Stop Buying Skis Blindly - It's Time to Demo

Featured Image: Elise Sterck

One could say that demoing skis is a skier's version of “boots-on-the ground journalism.” Instead of just choosing a ski because the topsheet is cool or everyone on your Instagram is talking about it, you get to see for yourself if the hype is really all that. Buying a ski is no small investment, so taking the time to make sure you like how they feel can pay off in the long run.

While our Buyer’s Guide that’s about to drop can give you an idea of which new skis you might like, you’ll never really know how Kästle’s new freeride-focused Transcend line feels or how Atomic’s first-ever park-focused ski slides on rails and stomps out of jumps until you get them on snow. 

But what exactly is demoing a ski? It’s kind of like dating: You don’t want to rush into a decision, so you date around before finding “the one.” In this case, “the one” is your next favorite pair of skis. Many ski shops across the U.S. offer demo programs, giving you the chance to put different skis to the test before committing to a purchase. First things first, let's talk about how this whole process works. 

What is a Demo Ski?

Photo: Elise Sterck

A demo ski isn’t just a regular rental ski. These are fleets made up of high-performance skis that give skiers the chance to test different shapes, constructions and styles before committing to the planks. You're likely to come across a selection of the most popular skis on the market, pairs that you would actually want to get on, whereas rental fleets are comprised of generic models

This isn't to confuse you with a seasonal demo rental, though. With a seasonal demo rental you can have them for the whole season while a demo test is usually only one to two days long. Many seasonal demo skis aren’t this year’s models, nor do they go towards a ski purchase like most demo tests programs offer. But choosing a demo ski for the season is a good way to learn what you like, since you’ll have it for the whole winter. Even though they are older models, they still can give you an idea for the types of ski shapes you’ll see on the sale wall. 

For an actual demo test program, the selection depends on the shop and what they sell. Some shops only carry specific brands, so if you know you want to try a specific brand, I’d recommend calling the shop and asking if they carry it before you go in. 

How Does This Work? 

Photo: Gabe Rovick

When you get to the store, you’ll talk to a technician about your skiing ability and the type of ski you want to try. Even if you have no clue what type of ski you are looking for, that is okay, as the technician is there to act as your match maker for the ski. Once you pick out your first ski to try, they’ll make binding adjustments with either your personal boot or the rental boot they give you. After that, you're free to rip them. 

Depending on the store you go to, they’ll give you a limit for the number of skis you can try in a day. That is why research ahead of time is key, so you know which ski you want to try. Some demo programs set it up so you only take around two to three runs per ski if you're trying out multiple skis that day.

You’ll repeat this process a couple of times with different skis, but usually, once you find the one, you’ll know. After you’ve reached your limit or the lifts have stopped spinning for the day, you’ll talk to the shop tech and potentially find yourself walking out the door with a new pair of skis! 

Pricing and Purchasing

The price depends on many factors, including whether you have your own boots or not. If you have your own boots, it usually costs between $70 and $100 per day to try multiple skis. Some stores offer programs where you pay around $200 for two days and then that money goes toward your purchase of a new ski at the end. If you want more days you'll have to pay a higher amount.

If you need a full setup (boots and skis) when demoing, those prices will be higher. It is recommended to buy boots first rather than skis, as boots are the most vital piece of equipment in your setup.

Sometimes demo skis will come with bindings, but most of the time they are on a rental track, meaning the bindings aren’t actually drilled into the ski. This can reduce the power transfer and precision between your boot, binding and ski.

Take Notes

Photo: Elise Sterck

When you're demoing a ski, take notes so you can compare skis when it comes time to making a decision. It can be as easy as taking out your phone and jotting down a few things you either liked or disliked about the ski on the lift. But what should you be looking out for?

First, note your conditions. Try and demo skis in conditions or type of terrain you usually find yourself skiing in the most. Of course, testing the skis in variable conditions is arguably a good way to do it too, so you know how it handles different types of snow. 

Testing skis is an intricate process, as we at FREESKIER know well. Come into the day knowing what you look for in a ski. With today's technology, there are no bad skis, just skis built for different purposes. Do you want something stiff and stable at high speeds, perfect for big terrain or long turns? Or are you after a soft ski that you can effortlessly lay into and butter?

Most importantly though, never let one run decide how you like a ski. More often than not, when we humans try something new, we are caught a little off guard. But with time those new things begin to grow on us. So give each ski the old college try, and if you still don’t like it after a couple of runs, you know it’s not the one for you. 

Who Does This? 

So now you have a baseline idea for how a demo program works, but who actually does this? Most resort-owned rental stores (e.g., Breckenridge Rentals) offer demo programs and are a more convenient option because they are located on the mountain, making swaps throughout the day fast. Many independent ski shops in small mountain towns or in the Front Range also offer demo options and give you a more hands-on, personal experience, since they're usually less busy than on-mountain locations. It all just depends on the experience you want.

Bigger chains like Christy Sports and Epic Mountain Gear offer demo programs at specific locations, usually ones closer to mountains or at on-mountain locations. It is also good to check your local mountain’s calendar, since many mountains host annual demo days where you can buy a ticket to try different skis all day long. Sometimes it's included for seasonal pass holders with Ikon or Epic passes.

But, as I said before, do research beforehand, like reading our Buyer’s Guide, to get an idea of which brand or ski you want to try, and then call the shops before heading in to verify they have the ski you want to try. Hopefully, this information helps you get one step closer to walking out of a store with your very own set of skis over your shoulder.