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How much does it cost to demo/is it worth getting new skis?

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.AR6rider.
Posts: 15976 - Karma: 8,799

So, I live/ski in Michigan, but I'm planning on taking hopefully two trips out to Colorado this year to visit a friend who now lives at Crested Butte, and at least one trip out east with my family, probably to Vermont.  The only skis I have are my AR6s.  I was looking into getting a pair of JJs or something similar to have as an all mountain/pow ski, but I have no use for them in Michigan.  Does anybody know how much it costs to rent a fatter ski for like 3-4 days at a time?  If I end up taking 3+ trips would it be worth it to buy new skis, or will it cost less just to demo?  I tried to google but didn't really find any good info.  Thanks guys.

Oct 27 2010 11:16PM
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jeremy.g
Posts: 4931 - Karma: 459
if i were you i would just try to pick up some used pow boards. in your situation i dont know if you can really justify buying a brand new pair but if you check some of sales in b/s/t there are some good deals and if you can pick one of those up then you are set.
Oct 27 2010 11:28PM
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phishfood
Posts: 2542 - Karma: 298
demo-ing rarely works out. you'll get up there and they'll have like a 165 pair of scratch BCs or something for pow skis...at least thats been my experience with demoing.

my suggestion would be to get a similar ski from a smaller company. JJ's are awesome, but you're paying a lot for the armada name brand + the fact that those skis sell out every season.

check out like bluehouse skis- they have similar skis but wayyy cheaper. and you're supporting a small company. i forget what their pow skis is (maestro or something?), but im pretty sure its only like 400 bucks and can't be much different than the JJ. pretty much any rockered ski over 110 underfoot will be shitloads of fun in pow
Oct 27 2010 11:46PM
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Ski.Ballet
Posts: 2860 - Karma: 200
I'd say either find a relatively inexpensive pair to buy or wait till you get to CB or wherever and demo a cool pair from a shop. They usually charge like $40/day for demos. Also, if you demo a pair from a shop, they will typically let you demo for free if you end up buying a pair after.
Oct 27 2010 11:53PM
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Casey
Posts: 7784 - Karma: 23,461

Here's what I would do if  I were you. I see hellbents on google shopping right now for 460. Or those bluehouse skis are 400 new. Buy em, steal your bindings off your ar6's for your trip. Ride them 10 times or whatever. At the end of the year, you have lightly used pow boards used 1 season that are still worth probly 3/4 of what you paid. Sell them on NS and you are out 100 bucks and some effort. Or keep them for next year when you go bakc.

Oct 28 2010 1:00AM
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grambo
Posts: 1125 - Karma: 93

^^^ What these guys said, problems with demoing:

1) Pain in the ass to get to a shop on first day/last day that has what you want (might not have the right model/length)

2) Not cheap, $30+ a day for "high performance" skis

3) What if it hasn't snowed for 3 weeks when you get there

I'd buy a used pow setup (check TGR gear swap), you can find good skis for $250-300 and bindings for $100. For example I sold my 4FRNT EHPs in pretty damn good condition for $300 this fall. Unless you are getting 30+ days a season there's no reason to buy new pow skis.

Oct 28 2010 12:32PM
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