 Poster: A snowHead
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My impression is that things are better in North America due to the customer service approach.
Certainly 'freebies' seem to be a North American, rather than a European feature.
I also suspect that shops where you can pay to hire the good gear for a day are more prevalent over there. Many European shops may have the gear you want - but not for rental.
My experience, if you go into many normal ski shops, is that they are often uninterested unless they think you will buy the ski from them.
You also run into the problem that certain countries tend to favour particular brands.
I think the situation is even worse with snowboards - shops just concentrate on the basic end of the market
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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There are some demo events, Rossignol usually run event days in certain resorts. I don't know of any other manufacturer who does. Most good ski shops will allow you to use a different hire ski each day. For example, Jennewein in St Anton carry a good range of stock and will discount the price of new skis to cover the hire.
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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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Precision ski in Val d'Isere are excellent. For obvious reasons only the more popular brands of skis are available for general hire, but I believe that they have a demo store at La Daille, where you can take out almost any ski that they have in stock.
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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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| David@traxvax wrote: |
| There are some demo events, Rossignol usually run event days in certain resorts. I don't know of any other manufacturer who does. Most good ski shops will allow you to use a different hire ski each day. For example, Jennewein in St Anton carry a good range of stock and will discount the price of new skis to cover the hire. |
I was thinking more of places where you do not need to go to an event.
There was a place, half way up the mountain in Blackcomb, that offered the sort of service I am thinking of - every day of the season.
I will admit that I used to think France was better than Austria/ Switzerland - but only because it was French gear I was looking to try at the time. Even then, they tried to push me towards GS skis.
Currently I would like to try Rossignol B1/B2 , Volkl 5/6 and K2 Apache Crossfire/ Hellfire. So I am covering a range of countries.
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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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that's interesting as I'm off to Val in January and have been considering trading my PRs for something more suited to me : I don;t think I do enough off piste to justify having them
Do you have to book in advance, is it worth me contacting them before I go out?
We're up on the Solaise so La Daille (IIRC) is not too far away, although not exactly next door...
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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No need to book, pop in the night before, have a chat and see what they have. The guys seem pretty clued up to me. Try some Zags, there a proper ski and will do all the PR does but better and ski on piste as well. Metrons have to worth a go as well.
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Going through a similar thought process at the moment. Looking to try either/and:
Volkl 5*, Head XRC 800, Volkl 724, K2 Apache Crossfire.
I'm guessing that it might be a good idea to book one of these in advance - going to La Ros for the week commencing 26/12, so the hire shopes could be on the busy side.
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mark if you go to our site there's a click through to Twinners, you can email Phillpe Fresnois and I'm sure he'll help you. Wot no Dynastars on the list?
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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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David, got your pm on that - thanks. Certainly consider Dynastars if there's a comparitive ski. 70/30 piste/off piste, stiff enough to carve hard and fast (ish) for someone of my weight (98kgs).
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Mark, try the Legend series probably the 6200 in about 182 cms. If you want to try some other Dynastars we have a good few, even Masque has bought a pair and new ski boots. He's determined to do the Fleche this season.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I'm going to have to get down there for the last week aren't I? Some gauntlets can't be ignored. I look into the 6200s. I've been looking at around 170 cms for most of the skis - any reason to go for 182?
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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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Val Thorens. Right next to the piste, in the town centre is Goitschel Sports.
When we were there, they had a rack of skis outside and u could just roll up and take out any set for 2hrs, come back and swap them for another set and carry on like that all day.
Cost? Nothing!
What's more, upon showing a bit of informed interest, the guy would buzz down to the hire dept and make anything there available to U too.
That's the best one I know.
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| u brain wrote: |
Val Thorens. Right next to the piste, in the town centre is Goitschel Sports.
When we were there, they had a rack of skis outside and u could just roll up and take out any set for 2hrs, come back and swap them for another set and carry on like that all day.
Cost? Nothing!
What's more, upon showing a bit of informed interest, the guy would buzz down to the hire dept and make anything there available to U too.
That's the best one I know. |
That would take some beating.
Was there a limit to stop you doing this all week ?
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You know it makes sense.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Mark, for your weight you may find slightly longer skis to be better off-piste. Most skis seem to have a change around the 180 cms mark, the longer skis being stiffer.
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FAQ
