 Poster: A snowHead
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After everyone being so helpful here, we booked our ski-moon to Whistler. We're now planning and researching - but I'm getting confused about what 'premium' hire skis vs 'sport' hire skis will be. We're blue-y red-y so-so intermediates and have only skied in Europe where we tend to hire the one up from bottom now - so red/silver or whatever that hire shop tends to have; anyone able to help on what we should go for and what the differences are? It is just that premium will be newer, or are they likely to be top notch skis for people who can actually properly ski? 'Sport' is cheaper. This whole thing never fails to confuse me on every ski holiday...
Also - the hire shops will apparently swap out our skis depending on conditions etc if we want. Do we want? Is that something that can help even fairly rubbish skiers? It gives me a feel of all the gear and no idea! Aware though that grooming etc is a different ball game over there so it might be useful.
Any advice appreciated... thanks!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@ElzP, difficult to know differences between sport and premium without having a idea of specific models in each category.
Having the option to swap skis during a trip is well worthwhile, if extra charge is not too much. Fresh snow, for example, would enable you to try much wider skis, more suitable to those conditions.
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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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Thanks - from what I can see no extra charge on the swap (I may be missing something), so that does sound like a good plan and may teach us a thing or two.
On the first query then... have realised I may be over thinking this and perhaps I should just speak to the hire people and see what they say. Although if they just say 'of course get premium!' I'l try and find out the models and come back here!
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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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Premium if it is what I am thinking is often called demo i.e. they are real retail skis you might want to try - piste high perfomance, off piste, pwder etc. From your own description it sounds like regular rental fleet would be fine for you. Being able to hot swap your skis for something wider when it snows is kinda useful. Canadian customers get knda angry if too much powder is groomed out of existence.
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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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I've heard this - am quite nervous about learning to ski un-groomed stuff (bits at the side/ 'Off P*ssed Pieter' in Norway doesn't count I should think...), but am hoping it will be a good lesson to learn... (and there shall be lessons!)
Ok, that would make sense; I've dropped them an email anyway but it does sound like we're good with the sport which suits me! A little bit extra beer money is always good.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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You can see precisely what's on offer at Summit Sport on their site, although it may be last year's stuff up there now:
https://www.summitsport.com/skis-category/performance/
They're resort-owned, like Showcase and probably most rental places there. Swapping gear out isn't a cost or annoyed customer-service people issue: this is Canada, they want to help you have the best time.
I think you'll relax about the "in-bounds off-piste" pretty quickly. They tell you where not to go, rather than where to go, that's all.
You will encounter fresh snow on the piste as well as between them, and soon get used to it. You could swap into some powder skis to make it easier, but it's not necessary especially on the piste.
You could also consider hanging out with the "resort friends" or whatever they're called. These are locals who are given a free pass by the resort on condition that they take people for tours of the resort. Look it up, but they hang out near the lifts and (unlike me) like to talk to anyone and everyone. They're usually retirees (I guess) and probably don't drop cliffs, but they will help you work out that you can ski anywhere before you realise that's what they did.
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