 Poster: A snowHead
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I think this year I will take the plunge and buy myself some ski’s, I’ve skied on and off for 20 years, and love all the different types of ski that I’ve hired, particular note goes to Salomon Lords from two years ago, enjoyed them.
Typically I get up early before the rest of the group and with one friend we head out and get on the harder runs for a play, in the last couple of years we’ve started playing off the pistes too. Then after an arranged lunch stop we join up with the others and spend the afternoon skiing wider group orientated pistes. So basically cover a range of skiing types.
My local dealer here, has some deals on at the moment on Volkl Bridges and Marker/Salomon binding, and from the reviews I’ve read these sound great.
But, I’ve read on here about the benefits of trying before you buy, I’m now wondering whether to buy at the resort.
I see the pro’s and cons too both, buying in the resort gets me a chance to test the skis, but I may pay more for them, and then I’d have to sort getting them back, potential import tax bills etc.
Or I could take the plunge and buy from the local dealer and hope that I like them (I probably will from what I’ve read), I like the fact I have a ski dealer nearby, and would be happy that I was giving them my business.
Has anyone else done either? Any pointers? Any shop/ski recommendations?
For the record, I’m heading to Val D’lsere in March, I’m 6ft and weigh 82kg, and can ski quite aggressively, but equally can decide to spend a whole day gently sliding around and practising my carving. Don’t tend to head into the parks, but prefer bouncing off natural jumps.
As always any advice is appreciated.
Thanks,
C
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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You don't pay any import tax from the EU but generally exchange rates & resort shops policy of not pricing much below RRP mean that much better deals can be had in Uk from late Feb onwards at least. By all accounts Freeze are a great outfit and in the spirit of support your local ski shop I'd say you'll do better from a relationship with them in the long term.
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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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cinglis, Freeze are a good shop, Bridges are a nice ski I had them for my everyday ski for a couple of years for skiing in Scotland and Europe. They have quite soft tips and tails but are reasonably stiff underfoot, they're not the lightest skis so I wouldn't go too heavy with the bindings unless you need to (I got mine 2nd hand so whole package was a bit heavy for me). Go for it!
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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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I've always bought in the UK, err except once.
I feel that any warranty claims might be easier to sort out that way and it helps UK shops.
Mind you I don't always try before I buy so what do I know.
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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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There is nothing more expensive than buying something that's not good, I know:(
Try before you buy.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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cinglis, Price in the UK tends to be lower than in resort but in resort
a) you get to try before you buy and
b) Most of the time there is a much larger selection in resort.
If you have something in mind you could try similar at a snowdome? Lords are 128-87-155
so something with similar spec will react somwehat the same.
Happy shopping
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| Fattes13 wrote: |
cinglis,
b) Most of the time there is a much larger selection in resort.
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Rent some cheap ones and swap them for a pair you fancy.
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cinglis, get yourself over to Ellis Brigham at Braehead and demo them at SnoZone. Very good set up and loads of choice.
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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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| Fattes13 wrote: |
Most of the time there is a much larger selection in resort.
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Not sure this is entirley true. Having spent a tiresome hour with someone trailing round rental/demo shops in a big resort with someone who knew reasonably what they wanted in terms of specs but brand agnostic the amount of "not in your size, they're all out, we're sold out of that model so don't have demos anymore" we got was ridiculous. Got the feeling in some places if he'd walked in waving E 1000 in readies in his hand they still wouldn't have been able to sell him anything.
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| Quote: |
Most of the time there is a much larger selection in resort.
Not sure this is entirley true. Having spent a tiresome hour with someone trailing round rental/demo shops in a big resort with someone who knew reasonably what they wanted in terms of specs but brand agnostic the amount of "not in your size, they're all out, we're sold out of that model so don't have demos anymore" we got was ridiculous. Got the feeling in some places if he'd walked in waving E 1000 in readies in his hand they still wouldn't have been able to sell him anything.
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Never said one shop! Most of the UK retailers sell a select line of main stream ski brands in resorts like Chamonix etc the choice is actually painfull there is so much. Its a bad time of year to be buying for choice but good for discounts
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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The demo fleet at Slush n Rubble at Hemel is better and more varied than anything I've ever seen in a single shop in Europe (admittedly I don't look that hard).
Somewhere like Chamonicks is exceptional but not typical of the Rossi/Dyna/Solly dominated rental ops in other French resorts. Try finding Black Crows outside a specialist freeride shop.
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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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The Vieux Campeur has a pretty good selection and what to my (ignorant) eyes looks like an impressive collection of freeride skis. Some gigantically fat things, and also loads of touring equipment. But they are not, of course, "in resort". In places like Albertville.
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It depends whether you need skis right away. I usually test a few pairs during the season, then buy my favourite from one of the German online retailers once the season ends and the clearout begins. Then have a nice new pair for next season at a bargain price. This season I got 2 pairs of Atomic Race LTs including bindings for EU510 delivered to the UK. www.xspo.de
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You know it makes sense.
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Go to Tignes for the day, go to Snowpark shop in Lac, Rue de la Poste, they have many skis to test from huge fats to piste, try what you want; they take the hire fee off your purchase. One can ski on a piste just outside the shop, if they are not instantly your thing change them until you find something you want to take further afield. Get there early, the owner is Regis speaks excellent english.This shop generally stocks different skis from the rest i.e. Whitedots and has them, all on test.
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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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Cynic, Thanks Cynic, I'll make a note of that shop.
Still swithering, my head says do the testing in the resort, the rest of me is saying; who cares go for it! Whats the worst that can happen? Buy ski's I don't get on with then put them up for sale with one weeks use under them and hopefully loose less than the 150 euros I would have spent on hire.
Thanks for all the comments folks, still got 2 weeks till I need to make the final call, decisions decisions, good decisions though 
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Poster: A snowHead
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My advice would be rent top end stuff, don't buy, save lugging the blo*dy things there, paying to take them, servicing them and then wanting some Whitedots or other fashion conscious stuff next year. Skiing is very fluid at present, off-piste is the thing, so rent wide skis, see if you can drive them for what you need. Really 110 underfoot is the new norm now they have more sidecut to allow the less able turners, so think wide.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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