Able to get away from the giants Sports2000, Intersport and Albersports which have a monopoly seemingly everywhere is tough, not so in Warth. They have Sport Jug, and although a chain, it is fairly small. Their benefit is that it's right up against the slope, pretty much a ski in and out shop which is brilliant! And the ski locker, which I'll get to in a bit.
If you want state of the art equipment, that's the 6* service, this years good skis are 5*, last years good skis are 4* and after that it's 3* and 2* service. Having gone for an intermediate package on my previous ski trip, 5* was the order of the day, just over €100 for 4 days, which is a decent price went hired on the day and not beforehand.
English isn't a strong point but we muddled through. I think the best part was when my friend asked if they would take the bindings off of the snowboard that he was renting so he could use his own. That was an interesting conversation with plenty of hand gestures.
Actually putting in your information is simple, they have computers that you enter everything into and then spits out a little slip of paper for the guys that actually get the skis, it's a really quick job and fast moving.
The really good bonus is the ski depot next door. Unlike most of the French resorts, St Anton Am Arlberg is not a ski in/ski out sort of place. Quite a lot of the time you're walking back to your place along the road or driving. Not having to carry skis is a bonus. Here they've got racks of locking points for skis and boot drying lockers. €1 per pair of boots or skis and they will be there for you in the morning ready to go. It's also indoors (saw some outdoor locking points... no thanks) so you can change where it's nice and dry.
Their stuff for sale is... limited, I wouldn't say it was the best especially having been to the Sports 2000 down the road (good stuff but expensive and quite a walk from the slopes). But I figure that they specialise in the rental and to be honest, if you're already there, most likely you've already got your gear or are simply replacing something lost/broken and not necessarily going for top of the line. read more
