can't you take a board? As most do, there isn't a big rental market, which is a factor in the probs you are seeing around high end boards.
Or learn to ski ;o)
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Bleds2k, you say that you cannot take a board with you, but if you have your own board, you could consider having it shipped ahead?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Quote: |
kinda the same as hiring a car in the can't pick the exact model, however they give you an indication or the range you'd get. & also when hiring a car you hire a type, eg small hatchback or 4x4 etc. In my scenario to make it car related I'm paying for the top sports model & they're telling me they can't guarantee I'll get a sports car
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aren't they saying, rather, that they can't guarantee what particular make and model of sports car? If you prebook and pay for a high level board, that's what you should get, shirley?
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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I think the problem IME is that whilst most ski hire places offer a range of ski types to hire - from beginner to off piste and often in reasonable nick that's very much not the case with boards - they often have a very limited range on offer and often beginner focused and often rubbish! So no you prob couldn't guarantee burron vs K2 - but often that they just don't offer a range at all that someone hiring skis would be used to.
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I had a 'premium' board rented through a TO when I learned in ADH. It was a crappy noodle of a thing with wobbly bindings, one of which failed after a morning. When I took it back and complained they said they didn't have 'premium' equipment so asked why I had paid extra. This was of course relayed to my rep quite quickly. To their credit the TO refunded the overpayment, but it did leave a sour taste.
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