 Poster: A snowHead
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Well, I'm pretty much convinced that I am going to buy myself a set of boots (first in 20 years skiing!!!) rather than hiring. I will still however, be hiring a set of skis and I am just wondering where would I find the best quality skis in Val Thorens?
Intersport or Ski Republic? or any others for that matter?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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In our experience don't use ski republic.
We did get good service from Ski Technic based in the Hotel Mecure when ski republic let us down though.
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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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Megamum, Is Ski Technic a big enough shop to cope with peak seson demand? We are staying NY at the Balcons, anyone have feedback about Rosael Sports or SkiSurf up at the top of the resort?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Mountain Haddock, They weren't as big as ski republic, but sorted us out with 2 pair of brand new skis in the middle of December at the drop of a hat during an on spec visit and I guess they supply the hotel so they must keep some degree of stock. I kept their card and have dug it out why don't you email them and see if they could help you? Details:
Ski Technic, Hotel Mecure, 73440 Val Thorens, tel: 04 79 00 37 48 or 04 79 00 04 04
Email valthorensskitec@aol.com
web: www.mercurevalthorens.com
Also, I know that they did have connections with SH Kiwi1 who might be able to give you an opinion if you PM him. They had a nice ski service dept. too and seemed to have all the current brand new models on display when we saw them in Dec 2008. We got two pair of the new Rossignol S and X WC oversize when we went in - never been on the snow!!
I hope this helps
Last edited by You need to Login to know who's really who. on Thu 26-11-09 20:31; edited 1 time in total
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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jasongibson100, I guess the problem with a service like that is if you don't get decent skis delivered there is less you can do about it quickly than when you go to a hire shop. At least when you hire you get to see what you are about to pay for before you commit.
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aldoyle, I reckon the best ski shop in Val Thorens is Zenith. It's independent, the owner has been there 25 years and the head ski tech has been there 20 years. I've been going there for 10 years. They have a wide range of skis and have always provided excellent service eg you can take back your skis and try out new ones as often as you like. Both the owner and head ski tech are both excellent bootfitters too.
http://www.zenith-skishop.com/location.html
They seem to be doing 20% of online bookings. If you're up at the Balcons it's a 5 min walk into town to pick them up but worth the effort.
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The quality of the gear was excellent at Ski Technic based in the Hotel Mecure but it wasnt 'cheap'. I'd check on comparative prices before you commit.
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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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some good suggestions, cheers. im staying in Lac du Lou, so just across from Caron etc. so should be easy enough to get anywhere!
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does anyone have any experience of the skis from intersport in Val Thorens???
What I find strange is that the several intersport shops in VT all rent their skis out at different prices on their website. Presumably they are all using the same stuff?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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ski technic under hotel mercure do a mean deal on ski service....if I was renting I would go there....zenith are excellent for fitting boots but expensive, intersport price deal best over internet with pick up from most convinient store...but always buy their insurance as they get a bit tetchy if you return skis with more than moderate amount of "wear marks" on the bases!! (well, it was a "thin" year off piste that year!)
hope that helps!
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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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snowornever, would the skis from intersport be better than ski republic's and similiar to ski technic's??????
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| aldoyle wrote: |
| snowornever, would the skis from intersport be better than ski republic's and similiar to ski technic's?????? |
I know my skiing wouldn't be good enough to tell the difference in rental kit between generic shop x and shop y - tends to be the same brands at similar prices. Even if you think the ski they've given you is a bit knackered then ask them for something a little less used. Sometimes shops have real 'beginner skis' or seasonaire skis that are pretty naff, but you can usually avoid them by going up from the cheapest price point. Differences tend to be store location, staff helpfulness/knowledge and possibly some stock lines for odd/unusual items.
If you don't pre-book you can walk around and find the shop, helpful staff and type/model of skis you are looking for at a convenient location. If you do pre-book you give up the flexibility for a reduced cost.
Your decision - although I would consider pre-booking if on a peak week.
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You know it makes sense.
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| Megamum wrote: |
In our experience don't use ski republic.
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I would be interested in knowing your problem with Ski Republic? Was it Ski republic in general, or specifically the in Val T shop? The Kit, or the service? I used them in Les Arcs last year, and was planning to use again in Val T this year.
At Les Arc 1800 Villards Ski Republic shop, the assistants did not say much, but the kit was in good condition and set up properly. We did arrive at about 11:00 am on Sat though, and the shop was empty.
We were using their 'performance' pack. 2 sets of adult skis, and 2 sets of child's skis plus boots for 199Euro. They threw in helmets for free (I was expecting to pay).
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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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Poster: A snowHead
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Doesn't it depend where your digs are? Ski Republic are at the top far end of VT. No point going there if you are staying in the Rue de Soleil at the opposite end of town as it would be a long walk carrying skis.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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WayneC, ill walk anywhere for the best skis. its hardly a long way from one end of the resort to the other. im staying in lac du lou at top of retours lift
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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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When we had booked Ski Rebulic, the shop in VT didn't have the ski's we had requested, they tried to palm us off with lesser quality skis. When we complained said that they couldn't fix things until the next day and even then we doubted that they would come up with the goods and we were strongly pressured to take the skis that we were being offered. I can't say for certain as I wasn't the one picking up the tab, but I got the impression that they weren't overly quick about dealing with a refund either. In our opinion they didn't deliver what their website promised. I don't think I would consider using them again.
In contrast Ski Technic were able to offer us the skis we had originally booked from Ski Republic, the kit was brand new (it was the start of the season I grant you, but the Ski Republic kit look half worn out and their season hadn't been running any longer), they threw in helmet hire FOC too, and were a great operation to deal with. As mentioned above they were a bit more expensive, but despite that I have no hesitation in recommending them, seems to me a case of getting what you pay for.
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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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how do i book Ski Technic online?
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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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If you use Snowbrainer, they use Goitchel ski who have 5 shops in the resort so you are sure to find the skis you want.
They also deal with Rosael in Val 2400 .
Lac du Lou is within 200m of 3 of their shops.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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aldoyle, I don't know, but I posted their details above so it should be possible to contact them and maybe make a booking that way.
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