To demo or not to demo...

[hammer]

Headed to Pats Peak next weekend...saw on their web site that S&W sports offers a demo of 3 pairs of skis for the day for $25.

http://www.patspeak.com/retailshop.htm

I don't really have the $$ to make a purchase commitment at this time but I have been curious about how my skiing would be on a different set of skis.

Is this something I should try anyway or would it be a waste of time and money?

 

[SKIQUATTRO]

always fun to mix it up...i demo quite often, just fun to see how different skis ski and if nothing else, just spices things up a bit....

 

[BeanoNYC]

Headed to Pats Peak next weekend...saw on their web site that S&W sports offers a demo of 3 pairs of skis for the day for $25.

http://www.patspeak.com/retailshop.htm

I don't really have the $$ to make a purchase commitment at this time but I have been curious about how my skiing would be on a different set of skis.

Is this something I should try anyway or would it be a waste of time and money?

For god's sake man DEMO!!!!! That's a great deal! Plus when you ARE in the market for a new pair of skis it will narrow down your choice as to what type of ski you'll like.

 

[MarkC]

I would if I were you. Actually I am going to Windham tomorrow and plan on taking out a few demos myself.

 

[bvibert]

Do It.

 

[snowmonster]

I agree. Do it.

Even when you're not in the market, it's also great to demo if only to actually see what the ski magazine tests refer to (which I assume you will refer to when you actually come into the market to buy a new ski). For example, the magazines will refer to stiffness in a ski or say that one ski is damp compared to another. Until you actually feel the ski underfoot and see how it responds, you won't have a real idea of what they're referring to.

Enjoy.

 

[wa-loaf]

That's a good deal too. Most demos cost $30 to 35 and that's just for one ski!

 

[JimG.]

That's a good deal too. Most demos cost $30 to 35 and that's just for one ski!

Wow! How much for a pair? Although one footed skiing is great for your technique.

Couldn't resist.

 

[wa-loaf]

Ok, I'm going to resist the urge to edit my post....

 

[ctenidae]

Do it. You'll be cool, you'll have friends, and people will admire you.
Might be worth going to Pat's Peak just to do the demo thing.

 

[Rushski]

That's a good deal - on mountain, three pair to try and a better price than off-mountain.

Plus the best brands...

 

[hammer]

So I went to Pats and demo'ed some skis. It didn't seem that a whole bunch of skis were available but I had a chance to try the following:

• Fischer AMC70, 164 cm
• Fischer RC4 World Cup, 170 cm
• K2 Comanche 5 Com, 170 cm

Conditions at Pats were packed powder in the morning to crud/small bumps by the afternoon. I didn't have a lot of time so I only made about 3 runs on each pair of skis. I'm not a bump skier but I wanted to push me and the skis a bit so I tried to do runs on about the steepest groomed trails at Pats (FIS Race Trail, Twister, Tornado).

My personal favorite of the 3 pairs was the RC4 World Cup -- the skis didn't like to turn unless I got them on edge, but once I did they turned real nicely. I liked how I could blow through the bits of crud on the trail...the skis didn't get knocked around as much as the other two. Main problem with these skis is that they (and I) would not be happy puttering around with the family with them on the greens...seems these skis are made to go faster on.

Of the other two, I liked the AMC70s better than the Comanche 5 Coms, but I'm not sure if that was because I was better able to control the shorter skis or if it was because the crud/bumps were more challenging towards the end of the day and I was just having a harder time in general. I think I'd have to try the AMC70s in a 170 cm if I wanted to make a good comparison.

Overall, it was a good experience, even if I had no intentions of buying anything right now. I had some decent chances to try some skis that are a step up from my current Atomic C8s.

 

[2knees]

nice work. i've never really cared too much about my skis. I bought a pair of volants new off a poster on another board and didnt even really read up on them. got a good price but....... never again. what total pieces of crap. i'm gonna demo demo demo next time before i buy.

 

[Skier75]

Shoot! Missed out on demo's? Wished I'd known to check that out! I would've loved to try out some new ones. Oh well better luck next time.