Indeed renting "premium" skis is often good value compared to owning new
ones, but just to throw another view into the mixture...
I've rented premiums for the last 15+ years but the three of years
proved to be just too frustrating. I found that since the introduction
of the premium carvers and especially "Fat-Mid" All Mountain skis,
finding a ski that suited my style/ability wasn't easy... Some were OK,
many were a nightmare and a few were great, but it took me best part of
3 days to find the "great" ones through trial and error... The next year
I couldn't find the great ones from last year as the makes/models had
all changed and so the whole trial and error thing started all over
again. I consider these 2 to 3 days each year to be largely wasted piste
time, so this year I have bought one of the "great" skis from last year
(secondhand £170 and 1/3 of last years RRP). Whilst this means servicing
and hauling them through airports, etc, at least I "hit the ground
running/skiing" so to speak as soon as I arrive...
For me, this ability to enjoy my piste time to the full from the first
day far outweighs the additional service costs and baggage
inconvenience, plus I only need to use them for 3 weeks tops and they
have paid for themselves compared to premium rentals... Chances are I'll
probably use them for 8+ weeks (3-4 years) skiing so what I save in
rental over this period will easily cover the servicing costs, with
premium rentals being £60+ a week.
Steve
"Dominique Foucart" wrote in message
:
NIALLBRUCE avait énoncé :
Any chat on whether the "premium" skis offered by most hire-shops are
worth
the extra? I know that it's not the most urgent topic of discussion but
it
affects everyone. On average, the "premium" skis demand a 40 pound
premium.
I've read the sales pitch from the manufacturers and hire companies but
would
be interested to hear about someone's own experience.
Are the 'technological' advancements significant? If so, how do they
affect
our skiing? Is there a material difference?
Do they affect different people in different ways ie. depending on
their
ability or style of skiing?
I don't know what standard of skiier I am. I'm just learning how to
carve.
Should I opt for the "premium" option?? (nb, I am a student - poor!!)
Has anyone tried the twin-tipped skis? I've seen a few kids use them at
the
local dry slope. Do they allow freestyle skiing without any sacrifices?
In
particular, do they affect the traditional 'freeride' functionality?
Thanks for any replies!
Niall
It will be my 30st year of ski this year (from one to three/four weeks
a year). I have owned my skis until 10 years ago, since then, I am
renting premiums (although I consider myself as an intermediate skier).
It may seem stupid, but considering that when you own your ski you have
to get them "prepared" (and most often "repaired" every time you go (so
for me 2 to 4 times a year) at an average cost of euros 30 (ca 20 for
farting + every 2 times 50 in total for repairs), I consider that with
the premium I get the technologically best ski (I could never afford
the typical 700 euro per pair for the premium in new), at a decent
cost...
But this is of course just my humble opinion ;-)
Dominique
--
Dominique Foucart
Site for hiking trails in Giffre Valley:
http://dfoucart.tripod.com/randosamoens
Studio rental in lovely Samoens:
http://dfoucart.tripod.com/lovelysamoens/id3.html