Demo

[Danaxxmiller]

What is the process of Demoing skis?

 

[Geoff]

Depends on whether you are looking for free demo days or if you're willing to fork over money to use a performance ski for a day.

All the shops at Killington have demo programs where you can try out skis. They'll let you apply the demo fee (around $30.00) towards the purchase price if you buy before prices drop dramatically in the spring. Many of the shops have season tune programs and give season tune holders a free demo. If you're a well known customer, you can usually try as many skis as you want for free.

Since I have a long standing relationship with a ski shop, I don't bother tracking the demo vans. Most of the demo days have already happened since people buy gear in November and December.

If you are friendly with a ski shop and have the time, there's a big industry demo event at Stratton every year. You have to be on the list as a shop employee and they've changed it so the shop actually has to pay for you to attend. It's February 3rd to 5th. I should probably think about arranging to wander down since I have a comp ticket to Stratton from a Warren Miller movie.

 

[Highway Star]

Some mountains have shops in the base area that will let you demo a variety of skis, at a flat fee for the day, about $30-40. So you can actually go back and try different pairs....demo bindings are very easy to adjust at a shop, so don't be afraid to swap out. Call ahead and find places that demo the brands/models you are interested in. If you have to go to a specific shop or mountain, do it. Try to avoid the weekends. If you only demo once, for $30, don't feel like you need to spend full retail at that shop for a pair of skis.

The tune on the ski and bindings can also make a very large difference.

I once saw a shop agressively run a ski over a belt sander before handing it to me....it obviously had a huge base bevel and wouldn't hold an edge. If possible, try to demo from a place that knows how to tune.

Demo bindings have more stack height and flex/play than normal bindings, and especially high end race bindings. This will translate to a somewhat different feel on the ski. Never buy a pair of skis with demo bindings if at all possible.

I rarely demo anymore, the ski I'm interested in aren't usually available, and I dont like demo bindings. Though I did get to ski some cool blizzards last year with dukes...

 

[ski_resort_observer]

To me when the word "demo" is used it's either a special event when several reps from several ski manufacturers are set up at the base or one rep comes to a shop to offer demos, usually new skis that many shops might not have to rent. Depends on the shop.

Most rental shops have several ski models so renting "performance skis" as many of the shops call them is just a rental.

 

[RootDKJ]

Some mountains have shops in the base area that will let you demo a variety of skis, at a flat fee for the day, about $30-40. So you can actually go back and try different pairs....demo bindings are very easy to adjust at a shop, so don't be afraid to swap out. Call ahead and find places that demo the brands/models you are interested in. If you have to go to a specific shop or mountain, do it. Try to avoid the weekends. If you only demo once, for $30, don't feel like you need to spend full retail at that shop for a pair of skis.

The tune on the ski and bindings can also make a very large difference.

I once saw a shop agressively run a ski over a belt sander before handing it to me....it obviously had a huge base bevel and wouldn't hold an edge. If possible, try to demo from a place that knows how to tune.

Demo bindings have more stack height and flex/play than normal bindings, and especially high end race bindings. This will translate to a somewhat different feel on the ski. Never buy a pair of skis with demo bindings if at all possible.

I rarely demo anymore, the ski I'm interested in aren't usually available, and I dont like demo bindings. Though I did get to ski some cool blizzards last year with dukes...

Nicely done HS

Windham has a nice on-the-mountain demo center. It costs around $40, and you can demo anything they have in their shop. If you buy a ski, they will deduct the $40 off the cost. They have a decent selection, but it's first come, first served. They will let you "reserve" a ski for opening chair, but if you don't show up after a certain time, they won't hold it anymore. I demo'd there a few years ago because I got a free demo voucher. I thought they had a really decent selection.

 

[Geoff]

If you are friendly with a ski shop and have the time, there's a big industry demo event at Stratton every year. You have to be on the list as a shop employee and they've changed it so the shop actually has to pay for you to attend. It's February 3rd to 5th. I should probably think about arranging to wander down since I have a comp ticket to Stratton from a Warren Miller movie.

Turns out they're requiring a pay stub from the ski shop this year to register at Stratton. You can sneak in if you pre-register through the mail but that ended last week. I still might wander down for a day.

 

[andyzee]

Some mountains such as Killington and Hunter, do have a deal where you demo up to 3 pairs in one day. I believe prices have gone up from those quoted above. I just checked with Hunter and it was $60 and you can demo up to 3 pair in one day. If you were to go for something like this, I would advise that you know what you want to demo and check before hand if they have the skis you want and if they have them in the size you want.

 

[madskier6]

There also are a few free demo events in March at certain mountains where the reps have next year's skis available to try out. That is usually hit or miss as there's not a lot of advance notice or promotion in my experience. For instance, I skied at Okemo last year on March 29 & there were a few demo tents set-up at the Jackson Gore base. I was able to demo a pair of 08-09 Nordica Hot Rod Afterburners. I had no idea they were doing a demo event that day & just got lucky. Nothing you can count on.

 

[RootDKJ]

Nordica was at Blue Mountain today. I had no idea they were going to be there before I went.

 

[Hawkshot99]

Nordica was at Blue Mountain today. I had no idea they were going to be there before I went.

They were at Jimney 2 days ago. had no Idea they were comeing till i saw the 2 cars pull past my shop.

 

[RootDKJ]

They were at Jimney 2 days ago. had no Idea they were comeing till i saw the 2 cars pull past my shop.

What skis did you demo?

 

[Hawkshot99]

What skis did you demo?

Top Fuel, Mach 2, and Mach 3. Really liked the Mach's, not so impressed with the Top Fuel. the front was way to soft, and chattered like crazy on me. The rep said it was the equivalent to the AC50 from Vokle, but there is no way that is possible.

 

[RootDKJ]

That's interesting, I found the Top Fuel really stable and I was skiing a ridiculously short 162. I didn't even ask what length it was until I took it off. To me if felt like a 170+

They didn't have any of the Mach's out today. I would have probably really of enjoyed them.