 Poster: A snowHead
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Hello,
I'm an intermediate snowboarder who has always rented a snowboard, boots and a helmet at all the small resorts I've been to (for single days). It was usually 2 hours of driving from where I used to live. I've never been to a bigger resort with a hotel and everything.
I'd like to go to a bigger resort somewhere in France this year, for at least 2-3 weeks sometime in February/March 2015.
I was wondering if it's possible to rent the equipment at the resort for a longer term within a reasonable price range? Or is it much better to buy the equipment? The only problem I have with buying is that there aren't any dedicated places in London who would sell such things. How do you buy your boards, boots etc.?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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LegendaryOtter, How about visiting the London Ski show? With a credit card in your pocket you could walk away fully kitted out from top to toe and take a board away with you from what I've seen there.
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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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And I am pretty sure that there are a number of retail shops in London town where you can buy snowboard gear!!!
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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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i don't live in london and no 2 off the top of my head, snow and rock and tsa in covent garden
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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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(1) Go to the resort.
(2) Find a shop that rents gear, and which will give you a refund of the rental cost should you like to buy stuff.
(3) Try a range of gear. If you like some so much that you'd like to buy it, do that.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| francium. wrote: |
| i don't live in london and no 2 off the top of my head, snow and rock and tsa in covent garden |
Thanks francium, would have never thought that those had an actual store in London, even though I saw their websites I thought they were just electronic shops.
Let the Googling begin 
| philwig wrote: |
(1) Go to the resort.
(2) Find a shop that rents gear, and which will give you a refund of the rental cost should you like to buy stuff.
(3) Try a range of gear. If you like some so much that you'd like to buy it, do that. |
As a first-timer on a real mountain, I don't feel like doing that. Don't get me wrong, the suggestion is awesome and I will definitely do that when I get used to all the travelling and the unknowns.
| Megamum wrote: |
| LegendaryOtter, How about visiting the London Ski show? With a credit card in your pocket you could walk away fully kitted out from top to toe and take a board away with you from what I've seen there. |
The problem is that I won't have enough money by the time the event happens and I would like to get some advice from experienced people at the shops, even after I've researched every possible combination and solution on the net
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LegendaryOtter,
It might be worth you visiting the Decathlon store on Canada Wharf when they get the snowboard/ski gear. Plenty of stuff at reasonable prices.. and you can try the clothing/boots/goggles/helmets/gloves etc..
It's mostly their own brands, which usually is good value for money and more than adequate for someone like you, but they also have better known brands products..
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LegendaryOtter, ok, personally, i'd first go over to the Snowboard Club Uk website, drop £15 on membership and that'll get you a hat load of 5%/10%/15% discounts at lots of UK snowboard retail including SnR, and TSA. Plus its an excellent source of UK retail links.
There's also a healthy 2nd hand and nearly new For Sale part of the forum there so you may find some decent deals on kit there.
Link here
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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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| Richard_Sideways wrote: |
LegendaryOtter, ok, personally, i'd first go over to the Snowboard Club Uk website, drop £15 on membership and that'll get you a hat load of 5%/10%/15% discounts at lots of UK snowboard retail including SnR, and TSA. Plus its an excellent source of UK retail links.
There's also a healthy 2nd hand and nearly new For Sale part of the forum there so you may find some decent deals on kit there.
Link here |
Thanks for letting me know about the membership, I just can't believe that it only costs £15, if I buy a snowboard for £200 at any of the Snow + Rock stores, I'd get £20 discount and thats just the snowboard, is there a catch in this?
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None I've found - check the fine print maybe, sometimes excludes sale items but that's pretty common on discounted items anyway.
Used my card several times and never had a problem online or in store.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I'd say there's no specific catch with that... the catch is that you start off with UK prices. There's a reason Burton and others make it hard for you to see what they charge in North America.
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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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Richard_Sideways, LegendaryOtter, LOL it almost makes it sound worth springing £15 on snowboard membership even if you just want to kit up for skiing at that sort of discount rate 
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Megamum, you might very well say that, I couldn't possibly comment... List of Discounts offered here...
philwig, Know what you mean, I've always bought boards on the other side of the pond - you *can* get them shipped but once you add on shipping and import duty you're into similar pricing + faff.
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You know it makes sense.
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... and don't forget VAT of course.
Many people would just buy stuff were they're riding and then try to remember to declare it when bringing it back in (for non EU stuff).
Some things are well priced in Europe too, and there's no VAT issue there.
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