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Ski Rental Category

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
I'm renting ski's for my trip away in Feb. I want to get something decent so thinking of going for the best category.
I've been doing advanced lessons this year so do ski at a decent level.

I was wondering if I pick the best level, could I end up getting something that would be so unforgiving that I would find them a nightmare? I do ski fast, am aggressive and am technically decent but I am not a slalom or downhill racer. When it comes to ski's, I don't know what I wont like up front unless they try hand me something of a size I don't want.
I don't want to compromise by getting something worse than I could have went for but don't want to find a type of ski that I find unskiable either (i'm sure there's some out there).
Any advise? Thanks
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Rental shops don't give out the really good stuff without significant prompting and badgering so I don't this you need worry you'll be given an FIS GS race room ski (which they are pretty unlikely to even stock). You can probably help yourself by being realistic about what and how you ski and do some basic research as not all skis are equal i.e. if you want a true all mountain ski expect it to be significantly longer than a piste ski (as effective edge is much less than absolute length)
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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?
It depends what sort of ski you want: piste only, all mountain or mainly offpiste. If you want piste only, then you could have a nightmare if they gave you a specialist pair of very stiff race skis (very unlikely), or skis better suited to offpiste (fat, long radius, rockered etc). Just ask for a good pair of piste performance skis, you can check the usual suspects online, and you will be fine.
Most all mountain skis will be fine if that is what you want, by definition these are not extreme in any area. And if you want a week offpiste then you probably wouldn't have made this post!
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 You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
@colly10, my perception is that the categories are loosely associated with ski "difficulty" and more closely associated with ski "quality".

And I can't see any shop giving out anything very extreme. Top line from e.g. Tako in Champoluc would be e.g. Nordica Spitfire type of thing. And not the stiffest ones either.
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Thanks, this clears it up, i'll go for the best they have

I will be skiing mostly on piste so don't really want to compromise piste performance but will be doing a bit of skiing between the pistes/along side the pistes. Would piste ski's be horrible for this, would I be better off comprising a bit and going for all mountains for the bit I will be doing alongside the piste?
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 You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
Dunno - how deep is the snow going to be alongside the piste? (with your crystal ball)
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Why not ask if the hire shop will allow you to change your skis a number of times? So you can try different types, long turn, short turn, wider etc. It may be worth paying a premium to do this rather than be stuck with one pair all week.
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
I emailed a few rental shops ahead when renting and asked what skis they offered if I went for their highest spec. Picked a shop based on this but when I arrived to collect the skis was met with a flat refusal that they did not have them and they had never said so in any emails.
Had to get my phone out and show them the email before they begrudgingly went and got them. Had been offered a pretty bashed about looking pair before standing my ground. To top it off they gave me a completely bent pole and when I asked if I could have a non bent one - this was met with a strop. Purchased new skis for this year to avoid a repeat.
Point is though - you could email a few shops and ask what they have in stock and base your choice on that? Means you are aware of what you can get before you pitch up. I found most shops were pretty happy to get back in touch with what they had.
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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.
@colly10, where you going?
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 Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
@RMM, that's been my experience with most rental shops too. I bought skis because I was fed up of arguing with grumpy French people that as a 6'7" and 110kg skier, some 170cm Rossignol Experience weren't going to cut it.
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 snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
@under a new name, i'm off to Ischgl, am going to rent in Kappl though
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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.
@colly10, ah. No idea about that then. Someone else might.
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 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
To be fair my gf had a very different experience from the same shop - but she did have a diff member of staff who took the cellophane wrapper off a brand new pair of salomons.

I think its very much luck of the draw with rental places.
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
@RMM, not really. Depends very much on shop. e.g. Concept Pro (Chamonix), FB Freeride or Beanies (both in Morzine) are excellent and you wouldn't get that sort of snarky reception.
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Well that's what I mean - some shops seem to be great and others rather average.

If anyone has any recommendations for St Martin De Belleville would be really grateful - still have to rent the gf's skis this year.
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
We used Skiset / Belleville Matt Sports Montagne last time we were in SMdB. I'd say they were OK. No better than OK. They did the job with an adequate amount of service and charm. There are probably better places.

In many ways, the best ski hire place is the one closest to your chalet/bottom of the run so you won't have too far to walk.
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
@RMM, ok I see what you mean. yes. But good to ask here for recommendations. Maybe needs a thread of its own...
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