How to Get the Most from a Consumer Demo Day
Buying skis or a snowboard is a big investment. So is buying a car. Before you buy a car, you try it out, right? After all, you need to make sure it feels right and drives right.
Before you buy skis or a snowboard, it's a good idea to try it out first. Luckily, it's a lot easier to try out equipment than it used to be. There are basically two ways to do this:
- Rent high-performance demo equipment at a rental shop near your home or at a resort. Many shops let you pay one fee to try out a certain number of skis or snowboards.
- Attend a consumer demo day at a resort in your area. The best of these are demo days organized by a large shop or a sales rep association, because they typically have many brands, not just one.
Here are some tips on getting the most from an equipment demo:
- Take the first run of the day on your own equipment, so you can have a baseline for comparison.
- Have in mind several models you want to test, based on magazine equipment reviews (Ski, Skiing, Ski Press) and/or recommendations of the reps or shop employees.
- Don't try to test too many models in one day. Five or six is about right for most people.
- Take two or three runs on each model, staying on the same terrain.
- Try the product at various speeds within your comfort range, and make a variety of turns. Factors to take into consideration are stability, comfort, weight, edge grip and maneuverability. In a word, is it "you"ser-friendly?
Factors to take into consideration are stability, comfort, weight, edge grip and maneuverability. In a word, is it "you"ser-friendly? Remember, it is all about you, not what your friends are skiing on.
Make written notes. (Tuck a small notebook and pen into your pocket.) You may think you'll remember each model you test, but written notes are your best bet.
Once you have narrowed down your choices, take a few moments to talk with the equipment reps to verify your choice, check on the sizing and get any last minute questions answered. The equipment reps can also point you in the right direction when it comes to choosing a reputable ski shop to make your purchase.
This article is from Snowsports Industries of America’s web site Winter Feels Good
