I came with my partner and her son to rent gear for their first experience skiing. I have to say, this place was terrible. I am not sure we are even writing for the correct place as it is "Vail Sports Kids Rentals." I am imagining it is however as the only other review was also one star. When we came in initially to get their equipment fitted (boots, helmets, etc...) the guy serving us, though he was sweet with our boy regarding Star Wars, it seemed he was way more interested in talking with his colleagues about a "chick night" in Breckenridge than figuring out what we actually needed. It took almost an hour to get the gear and we were literally the only people in the store (3pm on a Friday).
Consequently, on the mountain (at the top of the gondola) our six year old kept walking out of his skis. The setting of the bindings could not even hold him in shuffling. I ended up tightening the bindings so he could actually practice being ON skis. My brother and I (both Vail natives, and both Vail ski instructors- though I am no longer working for the mountain) thankfully had the where with all to tighten them so that he would not get injured just walking.
When we came to discuss this with the rental place at the end of the day, they argued with us and stated we had selected negative one as his skier type. I had selected the lowest skier type offered on the sign in and they stated that I had selected the type for children with special needs or ACL tears. When I inquired about where the "types" were posted, they stated that they were posted on the wall. Upon looking I realized that there was no descriptor for any "type negative one," just type one, two, and three. My guess is that if there is some discrepancy between the sign and the level that people sign up for there should be some "professional assessment" done to clarify.
In addition the next morning the rental place also lost my partners rentals and searched for new skis for twenty minutes after which they had to set her up on new skis. So that was an additional bother.
Really the error was an annoyance, especially considering the fact that in Lionshead with beginners you can't just hop down the mountain to get things remedied. That would require wasting your $100+ ticket. Mostly the rudeness, the arguing, and the lack of accountability was what made the experience terrible. Having worked for Vail for almost a decade in total, I know the quality of service that the resort expects. This place is certainly sub par in that regard. A quick way to repair would have been a simple apology or perhaps a discount or a comped storage bin. We will not be returning to this rental place. With so many to choose from, one would think you would strive to compete. We will go to double diamond. I should have trusted my initial instincts with that. read more