If you're reading this, I'm assuming you're probably going to Dodge Ridge. This place is basically the only alternative in the area for renting equipment if you're looking to save a few bucks and not rent directly from Dodge. Service here is decent, although it did throw me off that they only had me try on one boot instead of both. Like other reviews have mentioned, the equipment is certainly dated and starting to show their age. I received a bent pole and was about to ask for another one, but noticed that practically all the poles they had were bent. Their skis were fine and were adjusted. The worst part was the boots. They're quite uncomfortable as the interiors are extremely worn down. The latches on them are also some of the hardest to tighten. I'm mostly giving it 4 stars because it gets the job done, but compared to several of the rental shops I've tried in Tahoe -- this place falls short. read more

I love Heidi's Ski Shop. They help make skiing affordable. Get there early and head up to Dodge for a great day.

Don't do it or be prepared to encounter craziness and some arbitrary charges on your credit card. This shop is stuffed (and perhaps run and owned??!!, not sure) by a crazy, unbalanced person, who is also a swindler. I have been a customer of this establishment for many years, renting a lot of equipment out. And the person behind the counter has lost completely his marbles. Detail In order to rent the equipment, you need to leave a credit card and a copy of the driver license or a driver license as a collateral. So as you can see, their equipment is very safe from being taken from them. At the same time although they open very early (way before the resort does), they close at 5pm, mere 30 minutes after the resort closing time. So, as you can imagine, this makes for a very frantic and hectic day close to be able to return the equipment on time. I rented some gear for two days and some gear for one day. At the end of the first day, I fell and injured my hand. So doing, everything became much slower than usual and being with the child and equipment, while parked pretty far, meant that getting out. As a result, I was late getting to the rental place by 30 minutes. Since, I had other equipment out and paid for two days and the place officially closes pretty early, I didn't even think of attempting to stop by and just thought that I would sort it out the next day. Also, as we were driving by, I saw all the cars gone and the doors closed at around 5:35 or so. When I came the next early morning (before the resort opens at 9am) with all their gear, he first made me intentionally wait for about 15 mins. Then, all of a sudden without any explanation, he threw my card to me and told me that I would no longer be able to rent from his establishment. My child got scared and ran out from the store. I was completely stunned and baffled by his behavior and after my repeated attempts to pry out some sort of an explanation of his utterly unhinged behavior in front of other customers I was able to glean some amount of information. As a result of all this, we were late to my child's class that morning. Had I known this, I would course never bother to try to come and return their equipment as early as possible. When I came home, I discovered that he charged the card I left with him with some arbitrary fees (several times the amount it should have been charged as a late penalty per their own contract), just out of his spitefulness, without even telling me so, an invoice or an explanation of the charges. read more

Just excellent service. They care about getting you the right gear. They are right off the road on the way to Dodge and they are far less expensive than renting at dodge. The best value for the money. They have a huge selection of sizes so they are going to have your size. They are very popular though so get there early to avoid the line and have a great day in the slopes. read more

I do not like leaving negative reviews; I prefer to use reviews to support the businesses doing good and withhold my business from those not providing good business. Due to safety concerns, I think it is important to leave a negative review for Heidi's Ski Shop. The good about my experience with Heidi's: The young girl who provided my skis asked if I had skied before and quickly and thoroughly explained how to clip the boots into the skis, noting some key things to look for when clipping in. The neutral: They were quick at getting us in and out, both while renting and while returning; despite warning us about ensuring we bring back the correct gear we rented, they did not even check the gear as we returned it. Heidi's does not rent helmets--they only sell them--so if you want to rent helmets, you have to go through a second rental process at Dodge Ridge. You are required to physically leave an ID or Credit Card at Heidi's. The bad: They only provide one boot to try on and, despite mentioning we were beginners, no guidance was given on determining fit and proper tightness when buckling boots. During check out I noted the poles were different lengths; I was given a new pair that were slightly closer in length and quite bent. The left boot I rented was extremely difficult to click into the left ski; I noted this when returning the boots and the guy looked at the boot heal and noted the heal was blown out; he stated that explained why it was difficult to click into the ski (every time I clicked in the left boot took 10+ tries while the right boot clicked in in 1-2 tries). The left boot also had a broken buckle making it difficult to get the boots tight enough. The boots were also two different boots one black and one gray green with different buckles; when I mentioned this while returning the gear, the guy noted they had likely been paired together because they were the same size, but a different year of roughly the same model. Despite noting these issues with the damaged gear, no apology was given and no refund was offered. When renting gear I expect used gear; I should not have to say that I expect gear to be unbroken and functional. Due to the faulty, broken gear, I gave up after 3 runs to avoid risking injury. Heidi's Ski Rental $30 for skis+boots+poles Dodge Ridge Helmet Rental Fee $15 Dodge Ridge Adult Beginner Lift Ticket $59 Total Rental and Lift Ticket Costs: $ 104** (not including tax) Dodge Ridge Ski Rental Package $59 Dodge Ridge Adult All Day All Lifts Ticket $129 Dodge Ridge Ski Rental+Beginner Lift Ticket Package $112** ($169 all lifts) **The $112 all inclusive Dodge Ridge rentals and beginner lift ticket is not that much more than $104 total we spent when renting the broken boots+skis+poles at Heidi's. TLDR: Broken gear; not actually saving time or much money. Heidi's does not rent helmets so you still have to stand in Dodge Ridge's rental lines. read more

Heidi's Ski Shop - Black left boot (broken buckle not seen, under pant leg) and grey green right boot. - Ski & Snowboard Shops Near Me - Cold Springs, California

Wow talk about rude staff! I definitely feel like they are NOT used to seeing or dealing with different types of people.. I walked into the shop in a very nice, friendly manner asking if they had sleds to rent. The girl working there just looked at me with disgust and acted like I was bothering her when they literally had NO customers. She said the gas station next door did and I said thank you and I as I proceeded to leave, I asked her a question about snow tires. Her whole body language was very negative and you can tell I was not wanted in the store. Never would I want someone else to experience the way I felt when I was in this area. They definitely need to be out of business and hopefully travelers will find a better, more respectable place to spend their money. read more

I would give negative 5 stars if that was an option! Stopped here on the way to a family trip to Dodge Ridge to pick up snowboarding boots for two of my kids. The boots were completely trashed, they had many rips and tears that resulted in the kids having soaked feet after just a few runs. Needless to say it ruined their time on the mountain. I really wish I had rented boots from the from Dodge Ridge instead. When I returned the boots at the end of the day and shared my feedback, they stated they had a huge amount of business and were down to the last of their inventory. They offered a credit for a future rental. I declined their offer and asked that they instead throw away the boots they had rented us as they weren't fit for rentals! I understand it being busy, but I would have much rather been told they were out of inventory, than to be given subpar, crappy gear at their normal full price rental fee. read more

Great service, affordable prices, super convenient! Gear is in good shape and up to date with industry!

Went here to pick up boards/shoes for a day of fun at Dodge Ridge. If you check-in here you get $5 off your rentals. For $23 you really can't beat that! The guy that helped us was nice and informative. I would come back and rent from here again. read more

DO NOT MAKE THE MISTAKE of stopping here on the way up to the ski area. Look at all the one-star reviews. This is the worst ski rental shop I have ever had the displeasure to visit. Zero stars. First, they are extremely slow. There were only 15 people ahead of me and it took one hour to just get to the door. Second, the staff at this shop is the rudest ever--a bunch of teens who don't realize that the only reason they are in business is their location. Third, they have unreasonable terms. They want either your driver license or a credit card (!!!) as a deposit. Well, I could not leave the DL because I needed to pickup my ski tickets. And have you ever heard of requiring to leave a credit card? All other shops just put a deposit charge and then remove it when you return the equipment. What if the credit card is used to buy stuff online? Anyway, after I pointed this out, they simply refused to serve me. That's right, after waiting for an hour I had to leave without skis just for questioning their terms. Contrast this with the fast and excellent service at the resort rental station. Yes, it may be more expensive, but they at least deserve my business. read more

We arrived late to the Pinecrest Area around 2-3pm but thank goodness the guy there allowed us to still rent out snowshoes for us & to return back the next day before 5pm. Rental prices was reasonable for a family of 5. This was our 1st time to ever be in the area so I can't really say their was really a 5 star or not. Next time I come again I will find out. read more

Great deal and service. Only gripe I have is that you have to return by 5pm. Not sure how strict they are but they make it sound strict.

I've been renting from Heidi's Ski Shop since the early 80's and then I bought my own skis. I moved away and when I fly back to California I have to rent my skis so I still use Heidi's. The best thing about Heidi's is that you can call ahead if you've recently rented from them and they'll have your rentals adjusted ready and waiting for you when you arrive to pick them up! read more

Clayton was great! He was helpful and gave us all the info that we needed. He helped us to get our gear.

The only place to rent skis and snowboards in the winter and paddle boards in the summer. Or stop by for a quick wax with friEndly staff.

Fast, inexpensive and convenient for both skis and snow shoes. Way easier than renting in the Bay Area. Thank you Heidi!

I had the audacity to enter this small shop when people were returning equipment. I was met by 2 rude, frantic employees who barked at me that they were closed (the door was open) three times. The owner did not staff more help on the busiest ski weekend of the year during one of the best ski seasons of the decade. I asked to borrow a tool again a rude and condesending response. Why would you expect to work overtime on the busiest ski weekend of the year when the owner does not add help? The owner Heidi then echoed her employee's rudeness by telling me she is "not a psychic" when I asked her how long will it be to rent skis. You are right Heidi clearly you are not a psychic because if you were you would have staffed your shop properly and professionally to handle the hundreds of people that enjoy skiing on Presidents weekend during an epic snow season. Also I rented here before, the equipment was worn. I wanted to give them a second chance last month. Also they are not much cheaper than Dodge Ridge. Their equipment is newer and better maintained. Most importantly their staff is kind and informative. Sports Basement is highly recommended. read more

I went stand up paddle boarding for the first time (arranged though Lair of the Bear, where I was camping for the week) at Beardsley Lake with Heidi and her two assistants. Despite having her young child with her (which kept her shore-bound), Heidi was a great coach for Juli, who was nervous about paddle boarding. She got Juli to stand up and really love paddle boarding. Heidi's assistants on the water were both friendly and gave clear and helpful instructions about paddle boarding. Danny gave me particularly good advice about improving my paddling. Juli and I spoke at length with Heidi after completing our paddle boarding session and thought she was friendly and reasonable. I'd definitely do business with her again. read more

Heidi's is fantastic! Only $25 for a ski rental (including boots, skis and poles) for the day. They were super friendly and there were no lines. It's only 7 miles away from Dodge Ridge and much easier than renting at the mountain. read more

Heidi's was everything you could ask for in rental spot. They're located right on the way to Dodge Ridge, they keep the rental process quick and easy, and they are much cheaper than the rental shop on the mountain. If you're headed to Dodge Ridge, save yourself the hassle and rent from Heidi's. read more

Well I stopped here to rent a pair of boots for my cousins daughter and despite the snail crawl service and the somewhat stand-offish attitude towards snowboarders we rented the boots. Okay now fast foward to the very next weekend and we decide to rent a couple more pairs of boots only this time he hiked the price up $10 from the week before. To sum it up this place is a joke, the hippie with the weird hat is pretty rude, and if your not a skier then don't anticipate a warm welcome. My advice is if you need to rent anything then stop in at 'Pure Boardom' right off highway 108 in Sonora and the owner Adam will take care of you. read more

Gave us some bad advice, rented us snow shoes for 1 day and sent us on a wild goose hunt for a place to use them. Pros: Convenient location for dodge ridge ski resort. Cons: not knowledgeable about area and will give you bad advice read more

Discovered Heidi's a couple seasons back and have never rented from the lodge ever since. Staff is friendly and the price is right! The even let us off the hook when we didn't return a pole because it was stolen by someone else at the resort. The only downside is that it can get busy on peak days, so I would recommend getting there early. Otherwise love Heidi's and would recommend to anyone headed to Dodge read more

The in-store prices do not match their online offerings. I paid $60 for rentals that should have cost $30. Beware, if your children are average height for their age, you will be charged for adult prices. They base their fees on height, NOT age (unlike every other resort/rental place). Their prices for children's equipment are not better than renting directly from Dodge. Their equipment shows lots of wear. Ski boots were peeling and cracking, ski poles were mismatched and bent. Two of the three sets of skis we rented needing a binding adjustment on the mountain. One was set too long and the boot would not stay clicked in, and one was not set tightly enough and the binding moved back and the boot came out while skiing. Yes, the service is quick but the quality control suffers. read more

Me and my family rented skis over this past New's Year's Weekend. Heidi's staff was friendly and helpful. They also moved us in and out in a quick manner. They advised us the best time (i.e. least crowded) time to come and rent. We skied a second day (after a one day break) and since they had our measurements, we were able to call ahead the night before and they pulled our equipment for us. Their rates are better then Dodge Ridge. The best part was arriving at Dodge Ridge, with our skis, and seeing the huge slow rental line, snaked outside of the facility. We avoided that line, bought our lift tickets and hopped on the slopes. read more

This place is great for summer and winter fun! They are super conveniently located right on highway 108 just past the gas station in coldsprings just 5 minutes from Pinecrest and 10 to dodge ridge. They rent paddle boards in the summer and even do yoga on the lake with an amazingly sweet instructor. In the winter they rent skis snowboards and snowshoes at a better prices than the resort and are way faster! The folks at Heidis have always been super friendly and have great insights about the area! Don't miss out on what they've got to offer! read more

I have nothing good to say about Heidi's. The woman working there is rude beyond belief. The equipment is old. If there is a problem with your equipment, your day is done. Dodge Ridge ski shop will not touch Heidi's equipment. I helped a dad and his kid on the slopes this weekend who were having a bad day. One binding on his ski had not been adjusted at all, so he kept popping out of his left ski. It was his first day skiing. Very frustrating. Sure enough Heidi's rentals. They still had to buy lift tickets. Dodge Ridge would not fix the ski's because they were not their own. They still had to buy lift tickets, drive up the mountain, etc. Dodge Ridge equipment is much better than Heidi's and they go out of their way to be nice and helpful. If you have a problem with equipment, they will fix it. Yes it's more expensive, but in my mind the only way to go. You are really rolling the dice at Heidi's. I am not a Dodge Ridge employee, but have skied there for thirty years. I would not have written this bad review if I didn't see first hand how rude and disorganized the woman who seems to be running this shop is. I was so embarrassed for my firends that she was so rude. They were just trying to rent some boots and this woman actually refused service to us just because my friend asked some questions about the boots (in a nice way). Just shocking! read more

Great shop with a friendly knowledgable staff that takes care of your needs! And a great place to rent gear and avoid the long lines at the resorts. read more

The skis I rented were not in good shape. The worst part was the verbal abuse from Heidi. She does not know how to run a business and treat customers with respect or courtesy. We had to wait a very long time to pick up ours skis. Not worth the savings to us, easier to just pick them up at the mountain and not lug the gear from the parking lot. read more

We rented skis from Heidi's three times this week. The first day, eight of us were in and out in record time. They were remarkably efficient while taking time to make sure the boots fit comfortably. The return process was just as efficient. The second time we rented, we brought the paperwork from the first time, and they were able to pull all of the same gear for us. The third time, they held our paperwork and we called ahead so they could pull the gear before we got there. Heidi and Clayton were knowledgeable and friendly, and the gear fitted and worked well. This was our third year renting from Heidi's, and we will definitely be back for a fourth! read more

Another great season with Heidi's, the fourth for our family. The best place to get equipped for Dodge Ridge. Everyone is super nice and you can't beat the prices. Equipment has always been great. We'll be back next year! read more

The service here was not good. They completely false advertised about the rentals. The equipment was old and worn out. It was in super bad shape. On the website the kids price was fifteen dollars for skis, boots, and poles. I was with my two kids and they charged me double, for the crappiest equipment. The poles were bent, and weren't even the same brand. The boots were peeling and cracking. So, after discovering the price on the website, we went to return the equipment after our day in the snow. I asked the staff what the price was all about. She replied that the equipment was adult sized so we were charged the adult price. That doesn't make sense because they are only twelve. Even if you don't mind that, the adult price on the website was twenty five dollars. They charged me thirty. When I asked them about that, they just replied with a vague "oh well, we changed the prices." They should have changed the price online, because it's not like it was early in the season. However there was no indication inside the store of the prices. Overall, not satisfied. Just rent from Dodge Ridge for $3 more and that comes with a helmet. read more

Referred here by a friend and was not disappointed. Awesome selection of great looking paddle boards. The paddle length was adjustable so it was easy to find the perfect fit. Took me a second to get the hang of it but I was blasting across the water in no time. Bring a snack because you'll want to stay out all day! read more

You save a few $$ renting here, but you get what you pay for. I rented 4 pairs of snowboarding boots that were all in really bad condition -- rips on the inside and outside. Being that I had already waited outside for nearly 30 minutes, I just didn't want to wait in line again at Dodge so we managed, but I regretted it and won't be back. I don't know if I've ever seen such poor ski/snowboarding equipment being rented out anywhere else before. read more

I stopped in last and rented skis with a friend the prices were much better than dodge ridge and the service was good while waiting they waxed a pair of skis for me price was 5 bucks and did a great job then refused my money. Ya gotta love this place. There service and price is enough for my continued business. read more

Interesting. My review was missing from yelp. I would not rent from this place. I just saw another person on the mountain with a ski that would not stay attached to their ski boot. Another bad binding adjustment by Heidi's. read more

Great selection of stand up paddleboards for all ability levels and the only place to rent them in the area. Highly recommend.