High End Rental Question for Banff Trip

[MadMadWorld]

I am heading to Canada for about 10 days in February and plan to ski Revelstoke/Kicking Horse/Sunshine Village. I have already decided that I am renting because my current skis won't cut it out there. Has anyone been in this situation? Anyone who has any equipment recommendations or where to rent would be extremely helpful!

Background info: I am a 30 yr old who is 5'11 - 170, very aggressive skier who will be doing a lot of advanced terrain like North Bowl, Delirium Dive, Wild West, etc. We will be skiing trees and possible some backcountry

Thank you everyone!!

 

[Bumpsis]

In Banff, there there are at least 3 - 4 ski shops in town that will have reasonabale rates for good equipment. It doesn't hurt to check the prices in all of them and bargain a bit. You may be able to get a good rate if you commit to multi day rental.

I stayed at the Fairmont Hotel and they have a ski shop right in the hotel. In rented through them. I'm not that perticular about the equipment. I just asked for skis fit for more advanced skiing and got some Dynastar Legend Sultans someting or other. They were great on hard pack and in the powder (yes, we had some nice freshies). I think I paid something like $ 32/ day. Brought my own boots.

 

[MadMadWorld]

Thanks for the info. We are staying at Banff Rocky Mountain Resort. Snow is looking pretty sweet!

 

[kingslug]

I would consider buying some at this point. 10 days of rentals at 30 to 40 per day..he'll your almost at the cost of a pair. I finally bought rossignol s3's and have skied them in every condition..they don't like ice though..

 

[Talisman]

You may want to negotiate using the rental cost against a new pair of skis. I did this once on vacation and the shop let me demo many skis while I was west on vacation and applied the rental fee to the cost of new skis. The new skis were shipped to my house ready to go.

 

[MadMadWorld]

Great info guys. Thank you very much. Talisman - Are you saying the shop where you went gave you a discount off a new pair of skis because you rented with them? That's a pretty cool idea. I have no idea what I want at this point but thats a whole different thread.

 

[Cheese]

You may want to negotiate using the rental cost against a new pair of skis. I did this once on vacation and the shop let me demo many skis while I was west on vacation and applied the rental fee to the cost of new skis. The new skis were shipped to my house ready to go.

+1
Make the switch at night so you can go straight to the slopes in the morning.

 

[jrmagic]

Great info guys. Thank you very much. Talisman - Are you saying the shop where you went gave you a discount off a new pair of skis because you rented with them? That's a pretty cool idea. I have no idea what I want at this point but thats a whole different thread.

Usually there is a limit to how many rentals you can apply. From my experience that number has been 3 though YMMV. I still think its a good idea to give that a shot though if there's a fattish ski you like as a EC powder ski then get it before you go as you can probablt do better on pricing.

 

[SIKSKIER]

Definately look at a very fat ski for Revelstoke if you want to play in the powder.I have spent many trips catskiing very near RMR in the Monashees and and except for a few days were were always in deeeep snow.It holds the record for Canada snowfall.I'm sure its a little different at the lift served PMR but the off piste should be similar.The Banff area(Rockies) usually has substantially less snow than the Monashee for geaographic reasons.I always brought my fatboys on the catskiing trip but then again were always skiing virgin snow.I lf it were me I would take the advice here of looking for a shop that will let you try several pairs and apply towards the purchase.

 

[Talisman]

Talisman - Are you saying the shop where you went gave you a discount off a new pair of skis because you rented with them?

Yes and you need to get this negotiating point settled up front. I got ten days of rentals applied to new skis even when the store policy was different. If you don't know what you want try a few different skis after doing some on line research to narrow the field.

 

[MadMadWorld]

Thanks for all the really great info. I think I am going to try and negotiate a "rent to buy" deal with a shop in town. I know this is probably the wrong place for this but what ski would you recommend that will let me rip SV/Stoke/Kicking Horse while at the same time not being "too much" for New England resorts when I return home? I was thinking about something with a waist between 98 and 113.

 

[jrmagic]

Thanks for all the really great info. I think I am going to try and negotiate a "rent to buy" deal with a shop in town. I know this is probably the wrong place for this but what ski would you recommend that will let me rip SV/Stoke/Kicking Horse while at the same time not being "too much" for New England resorts when I return home? I was thinking about something with a waist between 98 and 113.

As long as you already have a decent EC daily driver Id stick towards the higher end of that range.

 

[dartmouth01]

Off topic, but If you have $800 to burn, do a heli ski day with RK Heli. Was one of the top 5 best days of my life.....

I didnt rent when I was there (besides the heli ski day, they supply powder skis), I managed to bring my skis for free because of my frequent flyer status. Have fun while you're there, it was an amazing time. Lots of hostels (ie lots of cute euro girls).

 

[MadMadWorld]

Yea don't know if that's in the budget but if they get hit hard while we are there, I can't rule it out! Hostels are a cool experience if you are in college or recent grad.....I would look like a pedo. But thanks for the info. On a side note, I would be more than happy to cover some of the cost of a lift ticket of anyone that is from the area and willing to give us a tour of the mountains!

 

[kingslug]

As I stated..Rossignol S3's or if you want fatter the S7 is a great ski..I haven't gone wrong with the 3 in very deep snow or hardpack...