Ski Club 2.0 Home
Snow Reports
FAQFAQ

Mail for help.Help!!

Log in to snowHeads to make it MUCH better! Registration's totally free, of course, and makes snowHeads easier to use and to understand, gives better searching, filtering etc. as well as access to 'members only' forums, discounts and deals that U don't even know exist as a 'guest' user. (btw. 50,000+ snowHeads already know all this, making snowHeads the biggest, most active community of snow-heads in the UK, so you'll be in good company)..... When you register, you get our free weekly(-ish) snow report by email. It's rather good and not made up by tourist offices (or people that love the tourist office and want to marry it either)... We don't share your email address with anyone and we never send out any of those cheesy 'message from our partners' emails either. Anyway, snowHeads really is MUCH better when you're logged in - not least because you get to post your own messages complaining about things that annoy you like perhaps this banner which, incidentally, disappears when you log in :-)
Username:-
 Password:
Remember me:
👁 durr, I forgot...
Or: Register
(to be a proper snow-head, all official-like!)

Uninspired ski merchandising

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Stopped into Slush & rubble earlier this week - found their range of new season skis very dull. Atomic Automatic, Line Magnum Opus and Rossi Squad best of a bad lot. Do have Black Crows but not seemingly the big hitters unless they weren't in the store I looked in. Is this what mainstream ski retail is these days?
latest report
 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Basic problem is that the UK ski market has collapsed in recent years. I was speaking to a rep a few months ago, and he reckoned he could ship 15,000 pairs of skis over season 10 years ago, but nowadays the whole industry expects to ship under 9,000 pairs. They blame this on the carriage costs of the airlines.

Those who want specific skis know that the UK retailers are uncompetitive and so buy from wherever they can.
snow report
 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?
RobW wrote:
Basic problem is that the UK ski market has collapsed in recent years. I was speaking to a rep a few months ago, and he reckoned he could ship 15,000 pairs of skis over season 10 years ago, but nowadays the whole industry expects to ship under 9,000 pairs. .


Keep at it and Arno, horizon and irbis will probably hit that number between them soon wink
snow conditions
 You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
@Dave of the Marmottes, I dare not tell what I just paid for 2014 CamRock top-end piste skis and bindings BNWT. .............. Less than a week's hire cost in St Anton!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Skis are cheaper if you fly BA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! snowHead snowHead snowHead
snow report
 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
What? Nordicas?
ski holidays
 You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
I agree - sad state of affairs. I just can't get the boots I want as I can't find anyone that stocks them.

I think it might be a combination of ski carriage cost, aiming for the "middle market" (can't blame them) and perhaps the fact that you can rent fairly decent skis now with fully adjustable front and rear bindings so you can be centred at least (although maybe that last point's not noticed/cared about enough to make any difference).

I bought some Stockli Stormriders from S&R a few years ago at half price (EOS) - but that's probably an example of why they don't stock anything like that now.
snow conditions
 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Perhaps people got smarter.5 years ago not many knew you buy skis in Summer and bikes in Winter...
snow report
 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
Dave of the Marmottes wrote:
Keep at it and Arno, horizon and irbis will probably hit that number between them soon wink


we have our own internal market going so there are a lot of transactions, but not many new skis bought wink
snow conditions
 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.
I'm not sure the market has collapsed, just with the internet buyers are getting smarter; shop inteligently and there's no reason to ever pay full price for anything ski related.
ski holidays
 Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
this may just be my impression but there is so much more choice of ski hardware these days. a few years ago you could get a few things on from Salomon, Atomic and Rossi and feel like you had pretty good coverage of the market. now that approach gets Dave starting threads about how uninspired the selection is Wink
snow report
 snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
@Dave of the Marmottes, Yup, .......2014 model 178cms Nordica Dobermann Spitfire Ti with XBI CT bindings, ............ should have been £500+, got them for less than a pair of my wife's jeans! Toofy Grin

As @clarky999, say, internet buyers are getting very savvy and are ferreting out really great prices for ski-kit. So really there is a fantastic range of brands, especially skis, that can be found on t'internet. Why would one want to shop at a high street store offering middle of the road brands at full whack?
snow report
 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.
@skimastaaah, WHERE Happy I need them in my life after playing on some!!
snow report
 So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
@PaulC1984, Ebay......... on Monday, all brand new kit in wrappers and boxed bindings. Daft time to end a listing on a rather specialist ski not really known to mainstream. I tested this ski in 2013 and found it a precise piste performer, super fast edge to edge, rock solid especially medium/long carving at speed. Loved 'em, so I bought the 2014 version just different graphics. I dare not tell the final price.......... seriously my wife's jeans cost more. Madeye-Smiley
latest report
 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
@skimastaaah, You can afford to let those Scotts go at the opening bid price now then! wink
latest report
 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
clarky999 wrote:
I'm not sure the market has collapsed, just with the internet buyers are getting smarter; shop inteligently and there's no reason to ever pay full price for anything ski related.


I bought some kit from an American web site last Friday night. Cheaper than UK/EU web sites/stores. Delivered within 4 days. Very Happy Very Happy
latest report
 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
@skimastaaah, £131 would be my guess?
snow conditions
 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
I just bought some 2015 Bent Chetlers from a UK website with £100 off the usual price... worked out cheaper than any European site I had seen.
latest report
 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?
stewart woodward wrote:
clarky999 wrote:
I'm not sure the market has collapsed, just with the internet buyers are getting smarter; shop inteligently and there's no reason to ever pay full price for anything ski related.


I bought some kit from an American web site last Friday night. Cheaper than UK/EU web sites/stores. Delivered within 4 days. Very Happy Very Happy


The internet has killed any shop selling outdoor hardware in the UK.
Why pay full price to a brick and mortar store that needs to pay staff ?
... When you can ship then over from a german warehouse at 50% of RRP ?

Nevissport in Fort William used to be one of the best outdoor shops in Europe.
Wide selection of skis, boots, ice axes, jackets <etc>
Now they just sell Billabong t-shirts.

Of course the problem is that there aren't many good ski shops that can service skis / fit boots left.
So when you need to go into a store your screwed.
latest report
 You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
@swishtony, .... have you been stalking my ebay account? Shocked
latest report
 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
@Haggis_Trap, Cotswold Outdoors in Aberdeen are still pretty good for general outdoor kit.

Brick and Mortar isn't dead though - Blue Tomato for one are always opening new stores - it just needs to be done well and suplemented with a good web store. And reasonable prices.
latest report



Terms and conditions  Privacy Policy