Demo, Demo, Demo

[highpeaksdrifter]

How often have we heard this sage advise in AZ? Every time someone asks for new ski advise there are about 15 be sure to demo posts.

OK, when skiing demo skis how do you treat them. Like a friends skis that is letting you try them out, beat that crap out of them, or something in between.

I use to ski them without much regard for how I brought them back because they’re just demos, right? Not anymore, I know how hard the ski techs have to work to keep them tuned. Those guys have a hard job, always on the road and they really don’t get to ski all that much.

I always try to hand demos back the same way I got them.

 

[L2RAFO]

NEVER BUY UNTIL YOU TRY!!!

That's certainly my motto, but, sadly the demo days seem to be showing up on less than stellar Eastern skiing conditions in the last few years.

I definitely try to be careful, and always know that I've got no right to treat them like rock stix, but still need to see what they're good for, or why am I wasting my time in din settings, and binding adjustments.

 

[Sky]

With Respect...like I'm borroing them OR...maybe going to buy these demos.

Seems I overheard someone returning some damaged demos and ended up getting charged for them.

Apparently it was in the demo agreement...and they swipe your CC in case you don't return them...r ruin them apparently.

 

[millerm277]

I treat the demo skis the same way I treat my own skis, I don't take it easy on them, but I also don't intentionally do things that are likely to damage them, like ski across an exposed rock on a trail instead of around it. They might come back from me with a little scrape or two, but no major damage.

HPD, how do you keep coming up with these thread ideas?

 

[2knees]

I've never demo'd a pair of skis in my life. I've always bought skis that were a bargain. I'm not good enough to notice the difference in 2 pairs of skis. Unless, of course, I was told to ski some 210cm dh boards and then a nice soft 168cm recreational cruiser. I could probably tell the difference between those.

 

[andyzee]

The only skis that don't get respect from me are rock skis, all others I treat nice.

 

[ctenidae]

I treat the demo skis the same way I treat my own skis, I don't take it easy on them, but I also don't intentionally do things that are likely to damage them,

Exactly. Kind of pointless to demo a ski if you're not going to ski it like you normally ski. Unless you're buying a task-specific ski, you really should ski it like you ski your own.

Either that, or ski them like they're stolen.

 

[RISkier]

In general I think trying before you buy is a very good idea. But a couple of caveats: The ski will only be as good as it's tune. I had my skis "tuned" and found them almost unskiable the next time I tried them. So impressions of the ski might reflect how well or how poorly the ski is tuned. Still, if you ride a ski that WOWs you that's almost certainly a good sign.

 

[JimG.]

How often have we heard this sage advise in AZ? Every time someone asks for new ski advise there are about 15 be sure to demo posts.

OK, when skiing demo skis how do you treat them. Like a friends skis that is letting you try them out, beat that crap out of them, or something in between.

I use to ski them without much regard for how I brought them back because they’re just demos, right? Not anymore, I know how hard the ski techs have to work to keep them tuned. Those guys have a hard job, always on the road and they really don’t get to ski all that much.

I always try to hand demos back the same way I got them.

I ski demos the same way I ski my own skis. Otherwise demoing them would be pointless.

Since I try not to trash my own skis, I do the same for demos. That does not mean they don't get an occasional ding or scratch.

Most important, I now always demo with a partner who skis similarly to me. Good to have another opinion on the skis you try.

 

[big_vert]

Not demoing skis is like marrying the first girl you meet - you might never find that one that's your soul mate.

I've seen people say here that they buy based on reviews, and have been satisfied. Well sure, "it turns fast, and is decent on ice" - if that's all you expect, you'll probably be OK, but you don't give yourself the chance to find out what's really "your ski".

You know how you can tell your freiend from 100 yards away on the mountain from his/her skiing style even though there's 75 people around. And some expect some ski review that's often tainted by advertising page count to fulfill their particular style. Good luck.

In any case, when I demo (which is as often as available / possible), I ski them like I normally do, otherwise what's the point of demoing?

 

[eastcoastpowderhound]

You can usually bet that the demo skis out of the back of a van at the consumer demo day will be well tuned and ready to go. The sales reps have to BUY those skis from the vendors...they don't get them for free, its one of their largest expenses of the year...so please, treat them as you would your own brand new pair of skis...they need to last the whole season for the rep. Run them through the paces for sure...but don't go out and poach any closed trails or head for the "thin cover" signs like you would on your rock skis. By all means, try before you buy...either from the big demos with all the reps and vans, or from a shop...mtn shops tend to be the best place, one price for the day and you can try a few pair...and most shops will credit your demo fees towards a ski purchase...typically up to 2-3 days worth of fees.

 

[eastcoastpowderhound]

Not demoing skis is like marrying the first girl you meet -

without even sleeping with her!

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

HPD, how do you keep coming up with these thread ideas?

I don't know. When I decide to start some threads the ideas just come to me.

Besides I can't let GrilledCheese take over the forum.:wink::-D

 

[Greg]

I only did a demo day once and skied the predecessor (724 EXP) to my current ski (AC3). I also skied a Dyna 4800 which I thought was solid, but a bit dead; wanted to demo the 8000 that day but they didn't have them. That's the problem with demoing. Finding specific skis can sometimes be tough. Also, you only get to try the skis on conditions on that particular day. Can't evaluate how well a ski will do in bumps or powder if there isn't any, for example. Some skis like moguls skis are hard enough to find in the shop, let alone at a demo tent. Nevertheless, I think demoing is worthwhile, but only one piece of the puzzle. Magazine reviews, and more importantly reviews on forums like this one are equally as important factors for me.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I don't know. When I decide to start some threads the ideas just come to me.

Besides I can't let GrilledCheese take over the forum.:wink::-D

Easy man..It's Grilled Steeze and I'm now below 30 posts per day...I don't demo skis..I just buy skis and ski on them...I don't like stopping during the day to demo skis..alot of people I ski with ski a similar boot length..I'm a 323mm..and others are 325mm so I skied about 15 different pairs of skis last season...from slalom to park to fat to GS..fun fun fun

This season I'm getting me some Pontoons..Yeah boy=eee

 

[L2RAFO]

Besides I can't let GrilledCheese take over the forum.:wink::-D

Does seem highly motivated!

 

[L2RAFO]

You can usually bet that the demo skis out of the back of a van at the consumer demo day will be well tuned and ready to go. The sales reps have to BUY those skis from the vendors...they don't get them for free, its one of their largest expenses of the year...so please, treat them as you would your own brand new pair of skis...they need to last the whole season for the rep. Run them through the paces for sure...but don't go out and poach any closed trails or head for the "thin cover" signs like you would on your rock skis. By all means, try before you buy...either from the big demos with all the reps and vans, or from a shop...mtn shops tend to be the best place, one price for the day and you can try a few pair...and most shops will credit your demo fees towards a ski purchase...typically up to 2-3 days worth of fees.

Your thread is a little confusing to me; 'cause if you're trying to tell me that the guys in the factory vans who show up for a particular shop's demo day at some mountain is buying that bunch of skis in the back of that rig, I'm going to suggest that you check your facts.

I understand that some shops do put on demo days using their personal demo stock, but most of the ones that I have attended are the result of a shop scheduling their vendors factory vans for a particular day, at a particular mountain.

 

[eastcoastpowderhound]

Your thread is a little confusing to me; 'cause if you're trying to tell me that the guys in the factory vans who show up for a particular shop's demo day at some mountain is buying that bunch of skis in the back of that rig, I'm going to suggest that you check your facts.

I understand that some shops do put on demo days using their personal demo stock, but most of the ones that I have attended are the result of a shop scheduling their vendors factory vans for a particular day, at a particular mountain.

Almost NONE of the ski reps are directly employed by the "factory" anymore...I can't think of one...Atomic, Head, Elan, Fischer, K2, Rossi, Salomon, Volkl, Dynastar, Nordica...every one of them is an INDEPENDANT rep...and they have to pay for their demo skis themselves. Just because the van has Volkl plastered all over it doesn't mean it, or everything in it is owned by Volkl. I've worked in the industry for nearly 2 decades and know each one of those guys, trust me, the majority of them have to BUY their demo skis from the US distributor...who has to buy them from the factory.

 

[L2RAFO]

Almost NONE of the ski reps are directly employed by the "factory" anymore...I can't think of one...Atomic, Head, Elan, Fischer, K2, Rossi, Salomon, Volkl, Dynastar, Nordica...every one of them is an INDEPENDANT rep...and they have to pay for their demo skis themselves. Just because the van has Volkl plastered all over it doesn't mean it, or everything in it is owned by Volkl. I've worked in the industry for nearly 2 decades and know each one of those guys, trust me, the majority of them have to BUY their demo skis from the US distributor...who has to buy them from the factory.

Wow, no wonder my friend at Head has been so cheap.

Okay, so how do the guys in the factory vans make their money ( as I assume they are not doing it out of the goodness of their hearts )?

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Almost NONE of the ski reps are directly employed by the "factory" anymore...I can't think of one...Atomic, Head, Elan, Fischer, K2, Rossi, Salomon, Volkl, Dynastar, Nordica...every one of them is an INDEPENDANT rep...and they have to pay for their demo skis themselves. Just because the van has Volkl plastered all over it doesn't mean it, or everything in it is owned by Volkl. I've worked in the industry for nearly 2 decades and know each one of those guys, trust me, the majority of them have to BUY their demo skis from the US distributor...who has to buy them from the factory.

So if I demo a pair of Atomics from the Atomic van..then buy then online where most savvy skiers buy their skis..what's in it for the Atomic rep???