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Also, pray for early season weather that is conducive to demo days, bc last year, I know at least Mt. Snow's was canceled and unable to be rescheduled.
Don't some mountains run demo programs throughout the whole season, pretty much every day?
one of the moderators here used to maintain a sticky thread on this topic, updating it all year as new demo days were announced, but i don't see one for this season, yet!
I'm getting to it. It's only early Sept, I'm still mountain biking!
Look for the list to start soon...
Yes, gm's got a point..surrounding shops will run demoing much like a rental. Given I just checked out Sugarloaf's 12/10-12/11 Demo Days for only $5...one can see some savings. I have never returned to an area shop to switch skis midday...so no knowledge of procedure...
The best way = Stay tuned to this forum!!!
As dates get announced, you will see a pretty comprehensive thread on the subject. I think it is usually a "sticky" thread (one that stays at the top), so that you don't have to hunt for it.
Also, pray for early season weather that is conducive to demo days, bc last year, I know at least Mt. Snow's was canceled and unable to be rescheduled.
the places i've seen that offer demo programs all season are paid options, basically rental of a new high end ski. i did this a few times years ago when i just started getting back into skiing after a few years off and had old straight skis. i'd think almost every mountain offers this.
if you want free then you have to chase down the places that are having a demo day, where multiple vendors come in to push their product.
one of the moderators here used to maintain a sticky thread on this topic, updating it all year as new demo days were announced, but i don't see one for this season, yet!
I'm getting to it. It's only early Sept, I'm still mountain biking!
Look for the list to start soon...
Can someone explain to me, a newbie with demo days, how the demo days actually work?
Pretty easy stuff. On a demo day, a number of manufacturers show up at the resort hosting the demo day with their vehicles filled up with a bunch of different models/lengths of this seasons gear. You typically fill out a waiver form and get your height/weight/boot sole length determined/measured so that the manufacturers rep will know the proper setting for the bindings. Once that's been determined, you head to the manufacturers vehicles and start trying out what ever gear you want to/they have available. All the skis used at demo day events have bindings that can quickly and easily be adjusted to your boot sole length. After a couple of runs on that gear, you bring that pair back and go grab another pair from either the same manufacturer or a different one. It can be a great way to try out a bunch of different makes/models/lengths of skis in one place for a side by side comparison, the vast majority of the time at no charge.
There are some other types of demo sevrices that exist, usually for a daily fee which very often can be applied towards the purchase of a new pair of skis when bought from that shop(which is typically owned by the mountain) In a set up like this, what happens is you get set up through the shop after paying your daily fee, and then can try out as many makes/models/lengths that that shop has that day. Most shops will allow up to credit 2 to 3 days worth of demo fees towards the purchase of new gear. Kind of similiar to a true demo day, except for the daily fee and also that at most demo day events they'll be more manufacturers and ski models/lengths available to try than a single shop typical has in their demo inventory