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Snowberry Mountain Centre
Ski Schools, Ski Instruction &
Mountain Activities
Snowberry are partnered with some of the top ski schools in Val d'Isere. We have all your skiing and snowboarding needs in one place.
Please contact our partners direct for any information or to make a booking.
Centre Ski Coaching Evolution 2 /
Ski School Evolution 2 /
Activities Progression /
Ski & Snowboard Supreme /
Ski School New Generation /
Ski School BASS /
Ski School Elevation /
Ski School Lynn Mill /
Independent Dougie Mill /
Independent Laurent Bastian /
Independent Bernard Chesneau /
Independent Michelle Le Bel /
Independent Elaine Bunyan /
Independent Claire Angus /
Independent Ella Underhill /
Independent
The Development Centre
Ski and Snowboard Clinics
TDCski (The Development Centre) is all about helping you really improve and their approach is based around intensive coaching on your individual style, allowing you to really make a breakthrough in confidence and ability. TDC coaches are all native English speakers and several are high level trainers and examiners of instructor candidates, so they are the best of the best.
Small Group Lessons, Coaching Clinics, Private Lessons, Adults, Kids, Off Piste, Bumps......
Go further than just a ski lesson, get more than just ski school, get the best quality ski instruction with TDCski.
Contact info:
- Office: Snowberry Streetside
- Phone: +33 (0)6 15 55 31 56
- Email: valdisere@tdcski.com
Evolution 2
Ski school and Activities
Evolution 2 pride themselves on their specialist instructors, striking the perfect balance of encouraging progress in a fun environment.
They offer a wide choice of ski/snowboard tuition. Yeti and Junior Academy programmes are available for children 3-16. Adult groups exist for absolute novices to expert carvers. Off piste sessions include f.o.c avalanche safety gear/ABS bags. Private instructors are available for the length of time and reasons you need.
Lessons are taught in English and groups are limited to 6/8 which operate all season.
Evolution 2 equally offers adventure activities including paragliding, ice diving and sledding!
Contact info:
- Office: Val Village
- Phone: +33 (0)4 79 55 15 35
- Email: booking@evolution2.com
Progression
Ski and Snowboard School
Progression Ski & Snowboard School has a wide range of lesson types for all levels of skiers, snowboarders and telemarkers. For adults there are private lessons, small sized adult group lessons and clinics.
Children’s and Teen group lessons are massively popular. Off-piste clients are provided with ABS airbags and all off-piste safety equipment free of charge. Also very popular, give-it-a-go taster snowboard sessions.
All instructors carry the highest international qualifications and are of course English speaking.
Contact info:
- Phone: +44 (0)208 123 3001
- Phone: +33 (0)6 21 93 93 80
- Email: enquiries@progressionski.com
Supreme
Ski school
Established over 20 years, Supreme has now become one of the highest sought after ski schools in Val d’Isère. Supreme has schools in the majority of resorts across the Alps so you can be assured of high quality private and group lessons, taught in multiple-languages and backed with the highest standards of customer service.
Improve your skiing in a safe, fun environment and make sure your stay in Val d’Isère is unforgettable.
Contact info:
- Phone: +44 203 744 1655
- Email: info@supremeski.com
New Generation
Ski school
Contact info:
- Phone: +33 479 01 03 18
- Email: via website
BASS
British Alpine Ski school
The BASS all British team have an excellent reputation for quality and service. You can book online private lessons, kid’s ski school, daily ski clinics and off piste tuition or guiding. Whether you are a beginner or an expert we have the solution to help you reach your potential. Our bespoke approach to learning will boost your confidence, ability & enjoyment.
All lessons in English – 21 years in Val D’Isere – Highest possible qualifications
Contact info:
- Phone: 0047 4738 7164
- Email: info@bass-skischools.com
Elevation
Ski Instruction & Coaching
Elevation Ski School was established with one simple mission - to make your skiing experience the highlight of your holiday.
From supporting your first steps as a beginner through to skiing the very best off-piste, we will provide you with the right tools and direction to elevate your skiing experience and leave you with a smile on your face.
Delivering exclusively private lessons and off-piste guiding with a close-knit team of highly skilled British ski instructors, Elevation guarantees that your investment will unlock your potential and result in lasting improvements in your skiing.
We can't wait to ski with you!
Contact info:
- Phone: +33 6 13 95 38 90
- Phone: +44 7949 178 652
- Email: info@elevationskischool.com
Lynn Mill
Val Ski Instructors
Lynn is a seasoned ski instructor with over two decades of experience in the industry, as an athlete, coach, and instructor – always for fun. She emphasises technique, safety, and personalised coaching, catering to skiers of all levels. Her expertise and commitment to the sport have solidified her reputation in the ski instruction community. Through her work, Lynn inspires and mentors the next generation of skiers, advancing the sport in Europe and beyond through her many roles.
Including being an instructor trainer and examiner with the British Association of Snowsport Instructors, and a trainer at the Rookie Academy down in New Zealand where she annually updates her skillset with other alliances from all over the world.
Rest assured, Lynn’s attention to detail and her individualised approach will ensure she puts her learners at the centre of every decision during a lesson making sure skiing is an enjoyable and valuable experience. She runs bespoke lessons to suit your individual needs and goals, get in touch to learn more.
Contact info:
- Phone: +33 6 38 25 83 04
- Email: lynn.mill@hotmail.com
Dougie Mill
Val Ski Instructors
Former racer Dougie is now fully qualified at both British and International level and is a trainer of potential instructor candidates for the British Association of Ski Instructors.
Dougie likes to ski the whole mountain in all styles, from introducing the sport to beginners to ski touring into the vast off-piste of the Espace Killy. Working with different types of students really helps to keep things fresh and makes every session different. A really great fun guy to ski with.
Contact info:
- Phone: +33 (0)6 58 53 63 81
- Email: ski@valskiinstructors.com
Laurent Bastian
Ski Instruction
Although born in the next valley, Laurent has an Aussie wife so he not only speaks fluent English, he has an Aussie sense of fun and adventure to go with it. He’s a true multi-disciplinarian, just as much at home on skis, a snowboard or even telemarks (give it a try!) and he knows the mountains inside out.
One of his specialities is a day trip over to La Thuile in Italy. It’s all easy piste skiing so you don’t have to be an off-piste expert for this trip to remember, and you get a massive (and cheap) authentic pasta lunch before you make your way back as well.
Contact info:
- Phone: +33 (0)6 14 64 06 19
- Email: skippy.atval@gmail.com
Bernard Chesneau
Ski Mastery Ski Instruction
Canadian Bernard Chesnau – bilingual French English, author of “Ski As You Think” and “Pensez Autrement Par Le Ski”, and a Val d’Isère institution for more than 35 years – approaches learning to ski from another angle. He focusses not just on teaching the essential skills but increasing your confidence and using the power of your mind to overcome your apprehensions and break through the barrier to skiing success.
Contact info:
- Phone: +33 (0)6 14 27 15 60
- Email: ski@ski-mastery.com
Michelle Le Bel
Children's Specialist Instructor
Ex-racer Michelle has been teaching skiing in Val for many years now and specializes in teaching children - she’s one of the best in the game and understandably massively popular with both children and their parents. She combines teaching your young ones to ski with making sure they have an amazing day out on the slopes and a whole load of fun.
She will happily take children of mixed ability so Michelle is a great option for siblings or a group of friends - your kids might prefer this to being split up in different ski school groups.
Parents are welcome to come along and ski with the lesson or meet up for lunch or a hot chocolate stop on the mountain.
Contact info:
- Phone: +33 (0)6 08 73 56 31
- Email: michelle@valdisere-ski.com
Elaine Bunyan
Ski Instruction & Coaching
Elaine is a fully internationally qualified ski coach/instructor, and a Scot who has lived in France for 20 years and speaks fluent French. She teaches all levels with patience and knowledge of the mountains where she also bikes and Nordic walks in the summer. Her ethos is that skiing involves physical, psychological, tactical and technical skills, and she is able to find which mix of these skills you need to improve your skiing. Lessons for children and adults. Prices vary depending on low/mid/high season.
Contact info:
- Phone: +33 06 22 99 42 74
- Email: elaine.bunyan@wanadoo.fr
Clare Angus Ski Coach
Ski Instruction & Coaching
Clare is a fully qualified British instructor holding the ISTD (International Ski Teacher Diploma) Level 4 BASI (British Association of Snowsports Instructors) qualification and full French equivalence.
She started skiing at the age of 5, thanks to a fanatical father who is still going strong in his 70s and making the most of the free lift pass!! As a result Clare has an enormous passion for the sport, which she loves to pass on to others.
Having worked in different settings and resorts around the world since 2007 - winters in Val d’Isere followed by summers in New Zealand (for their winter) and The Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead - Clare has a wealth of experience with a wide range of skiers.
Clare understands that everyone skis for different reasons, but the main reason to take lessons is to improve and get more enjoyment out of this wonderful sport. Enjoyment and learning go hand-in-hand so her aim is to make sessions fun and relaxed, helping you to understand the “whys” & “hows” for long lasting improvements.
Offering tailor made private lessons, no matter your age or ability, goals and aspirations she will work with your individual needs to take your skiing holidays to the next level…
Contact info:
- Phone: +33 (0)6 20 17 33 56
- Email: clareangus@live.com
Ella Underhill Snowsports
Ski Instruction & Coaching
From Hertfordshire in the south of England, Ella learned to ski aged 5 in Kitzbuhel Austria and immediately fell in love with the sport. Once Ella finished school, she committed to following her dreams and training to be an instructor. She has been based in Val d'Isere and Tignes teaching skiing and snowboarding for the past 8 years.
She also taught in Thredbo Australia and even her local indoor slope in the UK while she was finishing school.
"I live to teach and love to share my passion of snow sports with all my clients. Seeing them have a breakthrough in their ability and feel the joy of confidence on the mountain is the greatest reward for me as an instructor."
"Whether you are a complete beginner, you want to try off piste or the park. You want to progress with confidence onto those reds or black slopes, Or maybe you really want to perfect your performance and your carving? Whatever it is, my personal and authentic learner centered approach will allow you to progress beautifully."
"In the winter you will always find me in the mountains teaching doing what I love the most! In those months of the year when we can't ski, I love to surf, climb, practice yoga, and ride horses."
Contact info:
- Phone:
- Email: ellaunderhill.snowsports@outlook.com
Ski Hire Isn't All The Same
Welcome to Snowberry Premium Ski Hire - 2026
new equipment guaranteed - only proper retail equipment - huge choice - over 60 models of skis / 40 models of boots
only top of the range equipment available - fully personalised boot-fitting - skier orthotics in every boot
Snowberry Privacy Policy
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1. Why Snowberry
All ski hire is NOT the same!
Ski hire IS NOT a commodity!
You may well think all ski shops have skis and all ski shops have boots and they’re all the same so all that matters is who has the cheapest price - but you couldn’t be further from the truth!
Most of the rest of this website is taken up with telling you all about what it is that makes our skis and our boots different from everyone else’s, and they certainly are way, way different from everyone else’s – but there’s more to us than just our equipment.
Personality & Independance
Just as important is our personality – what makes us tick! We’re not businessmen stuck in an office somewhere, moving numbers around to make money out of other people’s products. We’re people just like you. Some of us are instructors and some of us ski or board just for fun but we do this because we love the sport and we love the lifestyle. We’ve been in the ski hire game for 30 years now and almost a dozen of our team have been working with us since the mid 1990’s, so we’re all great friends rather than just work colleagues. All of this makes a massive difference, the atmosphere in the shops is young, fun and all about skiing or snowboarding – a real community of us,, our friends, and our clients many of whom have also become friends over the years.
We’re also not complacent. Although people are constantly telling us how good we are (thanks!), we don’t rest on our laurels. We are always looking for ways to adjust and fine tune what we do and how we do it so it’s even better every year. And what’s more we don’t compare ourselves against our competitors, we are constantly looking at how good WE want to be, whether we are there yet and how we can get there. Needless to say, we’re constantly moving the goalposts so the search for absolute perfection continues – but we’re getting closer and closer every year!
2. Personalised Booking @ Snowberry
Booking with Snowberry combines the best of all worlds – the convenience of a modern and efficient online booking system with the personal touch and attention to detail of a face to face service.
A
Totally
Personal
Service
Our Equipment & Service
Prior to making your booking, you’ll find pretty much everything we can think of that you might need to know on this site, but if there’s anything we’ve forgotten or you need more information about, just email us through the contact form and we’ll get right back to you. Whether you want to know more about the literally hundreds of different models of skis we have in stock, have an enquiry about our transport service, wonder which of our shops is more convenient for where you’ll be staying or want to check availability for our exclusive in-chalet fitting service, just drop us a line. We will usually get back to you within a few hours at most.
When booking - your equipment matters!
Once you’ve got all of the information you need, our online booking system has been designed exclusively by us. It’s not like most of the other booking sites you will find which are literally only interested in getting you to tick a couple of boxes and enter your card details! We don’t just ask you what ability level of skis you want, we ask you what kind of skiing you would like to do and give you the option to choose the age of your skis and of course what price you pay for them. We also record all of the other info we need to provide you with the best and most suitable equipment and not just “a pair of silver skis”, to properly and safely adjust your bindings in accordance with ISO standards and to prepare your booking and all of the paperwork before you come in to collect it.
A service far and beyond!
Lastly, once we receive your booking it doesn’t just go into a computer system as it does with other shops. It goes straight into Susan’s email in box where she checks every detail to make sure it’s all correct and everything makes sense. Don’t be surprised if you get an email from us checking you’ve booked for the right date or renal period, suggesting you might find or other shop more convenient than the one you have booked for or saying that we think you might have over-estimated your ability as a 3 week skier and would probably be better with intermediate skis rather than the expert ones you have booked!
The personal service continues right up to your arrival day, through your holiday and beyond. Any problems, queries, or whatever, you just have to ask and we’ll get back to you right away. We are not bound by systems, small print and red tape. Our mantra is and always has been good, old-fashioned customer service so we’ll do whatever we can – within reason – to make sure your Snowberry ski hire is the best you’ve ever had.
It’s not “just ski hire”
It’s guaranteed new skis
GUARANTEED new equipment is very unusual in ski equipment rental, if not unheard of.
Most shops buy only a sprinkling of new equipment each year to window-dress their racks while the client still pays the same whether they’re one of the lucky ones who does get current season skis or – more likely – one of the unlucky ones who gets skis that can often be 5 or more seasons old.
Premium Range you’re guaranteed to ski on the very best of the new 2026 skis, from beginner right up to expert.
This is totally unique to Snowberry - no other shop or website gives you this guarantee.
Cosmetic looks and new features
GUARANTEED new equipment is very unusual in ski equipment rental, if not unheard of.
Newer skis obviously look a lot nicer to start with, less skiers mean less scratches and dints, and it’s great to be able to ski on the latest models and technologies.
However, the cosmetic appearance is only one aspect and doesn’t really make any difference to the performance of the skis. However, like everything else in life, skis don’t perform as well as they get older.
Core structure and liveliness
A ski straight out of the packet is full of life and rebound. As it gets a bit older the core materials start to break down. With constant bending and flexing the fibres in a wood core stretch and lose cohesion, while the micro-structure of a foam core loses its structure. This results in the ski losing its character, its pop and reactiveness, stability, strength and grip.
An older ski will feel dull, unresponsive and ultimately not much fun to ski on and the cheaper the materials are the quicker this will happen.
Edge sharpness and edge grip
Older skis are never as good in icy, hard conditions as newer skis. With heavy use especially in hard conditions the ski’s metal edges naturally become more and more rounded greatly affecting edge grip. Also every time a ski is serviced the edges will get thinner which also affects grip, performance and smoothness. The older a ski is the harder it is to get the ski’s edge smooth and sharp.
Ski base
With age and continuous servicing the base of a ski gets thinner and thinner and doesn’t hold wax quite as well so it doesn’t run as smoothly.
Binding release and safety
It’s not even just about the skis. Newer bindings are much safer - the springs are more accurate, and the binding won’t rip out, leading to a ruined day or a serious injury.
Watch out for what shops or websites say, or don’t say, about the age of their equipment. If they don’t say anything about how old their kit is then they are certainly not guaranteeing it will be new. And remember, words like “latest”, “recent” or “up to date” don’t mean new. If a shop is guaranteeing you new equipment, they will say so!
Guaranteed 'NEW' skis - Exclusive to www.snowberry-valdisere.com
It’s not “just ski hire”
It’s guaranteed new skis
Unforunately ski rental nowadays is saturated with cheap, poor quality equipment produced exclusively for the rental market and in most shops and on most websites you will now struggle to find ANYTHING else. Skis may look almost exactly like the real thing (the proper retail model) but they are completely different! They are madedifferently, they ski differently and they are always cheaper. Although many are marketed at good skiers they are really only suitable for low end skiers. This is just a cheap con!
It is now nearly impossible to rent proper retail specific equipment at all in most places.
Example
On the left is the Faction Dancer 2X, one of the most popular all mountain skis in our Special / Expert range. On the right is actually an almost identical-looking ski called the Dancer 2X PM, designed as a cheap alternative for rental.
While it looks pretty similar to the proper high-end expert level ski we stock and has the same profile, its construction and therefore its performance is totally different.
Most importantly, the PM does away with the 2 layers of Titanal which are one of the major defining factors of the real ski, giving it the strength, power and grip which our clients love. It’s also a LOT cheaper! - but its NOT the same ski!
This is just one example of the sort of thing most commercial rental shops stock to cheapen their rental buying costs and to con you into thinking what you get from them is the same as what you will get from Snowberry.
So what’s going on?
All proper retail specific skis are designed with a specific purpose and ability level target in mind. Be it for a beginner skier, an advanced, technically competent skier, a skier wishing to ski all day on firm hard piste making wide sweeping turns or the skier wishing to float effortlessly through deep powder snow. Each target skier or terrain requires very different performance attributes from the ski. This is achieved from the geometrical design of the ski, the compexity and construction method and the quality of the materials used. This is what makes a retail specific ski more expensive.
Cheap rental specific skis are limited in their target performance bias because they are simply constructed using cheap, inferior materials and techniques.
A cheap rental specific ski by its very nature will NEVER perform at anything other than the most basic level and even that is sometimes questionnable. They are NOT the same!
If a skier is wishing to to anything other than slide sideways around on the snow with zero style and no progression then they need to be aware of the skis they are renting. It is madness to think that any level of skiing can be achieved skiing on some of the cheap rental skis that are now being pushed on the skiing public.
It’s not “just ski hire”
Ski construction - sidewall v’s cap
One of the most obvious things that differentiate proper high end retail skis from cheap, inferior rental specific skis is the construction method.
Most high end, quality skis will have a complex construction consisting of either sandwich / sidewall construction typical of skis designed for firmer snow and on-piste performance and a lighter cap / sidewall construction for all mountain and off-piste skis. The common factor is that the sidewall is strong and robust and the materials used are specific to the skis intended use and are of a high quality. This means that skis can be tailored to specific snow conditions and intended use, for example a race slalom ski.
Cheap rental skis on the other hand are simple in construction often either a full cap or a short sidewall cap construction. They are usually thinner especially through the middle of the ski and the materials used are soft and spongy with no defined performance intention.
This means that it is impossible to produce cheap rental skis with any specific performance character other than just sliding on the snow - you will never be able to ski these cheap skis to any level of ability meaning skiers are limited with their skiing and can never improve.
It’s not “just ski hire”
Ski cores - laminated wood v’s foam
The core of the ski is the central part of a ski around which the rest of the ski is built.
There are two main materials used to construct a ski core - wood and foam - and both materials can be used in both cheaper skis and in higher end skis, the difference lies in the quality and complexity of the woods and foams used..
Wood cores
cheap wood core skis will use a single block of cheap fast growing wood that has an open fibre nature, is soft and results in a lifeless ski with no dynamic character.
With a high end ski a number of different slow grown, denser woods will be used, usually vertically laminated together. The types of woods selected will depend on the intended use of the ski - for example hard dense wood will be used to enhance edge grip on ice ie for a piste ski, while a lighter but strong wood may be used to reduce ski weight as in an off-piste ski. Complex combinations of different woods are used to get the best of all worlds by laminating different woods together.
Foam cores
a similar situation exists with foam cored skis. Very cheap skis are made by injecting foam into a hollow cap / mould. These are very quick and simple to produce but because the foam is an open cell character the resulting ski has absolutelly no character, is lifeless and dead. Skis made this way are cheap and nasty, and cannot be skied properly at all, they are no use for any level of skier and are really a waste of time and money..
This is the type of cheap rental specific ski that makes up the majority of low end commercial ranges seen on many a website.
Such skis are easily identified by their thin / cap construction appearance!
It’s not “just ski hire”
Ski construction - ski edges
Another common area to consider with cheap rental skis which most skiers will be able to feel is with the ski’s edges.
The edges of cheap skis are made using soft cheap steel. This blunts very quickly especially on icy snow, the edge rounds off resulting in very poor edge grip.
These blunt, rounded steel edges are also harder to sharpen as far more metal needs to be removed to enable any sharp angle to be produced.
It’s not “just ski hire”
Ski construction - base materials
The base of the ski is the part of the ski that slides on the snow. The quality of the base, the molecular weight of the plastic p’tex material that is used to construct the base and the condition of the base which is determined by the quality of the base material all affect how smooth and fast a ski will glide on the snow.
There are 2 types of polyethelene or p’tex base material, the cheaper extruded base material and the more expensive but far superior sintered base material.
Extruded p’tex base material
Extruded p’tex is made by heating up a batch of p’tex and then forcing the liquid mass through a hole, the resulting mass is then rolled out and flattened. This results in a low molecular weight - open cell, soft p’tex that is easy to wax but loses its wax quickly therefore dries out and furs up meaning the skis are slow and sticky. Bases are also soft and are prone to easy damage.
Sintered p’tex p’tex base material
The more expensive sintered p’tex is manufactured by compressing liquid polyethelene under pressure and then trimming the resulting mass into strips. This manufacturing process produces a high molecular weight p’tex that because of its closed molecular structure is very hard. Skis glide more smoothly, are far faster as there is less snow friction, and are less prone to damage. Because of the closed structure they are harder to wax but once waxed they retain the wax for longer therefore don’t fur up, affecting performance.
It goes without saying that cheap rental specific skis are made using the former - cheap extruded bases.
Skis constructed with a high molecular weight sintered base are far superior in performance in all conditions but especially on hard snow and in soft, wet snow.
Extruded p’tex
- low molecular weight
- soft, prone to damage
- slow and sticky
- easy to wax
- dries out quickly
- furs up quickly
Sintered p’tex
- high molecular weight
- hard, resistant to damage
- fast and smooth
- hard to wax
- holds wax well
- holds condition well
It’s not “just ski hire”
Laminate layers
A ski’s character and performance bias is further fine tuned by the quality and type of laminate layers that are used to enhance the core such as titinal metal layers and / or fibreglass. The type, thickness and complexity of these laminate layers can vary enormously depending on the target performance bias.
With low-end cheaper skis where there is no real target performance level it is common to have no laminates present and even with supposed higher end skis where laminates are used they will be limited to keep production costs down as is the case with many recognisable models that aim to imitate the proper retail skis. In such cases more expensive metal laminates will be absent and fibreglass weaves will be thinner and simpler.
The resulting ski bears no similarity in terms of performance, skiability, edge grip, stability etc to the retail ski it is pretending to be.
It’s not “just ski hire”
Summary - Retail specific skis v’s rental specific skis
Retail specific skis
- complex targeted geometry - very specialised skis
- complex targeted cores - high targeted performance
- complex laminate layers - specific target performance
- hard metal edges - excellent edge grip
- sintered bases - fast , smooth running
Rental specific skis
- simple geometry - no specialist skis
- poor quality cores - no performance character
- no / simple laminate layers
- soft metal edges - poor edge grip
- thick edges affecting flex
- extruded bases - slow, sticky
- thicker, clumsy top sheets
It is now nearly impossible to rent proper retail specific equipment at all in most places.
NEW MODEL - Season 2026 Model
Snowberry are the only rental shop we know of that rents only retail specific equipment (skis and boots) It makes an enormous difference to the performance, safety and fit of our equipment!
Guaranteed 'RETAIL SPECIFIC' skis and boots - Exclusive to Snowberry
It’s not “just ski hire”
It’s a massive choice
At Snowberry we go above and beyond when it comes to choice of ski models.
With different levels of equipment and multiple different model choice within these levels - we have an unmatched choice of ski models to select from - piste racecarve one day, off-piste the next - no-problems. And it’s free to change!
We can proudly say we carry one of the widest ranges of different styles and models of high end skis for rental anywhere in the World. We have over 1600 pairs of adult skis in our racks, spread over more than 100 different models for all ability levels from beginner to expert, with niche brands like Faction, Kastle and Black Crows as well as the well known big names. All skis are the full retail versions - we are the only shop to offer this - and most of our models you just won’t find available for rental anywhere else.
This is NOT normal with equipment rental but is so important. Everyone is different - skiing is very personal - and conditions are constantly changing. Having such a huge range is essential in providing the high standards of technical service we aim to provide and ensuring that every individual gets the most suitable ski for them.
This is an area that so many shops and websites ignore. Most have literally just a couple of different model options in each of their ranges and no specialist or high end models such as wide off-piste skis or racecarve piste skis. This keeps things cheaper for the shop and it’s easier for inexperienced staff members to hand out if they don’t have to understand a wide range of options BUT it means that renters are only ever offered basic skis with little or no option to change.
Technical Service
When you first come to collect your skis you won’t just be given a ski and told “there you are”, there will be options for you to choose from and our technicans (many are ski instructors) will explain them in detail and help you choose.
Equipment Changes - free of charge
When we say you can change your skis any time you want, no matter why you want to change or what type of ski you’re after, we’ll have a selection of different options for you to choose from. Be aware that this is charged extra in some shops!.
Ski lengths
We don’t just carry the mainstream popular sizes, we have the very short and very long ones too so you won’t be fobbed off with the wrong length.
Our exclusive choice in numbers!
Our Brands
- Black Crows - 7 models
- Faction - 8 models
- Fischer - 2 models
- Dynastar - 5 models
- Salomon - 12 models
- Rossignol - 14 models
- Nordica - 10 models
- Blizzard - 4 models
- Kastle - 9 models
- Volkl - 4 models
- Head - 2 models
Our Ski Levels
- Adult Beginner / Lower Intermediate - 7 models
- Adult Intermediate Advanced - 15 models
- Adult Adult Advanced / Expert - 24 models
- Adult Special / Expert - 32 models
- Junior Beginner / Intermediate - 2 models
- Junior Intermediate Advanced - 2 models
- Junior Advanced / Expert - 6 models
Our Ski Categories / Types
- Development Carving - 7 models
- Sports Carving - 15 models
- Race Carving - 20 models
- Race Special Slalom - 7 models
- Race Special Giant Slalom - 1 models
- All Mountain Frontside - 17 models
- All Mountain All Terrain - 8 models
- All Mountain Backside - 7 models
- Special Wide Off-piste - 6 models
- All Mountain Freestyle - 2 models
Snowberry has by far the largest choice of different models available to rent anywhere
It’s not “just ski hire”
It's professional bootfitting
for rental.
Traditionally when renting ski boots little effort is made to get the boots right. Shops only carry a few different models and they are usually wide fitting so that as many people as possible can get their feet into them. You get asked your shoe size and a pair of boots is thrown at you as if they were bowling shoes. Boots are usually at least a size if not two sizes too big and the wrong shape.
Often they will feel comfortable at the time of fitting (of course, your feet are not even touching the sides!) but once you start skiing your foot moves around, and your heel lifts offering no control over the ski, and you MAKE NO PROGRESS!
And on top of this a boot that’s too wide or too big can cause huge problems with discomfort, pain and cold feet.
Most intermediate skiers don’t know any better and will just put up with the pain and lack of performance.
Sound familiar?
This horrifies us and is unacceptable!
Your boots are without any doubt the most important item of your ski equipment. Correctly fitting and correctly fitted boots are crucial to your comfort and performance on the slopes and just because you are renting them rather than buying your own boots that’s no reason to take the whole fitting procedure any less seriously.
Ski boots are not supposed to hurt!
Exclusive - Our unique boot-fitting process
At SNOWBERRY we have changed this atitude.
With nearly 40 years’ experience at the cutting edge of both sales and rental bootfitting we have developed our own unique and highly professional bootfitting system, refining the sales bootfitting process to work in rental. No other shop in the world does this.
We start not just by measuring your foot size (some shops don’t even do that) but with a 3D 8-point analysis of your whole foot and lower leg.
We then select the model from our range of over 40 different models of adult boots and more than 20 for children to follow most closely the overall 3D shape of your foot to give the closest and most comfortable fit.
Finally we personally fit and adjust the boot and if necessary customise the fit to take into account any problem areas.
As a result of all of this, the amount of success we have with our bootfitting is phenomenal – only a tiny percentage of our clients need to come back in to change their boots after their initial fitting (and we DO have plenty of other options for anyone who does) and we regularly get people asking to buy their rental boots from us at the end of their trip.
And lastly all of our rental boots are fitted with SIDAS skier orthotics to support and stabilise your foot giving more comfort and better performance.
this is unique and exclusive to Snowberry.
It’s not “just ski hire”
Snowberry Bootfitting
'EXCLUSIVE' TO SNOWBERRY'
Snowberry has developed a unique process for fitting ski boots in rental. This process is based on exactly the same principles you would experience in one of the world’s leading retail fitting centres and is based on a 3-Step Process.
Step 1 - Analysis Process
The first stage of your boot fit is a thorough examination of both feet to allow us to select the correct shell shape and boot model.
This involves is a unique 8-point analysis –
- we assess your performance requirement
- we measure the length of both feet
- we measure the metatarsal width of both feet
- we measure the instep circumference
- we assess overall volume
- we assess the instep shape
- we check the ankle width
- we check the calf volume
This information is marked on our analysis form.
Step 2 - Model Selection
The information gained from your foot analysis enables us to select the most suitable boot from over 40 different models for adults and another 20 models for kids and juniors. The aim is to select the boot that best resembles the shape of your foot which will hold your foot firmly but comfortably - the key fit areas.
The key to good bootfitting is shell (model) selection. As every boot model varies in length, width, instep height, volume distribution, ankle and toe box areas, this is extremely difficult.
Wrong shell selection is the single biggest problem skiers have with rental boots.
Step 3 - Our Fitting / Clipping-up Process
Very few skiers actually know how to put a ski boot on and clip it up correctly.
For this reason, we personally fit every boot - opening the shell up, sliding your foot in and correctly clipping it up, explaining the importance of this process - especially regarding comfort, boot performance, cold feet and safety issues regarding binding release.
Do not underestimate the importance of this. It sets the foot correctly in the boot, and believe it or not, improves your skiing performance and keeps your feet more comfortable and warmer.
The Secret Ingredient - Skier Orthotics
Proper boot-fitting starts by stabilizing the foot and limiting the dynamic mobility of the foot which is the main limiting factor when trying to fit boots correctly. To do this we put orthotics in every boot.
The orthotic is THE ESSENTIAL, without one you will end up with a boot that is far too big, the result - your foot will move around leading to lack of control, pain and discomfort.
It is impossible to fit a ski boot correctly without firstly stabilising the foot using a skier specific orthotic - it simply cannot be done!
Snowberry are the ONLY shop that we know of that actively uses a system of orthotics in ALL our rental boots (even for juniors).
Draw what conclusions you wish from this!
It’s not “just ski hire”
Skier Orthotics in all Snowberry boots
Skier orthotics – better fit, comfort & performance
It is safe to say that every single skier, beginner to expert, needs some sort of sports orthotic in their ski boot.
Proper boot-fitting starts by stabilizing the foot and limiting the dynamic mobility of the foot which is the main limiting factor when trying to select the correct shell shape and fit a boot correctly.
To do this we use a skier orthotic.
The orthotic is THE ESSENTIAL part of bootfitting, without one you cannot select the correct shell size and shape and will end up having to use a boot that is far too big, the result - your foot will move around leading to lack of control, pain and discomfort.
It is impossible to fit a ski boot correctly without firstly stabilising the foot using a skier specific orthotic - it simply cannot be done!
Snowberry are the ONLY shop that we know of that actively uses a system of orthotics in ALL our rental boots (even for juniors).
Draw what conclusions you wish from this!
The dynamic foot
The human foot is an extremely complex structure. It's dynamic in character and constantly changes its shape, volume, height and length as you weight and unweight it - ie as you flex in a ski boot.
So how on earth are you supposed to fit this foot – with no fixed shape or length - into the fixed confines of a hard plastic ski boot without it being at best uncomfortable and at worst excruciatingly painful?
The easy answer is by fitting a boot that is far to big.
The orthotic and shell selection
Remember that every boot model has a slightly different shape so only certain models are suitable for certain feet.
Only by using an orthotic can we fit you in the correct shape and size of boot.
It is absolutely correct to say that you cannot fit select the correct boot shell and therefore fit a ski boot properly without first addressing foot instability issues.
The orthotic also has many other benefits relating to comfort and ultimately performance.
Other benefits - Improved comfort
The orthotic also has many other benefits relating to comfort and ultimately performance.
By supporting and stabilising the foot an orthotic will help to reduce foot movement in the boot which can cause rubbing and bruising. Blood flow is also improved resulting in warmer toes.
Other benefits - Improved performance
A supported foot has better contact with the boot and ski resulting in better feeling and control and it also improves body alignment - all of which lead to better performance.
Problems that a skier orthotic can solve
If you have hired ski boots elsewhere in the past you may very well have experienced at least some of the following problems, all of which can be improved by using an orthotic -
PROBLEM your foot moves inside your boot
PROBLEM you tend to over tighten the front clips of your boots
PROBLEM you sometimes suffer from cramping under the foot
PROBLEM your forefoot goes numb especially when skiing hard
PROBLEM you suffer from cold feet
PROBLEM you get rubbing on your inside ankle bone
PROBLEM your foot continually aches and hurts
PROBLEM you get bruising on your shin
PROBLEM your toes hit the ends of your boots
PROBLEM you find it hard to control your skis
PROBLEM your ski tips wobble when you travel straight
PROBLEM you find edging difficult
PROBLEM you’re getting blisters
PROBLEM you have a bunion
At Snowberry when our new delivery of boots arrives at the beginnig of every season we take out the flat insoles which come with the boots, throw them away and replace them with proper skier orthotics
Of course it’s very expensive for us to do this (and that’s why no other hire shop anywhere that we know of does), but in our view it is essential to the correct fitting of our clients’ boots and to their comfort, performance and enjoyment on the mountain.
WE ARE THE ONLY SHOP IN EUROPE TO PUT SKIER ORTHOTICS IN EVERY BOOT
It’s not “just ski hire”
It’s a 30-strong team of industry professionals at your service.
In most ski shops, the focus is on retail and that’s where all the experienced technical staff work. Rental is the poor relation, down in the back of the basement and staffed by Saturday boys or one season wonders whose main job is just to get people in and out as quickly as possible.
Not so at Snowberry! Rental is all we do, it’s our be-all-and-end-all and it’s what we focus ALL of our 30 staff members on.
Between us we have over 300 seasons of experience in the ski industry and a dozen of us are qualified ski instructors. Nine of us have been at Snowberry since we started in 2007 (incredibly this is Snowberry’s 20th season!) and half a dozen of us have actually been working together in ski hire in Val d’Isere since last century while some of this season’s team’s parents also worked with us back then!
Intensive technical training
The new recruits who are joining us this year have been hand picked from nearly 200 applicants, all have sporting and customer service backgrounds and undergo an intensive training programme run by our own Jock Dun who is widely regarded throughout the industry as one of the most knowledgeable and most innovative people in the worldwide ski rental business.
Full English speaking
And as for the language, well there’s nothing worse than trying to understand the intricacies of ski technology or explain where your boots are uncomfortable to someone who doesn’t speak the same language as you. Post-Brexit it’s harder than it used to be to find English speakers working in European resorts but it’s not a problem at Snowberry. Our staff members this season come from 9 different countries around the world from Australia and South Africa in the South to Canada in the North, via the Uk and a whole handful of countries in Europe, but one thing we all have in common is that English is our first language.
Ski Hire Isn't All The Same
Courtesy Transport
No matter where you’re staying in Val d’Isère, from Le Fornet to La Daille and everywhere in between, Snowberry is your closest and easiest ski hire shop.
Convenient
Hassle Free
Luxury
Our courtesy transport service runs all weekend. Just call our dedicated transport line and we will send one of our go-anywhere landrovers to collect you, bring you to the shop to be fitted with your equipment and then take you back afterwards.
Just call this number on arrival into resort -
06 16 28 50 08
Ski Hire Isn't All The Same
Example - Salomon QST S/Lab Blank
Ski Hire Isn't All The Same
Unlimited Changes
Other shops may charge you for the luxury of changing your skis, or say you can change as often as you like but end up having nothing suitable when you do want something else. At Snowberry not only do we offer unlimited free changes within the same price point, we also have over 1600 pairs of skis in stock, covering over 100 different models.
So whether you’re planning a day off-piste, the conditions have changed overnight, you want to have a go on a snowboard for a day or you just don’t like the first skis you have, we will always have plenty of options for you and without a change fee, of course.
Ski Hire Isn't All The Same
Ski Hire Isn't All The Same
Free Overnight Equipment Storage
Our overnight storage facility at our Slopeside shop just across from the nursery slopes and main lifts gives you’re the luxury of dropping your equipment off with us every evening and collecting it again in the morning. No more lugging it all back to the chalet every night with tired and hungry kids in tow, or head straight to après ski without your skis or boots to bother about.
Ski Hire Isn't All The Same
Unrivalled Staff Experience
Proper ski and boot hire is not simple, straight forward or guaranteed, it requires a high degree of technical knowledge, experience and input to get it correct.
Listening to your needs and advising you on the best most suitable gear and then fitting it correctly is key to you having an enjoyable and positive skiing experience. And believe me this is NOT easy or straight forward. This needs a high level of technical knowledge and experience.
Our staff team are our secret ingredient.
No ‘untrained Saturday boys’, we are true technical experts, we have some of the most experienced staff in the ski industry.
We worked out we have almost 200 seasons of combined experience in the business between us.
Most of us are qualified ski instructors, and some have been with us for over 25 years, so we know what we are doing.
And we all speak English as a first language.
Ski Hire Isn't All The Same
Immediate, No-Quibble Refunds
Return your equipment earlier than planned and other shops will only refund you if you are ill or injured, only with a medical cetificate and only for the person actually injured – not much good if a parent also has to stop skiing to look after an ill child.
Our policy for early return of our hired equipment is totally transparent and honest. You only pay for the equipment for the length of time you have it, so if you return all or part of your equipment earlier than intended we will give you an immediate refund for the remaining hire period, regardless of the reason for the early return.
Please note equipment must be returned in order to receive a refund and that you must return the equipment by close of business the day before to receive a refund for the following day.
Ski Hire Isn't All The Same
Adult Beginner Level
Piste specific skis
Waist width - 75mm - 78mm
Sex | unisex & girls
Skier Level | for beginner and cautious developing skiers
Recommended skiing experience | 0 - 2 weeks
Prefered Snow Type | groomed prepared piste
Typical Technology Info
example used Rossignol Arcade 78
Geometry Data (typical)
Structure / Shape Data
Construction Data
Overview
Our range of models selected specifically for learning and developing early skiing skills. The key to skis in this category is ease of use and forgiveness – they give you time to correct a mistake before they react.
We have unisex skis and lighter skis specifically designed for girls.
Sidecut profile
Tip and tail widths allow the ski to be easily slid and skidded around, ideal for learning the basic essential skills of pivoting and snowplough. The sidecut profile is purposely straighter, therefore less aggressive than a higher-level ski, and skis are wider underfoot providing a stable platform for a beginner to stand on. This also means a relatively shallow depth of sidecut which is less catchy and will not throw the skier off balance with every mistake.
Tip & tail / effective edge technology
A long-ish tip and rounded and turned up tail give a relatively short effective edge and allow the skis to be easily manouvered without the tip and tail catching – very important when learning.
Flex / torsion technology / camber technology
These are soft flexing skis so they’re easy to push into an arc helping the skier to feel the edge, to pressure the ski and to turn at low speeds.
A soft camber means reduced grip and adds to the forgiveness, preventing the tip and tail being catchy and making it easy to push the ski into reverse- camber with minimum resistance. This again results in the ski being easy to bend and turn.
Rocker technology
A small amount of rocker at both tip and the tail again makes it easier to skid and slide the ski around without the tip and tail catching.
Target skier ability level
Ski models are carefully selected for first time skier who wish to learn the early principles of skiing and progress quickly.
Ski types available
Adult Lower Intermediat Levele
Piste specific skis
Waist width - 75mm - 78mm
Sex | unisex & girls
Skier Level | for lower intermediate skiers
Recommended skiing experience | 1 - 4 weeks
Prefered Snow Type | groomed prepared piste
Typical Technology Info
example used Rossignol Forza 40
Geometry Data (typical)
Structure / Shape Data
Construction Data
Overview
Our next level of skis is aimed at developing skiers who that have got to grips with the basics - balance, snowplough etc. Skiers at this level are progressing from basic parallel, starting to ski in more control and learning how to use the edge and sidecut of the ski and carve their turns.
Models have been carefully selected with a slightly more performance bias while still being easy to use.
Sidecut profile
Selected models have a more defined sidecut profile than our pure beginner skis, wider at the tip and tail and narrower at the waist ( deeper depth of sidecut ) which means that when the ski is tipped over onto its edge and pressure applied through the centre of the ski the ski will bend, naturally form a curve and initiate a carved turn.
A slightly narrower waist of 75mm is still not too aggressive and gives a nice stable platform to stand on. The slightly deeper depth of sidecut means skis are slightly quicker edge to edge and slightly more reactive making it easier to develop a turn and carve the ski which is the goal at this level.
Tip & tail / effective edge technology
At this level of piste skis, tip and tail technology becomes more relevant. Ski tips are short and snub nosed and tails are shorter and squarer. This allows the ski’s edge length to become more efficient i.e. longer effective edge for the overall running length of the ski meaning the skier van use more manageable and shorter skis on-piste without compromising edge grip.
One thing that is important is the soft but square tail, which helps to hold the ski in the turn but is catch free and easy to release and skid / slide at the end of the turn. This helps the skier to develop carving skills without the problem of being locked in the turn.
Flex / torsion technology / camber technology
Skis still have a relatively soft longitudinal flex meaning that they will still bend into an arc and turn easily, but they are stiffer than at beginner level so they better support the developing skier throughout the turn at slightly higher speeds. Torsion is also slightly stiffer and camber slightly more powerful than at total beginner level, again giving more stability and drive throughout the turn.
Rocker technology
Slightly rockered tip allows easy catch free turn entry making it easier to tip the ski over and engage the beginning of the turn.
Target skier ability level
This is the go-to category for skiers who have mastered the beginner stage and are looking to keep improving.
Ski types available
Adult Intermediate / Advanced Level
Piste Skis
Waist width - 72mm - 76mm
Sex | unisex & girls
Skier Level | for intermediate / advanced ability level skiers
Recommended skiing experience | 3 - 10 weeks
Prefered Snow Type | groomed prepared piste
Typical Technology Info
example used Rossignol Hero Elite Ca
Geometry Data (typical)
Structure / Shape Data
Construction Data
Overview
Our intermediate to advanced level skis cover a wide range of abilities and aspirations, from comfortable intermediate skiers to those who are pushing themselves to the next level. Skis in this range have a bigger engine, they will perform when pushed but at the same time allow you to take it easy and let you away with mistakes. Performance with forgiveness – that is the target!
We have over 20 different models to select from, each offering something slightly different but all for use on prepared piste with models suitable for intermediate to more proficient advanced skiers.
Sidecut profile
With a characteristic sidecut of around 124 / 74 / 109, skis are designed for smooth flowing turns on piste, transitioning between shorter, slalom turns and longer giant slalom-like ones, and everything in-between. Versatility is the name. of the game.
The wider tip allows easy turn initiation when the ski is tipped over and driven, while the 74mm waist provides a good stable platform but is narrow enough to facilitate the ski bending and carving while providing excellent grip.
Ski tails at this level are generally wider and stronger helping with the ski grip through to the end of the turn.
Tip & tail / effective edge technology
Tips are typically snub nosed, and tails are flattish and relatively square – the ideal shape for piste specific skis.
A snub-nosed tip engages quickly when tipped over for fast and accurate turn initiation while a more aggressive and flattish, square tail ensures that the ski will hold on to the turn through to the end if required. At the same time the tip is slightly tapered and not too stiff so it will still release from the turn easily if your carving technique is not quite there yet or to get out of a tricky situation.
Effective edge length is typical longish compared to standing height for good piste-specific skis allowing the skier to optimise ski length relative to edge grip.
Flex / torsion technology / camber technology
Models in this category are generally slightly stiffer both longitudinally and torsionally, and cambers are stronger. This means skis are more performance orientated, will be more responsive and reactive, will grip better on firmer snow and will be more stable at higher speeds.
Rocker technology
Although skis at this level are aimed at more developed skiers a piste tip rocker is still common and will give the ski the forgiving characteristics required – easy to transition between turns with no unwanted surprise.
Target skier ability level
These are the go-to ski for on-piste intermediate to early advanced level skiers with a reasonably developed technique that are reasonably confident carving turns on most types of pisted slopes, whether they are happy at this level or see it as a stepping stone to the next stage.
We have an excellent choice of unisex models and slightly lighter and softer female specific models.
Adult Advanced / Expert Level
Piste Specific Skis
Waist width - 68mm - 76mm
Sex | unisex & girls
Skier Level | for advanced / expert ability level skiers
Recommended skiing experience | 8+ weeks
Prefered Snow Type | hard, firm, prepared piste
Typical Technology Info
example used Rossignol Hero Elite Ca
Geometry Data (typical)
Structure / Shape Data
Construction Data
Overview
Our range of piste-specific skis for high-end skiers is designed specifically for more advanced use on prepared piste and firm, hard snow.
We have over 15 different models to select from offering a range of turn.
Sidecut profile
Typical characteristics of more advanced piste skis include a more defined sidecut - a narrower waist and wider tip and tail. This gives the ski a deeper depth of sidecut which means when tipped over on their edges, skis will allow the skier to make clean, strong, carved turns. The narrower width underfoot also contributes to exceptional grip in icy conditions.
Tip & tail / effective edge technology
A wide, snub-nosed tip gives maximum liveliness and allows for fast, strong turn initiation and initial grip when entering the turn. The tail is also wide, strong and flat which allows the ski to grip and hold onto the turn right through to the end. Effective edge is long compared to the running length of the ski giving strong grip without compromising manoeuvrability.
Flex / torsion technology / camber technology
In general these skis will have a stiffer flex and powerful camber which results in excellent grip in icy conditions and greater stablility when skiing at high speeds. They do need to be skied at higher speeds though.
Rocker technology
Most models will have a small amount of tip rocker- say 5% - which helps with turn initiation but tails will be flat for grip to the end of the turn.
Construction Technology
We often see more complex construction techniques and materials used in more advanced performance models such as the use of titanal laminates and more complex fibreglass lay ups. Traditional sidewall construction is also predominant at this level (watch out for cheap look-alikes which have caps and foam cores)
Target skier ability level
Models in this category are generally more aggressive, stiffer and harder to ski on. Skiers therefore need to be more advanced with a reasonably developed style and confident in carving a ski no matter the difficulty of the slope, the snow conditions, or their speed. If you are at this level, these skis are a huge amount of fun.
Ski types available
Adult Advanced / Expert Level
All Mountain Skis
Waist width - 84mm - 90mm
Sex | unisex & girls
Skier Level | for advanced / expert ability level skiers
Recommended skiing experience | 8+ weeks
Prefered Snow Type | all piste and sidecountry conditions
Typical Technology Info
example used Black Crows Sato
Geometry Data (typical)
Structure / Shape Data
Construction Data
Overview
The all mountain skis in this category are designed as the name implies for use both on and off-piste in softer, slightly deeper and more variable conditions than the pure piste options which excel on harder snow. They are equally at home in spring snow in the back-country, a few inches of new snow off the edge or choppier, bumpier or slightly deeper snow on-piste.
Sidecut profile
All mountain skis differ from true piste skis by being slightly wider through their length – in the tip, waist and tail. Because the ski is wider, especially at the waist, it will float more allowing it to perform better in more variable snow conditions such as new snow falls, chopped up snow, crud and slush while still having enough definition in the sidecut for respectable edge to edge performance and grip for carving on harder snow.
Tip & tail / effective edge technology
The tip of all mountain ski is generally slightly longer than a true piste ski which helps the front of the ski to ride up above the snow in more variable conditions – this is a key feature of any all-mountain ski.
A wider waist makes it easier to navigate in choppier snow while the tail is often slightly more rounded and turned up, again making skiing easier in less favourable conditions.
Skis however still have a pronounced sidecut which allows them to ski well on firmer snow.
Flex / torsion technology / camber technology
In general flex and camber are slightly softer than an out-and-out piste ski, but still strong enough to provide adequate grip and stability when required on firmer snow.
Rocker technology
Skis typically have a tip and tail rocker, making them easy and light to turn on piste.In slightly deeper snow the rocker tip will ride above the snow surface and push through shallow snow that has been chopped up.
Target skier ability level
Narrower all mountain skis are generally very forgiving and versatile, great for all day use in variable snow conditions and much easier to ski for someone who is still pushing themselves but maybe not quite there yet than an out-and-out piste ski at a similar level..
Adult Special / Expert Level
Piste Skis
Waist width - 68mm - 80mm
Sex | unisex & girls
Skier Level | for expert ability level skiers
Recommended skiing experience | good skiers only
Prefered Snow Type | hard, firm piste - especially strong in icy conditions
Typical Technology Info
example used Salomon S/Race SL 12
Geometry Data (typical)
Structure / Shape Data
Construction Data
Overview
A totally unique range of skis you’ll not find anywhere else, our Expert-level Piste category features 15 different niche models of the very best of the best skis on the market. Skis are designed for use on prepared pistes and are at home on firm snow and in icy conditions offering excellent grip and stability at speed. The range includes full on race skis as well race carve models and features a variety of profiles and construction features for short, medium or longer turn preferences.
Sidecut profile
High performance piste skis are designed to be skied hard and fast, tipped over on their edges and carved – this is where they truly excel.
Models are characterised particularly by their sidecut profile – wide tip and tails and narrow waists. When skis are banked over onto the edge, the tip engages pulling the ski into the initial phase of the turn. As the ski is pressured through the centre and the tail engages the ski will bend ( it’s forced into reverse camber ) and forms a curve. The wide tail finishes the turn by gripping at the middle and end. This is the essence of a carved turn.
Tip & tail / effective edge technology
Another feature that is important with higher end piste skis is the very defined shapes of their tips and tails. Tips are short and snub nosed for very quick turn initiation and the tail is very flat and square to hold onto the turn for grim death right to the very end. Effective edge is generally long but varies depending on the intended turn preference of the ski.
Flex / torsion technology / camber technology
The stronger the flex and camber of the ski are the more powerful and stable the turn will be – the better the ski will grip on ice and the more stable the ski will be at speed. These skis are all very stiff both longitudinally and torsionally and have exceptionally strong camber, increasing effective edge contact when the ski is pushed and further adding to stability and edge grip on icy and steep slopes.
Rocker technology
Race and racecarve skis at this level tend to be full camber with no rocker.
Construction Technology
These skis tend to feature complicated construction technologies – multiple strengthening layers made of metal alloys combined with complex fibreglass or similar materials to increase rebound and liveliness and high quality wood layers in the core to give strength and smoothness combined with dynamism and response. Traditional sandwich/sidewall construction is universally used in these skis giving great torsional rigidity, immediate response and powerful edge grip.
Target skier ability level
For a strong, expert skier there is nothing like the feeling of effortlessly carving a proper high-end piste ski on a perfectly groomed slope. Not for the faint-hearted though – you do need to be able to make clean carved turns at high speeds to get the most from these skis. They are also not designed for use in deeper snow, heavy slush, or chopped up cruddy conditions.
Ski types available
- Short radius turn ( slalom ) skis
- Medium radius turn ( racecarve ) skis
- Long radius turn ( giant slalom ) skis
Adult Special / Expert Level
All Mountain Frontside Skis
Waist width - 84mm - 90mm
Sex | unisex & girls
Skier Level | for expert ability level skiers
Recommended skiing experience | good skiers only
Prefered Snow Type | all piste and sidecountry conditions
Typical Technology Info
example used Faction Dancer 1 86mm
Geometry Data (typical)
Structure / Shape Data
Construction Data
Overview
Our Expert All Mountain Frontside category of skis features 10 different niche models of the very best of the best narrow all mountain skis on the market. Versatility is the key word when describing skis in this category. Our selected models are equally at home on flat, groomed snow on traditional prepared pistes, in slightly deeper snow, in slush, bumps and chopped up snow after a recent snow fall or in slightly deeper conditions off the side. Great fun all day, all over the resort.
Sidecut profile
All Mountain Frontside skis differ from pure piste-specific models in several ways, the most obvious being sidecut profile. Typically, a pure piste ski will have a profile like 121 / 70 / 101 whereas an all mountain frontside ski will be more like 120 / 86 / 110– a centimetre or more wider from the waist backwards. This wider profile is why all mountain skis perform better in deeper more variable snow conditions – they float better in deeper snow, riding above the surface making skiing easier, while the tip at a similar width to a piste ski still engages quickly in the turn on harder snow.
Tip & tail / effective edge technology
Tip and tail profile is one of the most obvious features of all mountain skis which differentiates them visually and in every other way from pure piste skis. The wider you get, the more obvious the difference becomes. All mountain skis tend to have elongated noses to help with flotation and to enable the ski to ride above unexpected terrain variations. The tail is usually rounded and turned up meaning it’s less grippy than a piste ski and easier to slip and slide around.
Flex / torsion technology / camber technology
All mountain skis are softer both longitudinally and torsionally than piste models at the same sort of level, making the ski more able to cope with a variety of conditions, helping with flotation and making it less likely to dive in deeper snow.
Rocker technology
These skis tend to have a decent amount of rocker at both tip and tail coupled with a fairly weak camber, reducing grip and meaning again that the ski can cope better with varying conditions. Effective edge is quite short compared to the overall running length of the ski.
Target skier ability level
All models are top of the range skis so skiers selecting this category must be technically good, however by their very design all mountain frontside skis are slightly more forgiving than out and out piste racecarve skis and are more tolerant to slightly less competent skiers.
Adult Special / Expert Level
All Mountain All Terrain Skis
Waist width - 90mm - 99mm
Sex | unisex & girls
Skier Level | for expert ability level skiers
Recommended skiing experience | good skiers only
Prefered Snow Type | variable piste / soft snow / deeper snow >10 cms
Typical Technology Info
example used Faction Dancer 2 96mm
Geometry Data (typical)
Structure / Shape Data
Construction Data
Overview
Our Expert All Mountain – All Terrain category of skis features 10 different niche models of the very best of the best medium width all mountain skis on the market.
Skis in this category are characterised by their wider profiles and are designed to be very versatile all over the mountain on- and off-piste. Even at the mid 90s underfoot, they are surprisingly good in most piste conditions but they’re also very versatile in deeper, more variable and chopped up snow and easy to throw around, skid and slide in changeable and tricky conditions. Of course they will never have the speed edge to edge or incredible edge grip of a full on expert level racecarve ski, nor will they float in knee deep powder like something 110 underfoot with an enormous rocker, but they’re not supposed to.
Sidecut profile
These skis are wide through the length of the ski. The typical sidecut profile of an All Mountain – All Terrain ski would be 127-96-117 compared to a piste ski at maybe 121 / 70 / 101 and a frontside all-mountain model at 120/86/110. The result is far greater floatation in variable and deeper snow with the compromise that the tip on an all mountain all terrain model will engage less quickly in the turn.
On the downside the increased width through the length of the ski does mean that skis are slower edge-to-edge ( further to travel when tipping the ski over ) and are therefore less responsive, accurate and reactive.
Tip & tail / effective edge technology
Tip and tail shape is also designed to help deeper snow performance and flotation. These skis have a long ,rounded nose coupled with a rounded and turned up tail .
Flex / torsion technology / camber technology
All Mountain -All Terrain Skis tend to be quite soft flexing longitudinally with a smooth and even flex pattern along the length of the ski. Torsionally, now that we’re into the mid 90s underfoot you could expect the ski to collapse but actually many of the better skis in this category feature one or more metal layers and are reasonably stiff torsionally which helps with their performance in harder conditions and groomed snow.
Rocker technology
Skis in this category tend to have quite a bit of rocker at both tip and tail coupled with a relatively weak camber, these help the ski power through chopped up snow and difficult conditions with ease. The big rockers do mean the effective edge is quite short so be careful not to go for a ski that’s too short in its overall running length otherwise you will badly hamper performance on harder snow and groomed piste.
Target skier ability level
All models in this category are top of the range skis so skiers must be technically good, however by their very design all terrain skis are slightly more forgiving than out and out piste racecarve skis and therefore more accessible to slightly less competent skiers.
Adult Special / Expert Level
All Mountain Backside Skis
Waist width - 99mm - 108mm
Sex | unisex & girls
Skier Level | for expert ability level skiers
Recommended skiing experience | good skiers only
Prefered Snow Type | soft snow / deeper snow >20 cms
Typical Technology Info
example used Salomon QST S/Lab Blank 108mm
Geometry Data (typical)
Structure / Shape Data
Construction Data
Overview
Our range of 10 all mountain – backside (off-piste ) skis are specialist wide skis designed specifically for use in deeper snow conditions - primarily off-piste. You will not find this type of ski in many rental shops – period.
Sidecut profile
High performance piste skis are designed to be skied hard and fast, tipped over on their edges and carved – this is where they truly excel.
Skis in this category are characterised by their very wide profiles and are specifically designed for use in deep snow and more variable snow conditions all over the mountain particularly off-piste. All models are at least 99 mms at the waist and a typiclal sidecut profile is 139/112 /129. This means all models have great floatation properties when used in deep snow. Do not expect them to perform well on groomed piste, hard packed snow or ice though!
Tip & tail / effective edge technology
These skis generally have very very long tips and tails for increased flotation in deeper and softer snow and to give the tail plenty of versatility to deal with unexpected conditions. The affective edge tends to be very very short but it doesn’t matter, these skis are not designed for carving.
Flex / torsion technology / camber technology
We have a choice between skis with a softer flex pattern ( fibreglass only laminate ) that are ideally suited to lighter, fresh snow and stiffer or stronger skis ( titinal laminates ) that are great when charging through deeper chopped up conditions and slush. These stronger skis are also offer better edge grip on firmer snow and ice.
Rocker technology
Skis in this range tend to have huge rockers at both tip and tail. The “floaty” models have very little camber whereas the “chargy” ones do have a stronger camber for better drive and edge grip.
Target skier ability level
These skis are great at what they are designed for but they are not skis for all round skiing. They are designed for a purpose and need to be skied by technically skilled and strong skiers in the conditions they are meant for to get the most from them. For many people, more a ski to be swapped onto for a day with a guide off piste than something to rent for your whole week.
