 Poster: A snowHead
|
Hi all, we are heading to arc 1800 next week and I’m just booking our ski hire. Last time we were in Arc 1950 I booked a mid level ski and paid in resort to upgrade to a higher level ski and was given the exact same skis as my total beginner niece who had booked the most basic package. So all my upgrading was a total waste of money from what I could see.
I’m fairly experienced however now only ski once a year and mostly enjoy reds and blues, always on piste!
Is it worth paying more for ‘better’ skis or shall I just book budget ones and hope the ski lottery in the shop works in my favour?
And before people suggest I ask for the skis I want, I have no clue what skis I want or what would be good for me.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Get red ones. Red ones go faster!
More seriously, it really doesn't matter.
Get something mid range, and if you don't like them take them back and chances are they'll just give you something different.
...but red ones DO go faster!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
Ooooh I’d like red ones!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
Echo what @Richard_Sideways, says - go mid-range and if you don't get on with them, ask to swap.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
@breeze11, they should be different. Beginner skis will be lighter and more flexible, so easier to turn at low speeds. Performance skis will be stiffer, so more stable at higher speeds. So it is worth paying for the level that matches your skiing.
It is possible that some manufacturers produce different models with a superficially similar top sheet, so that at a quick glance they look the same.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
I guess the question is, if you don't know what you want then why are you getting an upgrade?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@breeze11, Last time I went to Les Arcs I booked direct with the shop (online) : at that time the shop was a little bit cheaper than ski - set
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I think sometimes booking the higher level skis just gets you newer kit, rather than better kit. They tend to ask your skiing ability in the shop or at the time of booking anyway, which should affect what skis you're given.
Interestingly I've been able to do a direct comparison this year because I hired from the same shop twice, once being given red level kit and the second time pre-booking blue level kit. The red level poles were fancier (!), but I haven't noticed a difference in ski performance, and the boots were identical (i.e. literally the same pair). Maybe I'm just not a good enough skier to notice the difference, but...
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
| SnoodyMcFlude wrote: |
| I guess the question is, if you don't know what you want then why are you getting an upgrade? |
You'd need to have a pretty encyclopaedic knowledge of skis to be able to tell by looking at a ski whether it's what you want given the wide range of different skis in many manufacturer's ranges. Yes, shape, width, rocker all give you some ideas, but unless you know, how do you tell the difference between an AM ski aimed at early intermediates and one aimed at advanced skiers?
I know lots of Snowheads do have an encyclopaedic knowledge, but I don't.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I usually book the "intermediate" package or middle tier and usually get the skis that are made specifically for the rental market.
I generally book direct with the shop and have received decent service for the most part.
Ive really been trying to progress my skiing and I have been improving over that last few trips
I wondered if getting better skis would make a difference so on my recent trip to the Dolomites I went for the top package and got some Stockli Monteros AR.
They were absolutely superb and made such a difference. A big difference in stability at speed, grip, and ability to carve and deal with choppy end of day snow.
They cost a lot more but as worth it for me as I ski solo and want to get the most of the trip.
I future I'm going to email the shop I want to rent from beforehand and see what they've got in my size, then Google the skis so I know what I'm getting.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
@tsgsh, but surely you know to some degree the type of ski you want, and if you don't then why not just take the cheap one?
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
| SnoodyMcFlude wrote: |
| @tsgsh, but surely you know to some degree the type of ski you want, and if you don't then why not just take the cheap one? |
I don't usually hire. Last time I did, I booked "black" skis, albeit at a much lower price than "red" or even "blue" skis at the likes of Sport 2000. The skis were a pair of Völkl Deacon XTs and they were just dull. I probably should have gone back to the hire shop and asked for them to be changed, and they were really friendly: I'm sure they'd have been happy to. However, we were only there for a few days and a certain amount of derision would have been heading my way as a consequence (that kind of holiday). The right pair of Völkl Deacons would have been ideal: XTs were not the right pair, but I didn't know until I tried them.
In summary, I know what I want (to a fair degree); whether I can tell that the ski in front of me is what I want is the problem. Given that rental shops have to accommodate an awful lot of bullsh¡t from English speaking punters, I'm not surprised they sometimes just give out what's handy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Still love the story of the experienced guy on here who took their skis out of the car in a blizzard and the group set off in a hurry, only to see an hour later that they had all been mixed up and no one had noticed. Like wine tasting, makes you wonder about the value of flowery reviews sometimes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
| SnoodyMcFlude wrote: |
| @tsgsh, but surely you know to some degree the type of ski you want, and if you don't then why not just take the cheap one? |
I did a lot of skiing in my youth. I did quite a bit of racing on the dry slopes and was an instructor until I was in my late 20s. Then kids came along and we had a long gap. Now the kids are older (and we can afford it) we ski once a year. Sometimes once every couple of years. My treasured 185cm race skis are no longer in fashion and I have not kept up with the ski world. I have also changed a lot from the skier I used to be. So, not knowing anything about what skis would suit me doesn’t seem too crazy to me.
When i started this post, I was asking if I should just get the cheapest ones. I have gone for the mid level ones now. Thank you to everyone for your advice.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
