Help in the hire shop.

Guys,

This coming season will be my third week skiing (adh@xmas) and probably fourth too if i get my way sometime in feb. And the time has come to try and look like i know what i am talking about....even if i don't!

I am getting to the point now where i want to try and understand the equipment more and get what is right for me and what i expect to be doing without just being given a set of skis in the hire shop and assuming that they are all good.

So can anyone point me in the direction of some good advice?

Currently, as you are probably aware, the TO's rate their hire skis Bronze, silver and gold and as far as i can tell this generally just means how old the kit is. so going for gold will give you this/last seasons kit where as the bronze can be 4/5 years old.
Last year, my wife had the bronze as she was still very much on the nursery slopes and i had the silver as i was on reds and clocking up the miles.
This year i fully intend to be on the blacks, learning to carve and maybe in feb try a little off piste if i feel i am ready.

With last years kit i just took what they gave me and they were great, I think they were Rossignol Zenith Z1's but i cannot be sure, except for when i cut corners and found myself in ungroomed snow. When that happened it felt like i was in thick toffee and i found it very hard to keep control. I am assuming that these skis were just too thin?

Anyway this is where i come unstuck. I do not know what manufactures make which skis and what these skis do.

Is there any idiots guide for choosing skis?

In France/Switzerland/Austria etc most if not all the hire stock will be new, albeit in some cases last season's model. The bronze, silver, gold depicts on quality of the ski not it's age.
The shop should be able to match a ski to what you want to use it for, (though they might say you need gold!)
Most shops now advertise what hire skis they have so do some research in advance.
Just beware in Andorra/Bulgaria hire gear is often a year old as it where the stock from France etc sometimes ends up.

In my experience rental skis in main resorts will generally be good bits of kit as Andy says.
Couple of points;
Try to go to the shop when it is not too busy.
Ask for someone who you can comunicate with (no idea how much of a linguist you are!) and be prepared to wait a bit for them to become free if necessary.
Be clear and honest about what you want - say you want to be more adventurous etc. - and how you ski.
Ask what they recommend for the snow conditions THIS WEEK, ie. NOW !! Such a difference if it hard packed/icy to lots of fresh snow bubbling around.
Be prepared to go back and swap the skis, try something different, longer, shorter etc. Doesn't cost much to swap your rental skis around.
:thumbup:

AndyHull - Thanks, my first ski holiday was Andorra so maybe thats where i picked up on the age thing. I will certainly try to find out which store the TO uses and research their stock before hand.

Oldandy - Thanks, i suppose thats what i need to do , ask questions and swap if they do not meet my expectations.

Can i ask you both and others jong the thread : If you were hiring do you ask for a specific model? Do you guys know what you want before you get their?

Thanks

I don't ask for a specific model just what have they got that will suit me this week.
Last year I was given Salomon Xwing Tornado at Christmas. Super on the perfect snow at the start of the week but I found them difficult after a big dump of wet heavy snow.
At Easter, different shop, different resort was given dynastar Sultan 85 - stonking ski in spring snow both on hard pack and in the slush and a little new snow as well.
My approach has only let me down once and I just went back on the second day and chatted to a different guy in the shop for a swap.

I'll use a hire shop if I want to test new skis before buying. I'll make a list of probables' and take it with me, sometimes, the Tech has not got the skis' in, but has been able to provide a ski that has been a surprise and put another ski on my list!

Read the ski tests, understand the type of ski you want, and be prepared to try elsewhere.

My worst experience, "These are very nice ladies ski, very easy turning"
Shown something soft and short.:roll:
The list I'd handed over was:
Stockli Stormriders
Movement Flame
Dynastar Legend 4800

I left.

I went elsewhere, tested and purchased my Stockli Stormriders, which have been a wonderful ski.

Buy ........

If you really knew me Ian you would be surprised I haven't already bought! I am quite impulsive.
But in all honesty I can't justify buying. When I look how much hiring costs and the convenience of it I just can't see e point of buying right now.
I see all the peeps at the airport struggling with huge bags and I don't want any part of that.
Maybe if I start driving and going 3+ times a year I would do it but for one or two trips, well it's not for me ....... Just yet