Skiing Equipment

So you're officially hooked on cruising the white stuff. But when's the right time to turn your back on rental shop queues and buy your own pair of skis? And where on earth do you start? Fret not, help is at hand.

Buying your first pair of skis is a scary step. With more models than ever - fat, shaped, straight - it can be a bewildering experience. Let us guide you.

When faced with the prospect of parting with a wodge of cash, usually around credit-munching Christmas, the lesser financial dent of hiring skis is often easier to stomach. But, if you intend to head to the mountains year after year, it will almost certainly be cheaper to buy in the long run.

There's nothing worse than arriving in resort, supercharged for the slopes, and having to spend your first precious hours hanging around in queues at the hire shop. Being able to shun the stress of ski fittings for the uncrowded slopes of changeover day has to be one of the best reasons for splashing out on your own pair of planks.

Thankfully technology has reached a point where there are no such things as bad skis on the market and you can get a good pair without having to spend too much.

SO WHERE DO YOU START?

Get advice from a specialist outdoor retailer who can advise what type of ski will suit you. But be sure to ask shop staff if they have actually skied on the ski. If they say no, pick another shop with experienced staff who know their stuff.

Gone are the days when the longer your skis, the better skier you were expected to be, which means no more testosterone-fuelled competition to get two metre skis. Generally speaking a pair of intermediate skis should come up to your nose and not be too stiff.

Your skiing style is more important for determining which skis suit you, so be sure to inform shop staff of your style and aspirations. If you're happy to cruise around intermediate slopes you'll need a different ski than someone who aspires to double black diamonds.

HOW CAN I SAVE?

End of season sales are a good way to get a brand new pair of skis at a good price. If you buy abroad, in a ski resort, you can often 'try before you buy', although this service is often reserved for experienced riders buying high end skis. The main drawback with buying abroad is that you have few guarantees if the skis are wrong for you or if anything breaks.

Instead, hunt out local retailers offering a demo service on upper end skis, where you can take the skis either abroad or to a local ski hill or dry slope. This service usually costs, but if you end up buying the skis you'll get the price of the demo rental knocked off.

If you know what you are looking for and understand ski tech, then you're a prime candidate for buying second-hand. Like buying a second-hand car, it's easy to end up with a duff one if you're not sure what you're looking for, so either take an expert with you or get some good advice first. Ebay, sales in shops, web chat rooms are good places to browse.

Stay a million miles away from long, narrow, old skis. Look for obvious damage to the base of the ski - sometimes the damage is hard to see; for example, when the base has been ground down a lot. And look out for impact damage like large dents.

Ex-demo skis can also be good value if not over-used and if they have been regularly serviced. If you plump for a spanking new pair, ask the shop to fit the bindings for you and make sure they are at a setting to suit your standard. Bindings tend to be integrated these days anyway, which makes for a lot less choice and a less confusing virgin purchasing experience.


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