Should be one star, but the manager was friendly, so I'll throw in an extra star.
The guy who helped me rent demo skis was insufferably "attitudinal." The folks who work these places need to realize (or be told by their employers) that not everyone who rents skis is a beginner or is renting because they don't own skis, and especially those renting a demo package. I own six pairs of skis, am 64 years old, and started skiing at age 4. I have a racing background and still race masters. I often rent demo skis for the convenience when I travel, and especially if I am only skiing a few days, but I always bring my own boots.
The guy was kind of monosyllabic, didn't smile or greet me, and acted like he was too good for all this. He mumbled, "What length do you want?" I respond, "175-180." He brings out a pair of Rossignols that are 176 cm, stands them next to me, and says, "Those are too big for you." I tell him I own two pairs of skis that are 179 and 181 and used to ski on 205s before shaped skis (I am 5'9" and 195 lb). I then asked him if he had something that was wider under foot and he just looked at me. I am guessing he was a snowboarder, because he didn't know what I was talking about. So I clarified: given the spring conditions, I wanted something that was in the neighborhood of 95 cm under foot, plus or minus a few cm.
Before I could explain further, and realizing that this guy is just not about to let me look at the rack or give me a list of options, I spotted a pair of Blizzard Brahmas toward the front end of the rack, which are 88 under foot--not ideal, but I've heard good things about the ski and wanted to try them. It turns out, they are only 171 cm., but I tell the guy "I'd rather sacrifice a bit of length to get the ski I want." I put down that I was a level III skier and he tells me that the DIN chart says I need a 6.0 DIN setting. I tell him that a 6.0 would actually be dangerous the way I ski. If I start smashing bumps, those bindings will release. On this one issue, he was fairly accommodating--I asked if they had a III+ rating, and he said they did--so I was offered an 8.5 setting, and told him I would accept an 8. He then brought out a pair of poles without asking me. They were 46 inches. Not the adjustable kind. I tell him I need 48 inch poles and he swaps them out. Why not just ask?
Keystone was uncharacteristically icy and the ski was not tuned. I usually carve a ski, keeping it mostly on edge. These skis were dull. I know what a sharp ski feels like. The way I tune my own skis, even super icy hard packed runs are not a problem. When I returned the ski, I asked one of the guys if they tune the skis, and he replied (I am not kidding), "Every 3 or 4 months."
On top of that, the skis were really beaten up. Many rental shops treat skis like rental car companies treat cars: you run the skis for a year, and then sell them off. The next year, you start with new skis. These skis looked like the were several years old. Given the price point: $82 a day with a 20% discount for EPIC pass holders, they need to do better (note: after adding damage waiver and taxes, the total cost was still $78). read more
