Importance of Rental Demo Skis
I love to ski. (My wife says I live to ski). Most of my adult working life I was too busy to research new ski technologies and techniques. It is why I wound up skiing the same pair of Head Monsters for a decade until they wore out, and how I learned how important the demo process is to finding the perfect new pair of skis.
For years, my purchasing research typically was reading a few articles, talking to fellow skiers, and with a (hopefully) knowledgeable ski shop salesperson. Invariably, I would buy what one of them recommended. Maybe you have, too.
Photo by Anne Nygård on Unsplash
The last time I brought the Monsters in for sharpening, I was told there was nothing left to sharpen. Obviously, I had skied and sharpened the metal edges to death, and they finally died. It was time to buy a new pair. (Not my Salomon boots! I’ve had them spot-stretched three times, and they fit like a glove. I have had to replace the heelpieces, though.)
Instead of running to any ski shop to buy something, I chose to rent on my first full-week trip of the season and not rush to buy new ones. I’ve always shlepped my ski stuff wherever I’ve skied, both domestically and internationally, so this was an extra perk. (The serious convenience of shipping instead of shlepping skis to and from ski trips is a different subject.)
Flying into SLC in the early afternoon for a 70+ Ski Club trip, there was plenty of time to get to a ski shop to rent skis (fitted to my own great boots, of course). We discussed my ability, and he began to point out the differences of several brands and models he was considering for my skill level and body weight.
I asked if I could ski a different pair each day that he would suggest based on my feedback, and he agreed, even encouraging that. A good shop will let you swap as often as you want. So, I rented for the week, and took the first pair he suggested.
During the next five days I tried to remain focused on the skis while still enjoying my skiing each day, trying all different types of terrain, speeds and turns and paying attention as much as I could to weight shifting, balance, chatter, turn radius, carving, etc.
Whenever I had a few moments, I would dictate my impressions about the skis into my phone. At the end of the day, I would return the skis to the shop, meet the same sales/manager guy, and report what I liked and didn’t like, what it felt like, etc., compared to the previous day’s skis. Then, he would recommend a different pair for the next day based on my pros and cons, and repeat the process for the entire week.
At the end of the week I knew exactly which skis I liked the best and why– enough to buy them
I know ski performance can vary substantially between skis models. I just never felt it myself, until that week, and the differences were both noticeable and meaningful. Simply, my new skis improved my skiing and my enjoyment of skiing. I couldn’t be more satisfied.
They fit me and my ski style better than any other I’ve used in decades, even before the Monsters. They require the least amount of work to achieve the level of comfort I want while skiing, without the negatives of the others.
I can’t recommend this “trial” approach to purchasing skis strongly enough, especially if your purchasing method is to talk with sales folks, read a few articles and ask other skiers how they like what they’re skiing on. Most ski shops will apply your rental fee towards the purchase of a new pair from them at the end of the week, whether you rent one pair for the week or a different pair every day. Some will even sell you the actual demo pair that you fell in love with.
When these skis are worn out, I’ll be sure to find a new pair the same way.
- Shipping vs. Schleppng Your Gear - October 8, 2025
- Importance of Rental Demo Skis - February 21, 2024
Yep, this is exactly where I’m at right now. I skied since I was 13 and now 73 going to ski Crystal mountain next Tuesday. I used to race a NASTAR circuit and love, long, curvy, fast turns and now I realize that it’s way different skiing. It’s not long, curvy fast skiing. It’s fast turns continuously to stay on your edge, so I’m looking for the new journey if you know what I mean?
Just yesterday I pulled out all my vintage gear like the fabulous audio stuff and going to display it all on my garden wall, making a picket fence of all the skis that I have in the in the garage rather than to give it all away because they were too much blood, sweat, and tears in these long boards if you know what I mean?
Skiing 205 cm now down to 156/8 cm is just an incredible change for me but now I’m up for the task except for the pocketbook exchange and at $dough for the boots and for the skis and bindings.
It’s not a crushing blow it’s a revelation to the new kind of skiing that is laid before me.
Thanks for the wonderful article, you made my day. God bless you.
Sam
Hi Sam
Do you ski Crystal Mtn Michigan? I’ll be there on Monday 2/26.
Question I’m on the Leelanau Historical Society Board and we are planning to open a Sugarloaf exhibit in June. Would you have any logo gear, print materials, Nastar items to share with us? Maybe an oral history? Thank you Bruce
Great article and very helpful for those of Us looking for new skis. Also, enjoyed skiing with You and Your new skis at Big Sky recently. All the Best,
Dr. John Murphy
So what skis did he buy?
Hope you’ve had a good season mine has only been 3 days long- have to do a 70+ trip in 2025
Best,
Bruce 2
This is what I have done each and every time I have purchased new skis: demo! I have had some wonderful skis to choose among, and it still stuns me that I can tell the difference, that I had improved enough that I COULD tell the difference. So yes, demoing is a valuable way to buy new skis; I can’t recommend it enough. Thanks for the affirmation.
Did a demo on my last,, 9 yrs ag?, ski purchase! Have to agree. All big names were tested and only 1 out of 6 didn’t chatter and turned and carved ice like butter. Bought them on spot with a full rental credit and a fresh sharpening/wax job included!
I am 150 lbs, intermediate and my pick was 168 tall Rossi Experience 88’s!! Every body is different but demo is ONLY way to buy skis!!
Sage advice and these days every ski manufacturer produces a wide range of skis that offer the best performance based on the type of skiing the user normally does, i.e., Eastern hard pack, Western powder or back country. If you try them you will find them. Also worth noting that many shops sell their demo skis toward the end of the season at deep discounts so if you found a pair of skis you particularly liked but found a bit pricey new, it is worth checking out if a demo pair of your chosen ski is being sold off and saving some money.
As much as the right pair of skis can help improve ones skiing, it seems worth also noting the roll a boot with the right amount of “flex” can also have. Appreciate your boots are now a perfect fit for you but you did not mention what “flex” they were. Boots in many ways are even more important than skis and I see too many senior skiers who are still wearing boots that are too stiff for them to enjoy a full day of skiing. Unfortunately ski boots can not be demoed but for just about any skier over 50, considering a ski boot with a softer flex may provide even greater benefit and improvement in skiing. Whether we like to admit it or not the vast majority of senior skiers no longer have the muscle mass or strength to efficiently transfer power from their boots to their skis when their boots are too stiff.
Like you I do not cart my skis with me when skiing in the West or Europe as like you I have found the local ski shops tend to have skis that are better geared towards the conditions and terrain that I am likely to be skiing in.
Thank you for a valuable article
If only I could fold m skis in half to make them easier to carry as I travel from Australia to the USA for a month of skiing
About 10 or 15 years ago in Park City, Utah, The Canyons (yes, it was still a separate resort then) had a terrific deal to demo skis all that season. They set up a large tent in the area at the top of the gondola packed with different makes and models of skis, with a raised ramp for skiers to stand on in their chosen demos while the skis were adjusted to their boots. Then we went directly to the nearby lift and skied to our hearts’ content (usually a run or two on the same slope), followed by another trip to the tent to try a different pair. We paid the demo fee once no matter how many skis we tried, and if we bought a new pair the demo fee was deducted from the purchase price. We never saw this process there or anywhere else ever again. It was super, and an almost foolproof way to find suitable skis. It really spoiled us!
That happened with my old skis. I demoed a pair of highly rated skis that just didn’t feel right. The next pair was effortless and what I purchased.
Recently, looking for new skis, all demos were 84mm or greater waist width and I was looking for narrower. Luckily purchased a perfect pair, for me, without a demo.
That is great information. With the current state of ski technology and cost even more important. I will take in one step further. The last several seasons, I have leased a pair of skis from my local go to shop. Not many places are willing to do this. I found a pair I liked and leased the same skis 3 years in a row. Each year the price went down! It also included skis that were perfectly tuned and re-waxed and tuned as needed. Over those three years I spent slightly less than I would have to buy and maintain those same skis. I feel it was a win!
I recommend having more than one pair of skis. I also think that you should adopt another pair before you give up your older pair. Learn how to enjoy more than the single characteristic of 1 pair of skis. I have an ample supply of skis and have been known to have hauled a pair to New Zealand, skied 10 days and on the final day, removed the bindings and gave the skis away. Used skis actually have very little value, compared to the shipping and handling of them, especially when it’s an overseas vacation that extends into a tourist type vacation.