The Ski Shops We Love.

[ski diva]

Some of us have ski shops that we absolutely love. They have a great selection; they offer good service, whether it's for tuning or whatever; they don't treat women like idiots (as we've covered in another thread); and they're knowledgeable about their products.

So list 'em here and tell us what makes them so great. (if you work in a shop, please don't list your own). Could be a valuable resource for the rest of us Divas.

 

[SnowHot]

Don Orr Ski Shop in Traverse City is tops in my book.
Another shop I really get a lot out of is KP Shop at Crystal Mountain.
I know you usually don't think of a ski shop at a mountain as an ideal shop, but KP has one of the top Pedorthists in Northern Michigan, and you can't go wrong with their boot fitter, Jim.

They carry a wider variety of skis and have a great demo selection which is amazingly convenient for a slope side ski shop.

 

[Jilly]

Daniel Lachance and Ski Max in the old village of Mont Tremblant. Ski Max doesn't sell any clothes, except race stuff. Best place for skis and boots though.

 

[first lift last call]

Profeet in London for boot fitting. Sorted out my alignment very nicely.

 

[SnowHot]

Don Orr Ski Shop in Traverse City is tops in my book.
Another shop I really get a lot out of is KP Shop at Crystal Mountain.
I know you usually don't think of a ski shop at a mountain as an ideal shop, but KP has one of the top Pedorthists in Northern Michigan, and you can't go wrong with their boot fitter, Jim.

They carry a wider variety of skis and have a great demo selection which is amazingly convenient for a slope side ski shop.

After I posted this ^^^^^^, I realized that I totally missed something important.
Back in the day, you really only had the option of finding a local shop you trusted and did business with. If you were lucky, you found more than one, so you could check out different brands and bounce ideas around.

Today, we not only have the benefit of local shops that we trust and DO BUSINESS WITH(very important to do that!!!), but we have the wonderful on line options.

For me, I've been especially privileged to do business with Sierra Jim from EpicSki
www.sierrasnowboard.com

Another great on line resource, that I have grown to love and trust is Outdoor Divas.
https://www.outdoordivas.com/outdoordiv/

So, you see, when I pick a shop I love, I have broadened my horizons, though I still feel a deep need to support my local guys as much as possible.

 

[RachelV]

Today, we not only have the benefit of local shops that we trust and DO BUSINESS WITH(very important to do that!!!), but we have the wonderful on line options.

Yeah, I bought my last pair of skis (head monster im77's) from dawgcatching/Scott on epic, and he was great. I called him at the shop (Village Bike and Ski in Washington) before I made my final decision, and he knew something about every ski I demo'ed and just really knew what he was talking about in general. Great price, great guy, skis shipped right to my door. Pretty awesome.

 

[Greeley]

I believe it was in Pete Lane's in Sun Valley and I think it was the owner's wife that was waiting on me.
This was during the jumpsuit era... I was trying on a goretex jumpsuit and made the comment that I like the larger size, the smaller one was more snug than I like in the rear. She made the comment about the women that wear jumpsuits so tight that they blow their boots off when they fart. We were laughing until we cried.
Oh, and bought the jumpsuit.
For equipement - I think my husband & I have bought more skis and boots from Christy Sports in Colorado than the other shops put together. I've just found that you have to find the right sales person.

 

[altagirl]

The Sport Loft in SLC definitely has the best bootfitters around (Earl and his son) but they are EXPENSIVE. But if you have foot issues - it's well worth the money.

Back when the exchange rate made it worthwhile (4 years ago at least) telemark-pyrenees.com was fantastic. Great deals and great customer service, even from overseas.

Backcountry.com is also excellent, and I think I know half their employees. I love that items I order are generally at my house in a day or two even with normal shipping and well, heck, if I didn't have amazing customer service, I'd know who to complain to! ;)

Black Diamond is it for anything touring or telemark related.

And I think the Lift House is probably the best for alpine-related stuff.

 

[Greeley]

AltaGirl, I agree the Lift House in SLC is one of the best around. It was one of our favorites when we used to ski in Utah. I also buy a lot of 'stuff' from backcountry.com.

 

[ski diva]

My two favorites (both in Vermont):

Northern Ski Works, in Ludlow, Killington, and Bridgewater
Aspen East Ski Shop, Killington

Great selection, nice people, knowledgeable staff.

 

[RachelV]

Northern Ski Works, in Ludlow, Killington, and Bridgewater

Oh, yeah - I should have mentioned the Northern Ski Works in Killington. My husband has boot issues and their bootfitters have been really helpful.

 

[first lift last call]

I'm echoing

 

[first lift last call]

Apologies, I'll finish the message this time before hitting post! Echoing Altagirl's comments re telemarkpyrenees. Well worth taking a look if you are based in the UK, as you can pick up a lot of kit you can't get in the UK and their service is great.

 

[dloveski]

Sport Loft

The Sport Loft in SLC definitely has the best bootfitters around (Earl and his son) but they are EXPENSIVE. But if you have foot issues - it's well worth the money.


I second this--Earl is a genius, worth the $$ and the one hour fit session.

 

[sibhusky]

There WAS a shop here in Whitefish called Ski Mountain Sports that I loved the people even though they didn't carry the brands I liked. They were great to my daughter who was a racer. When they had to close their doors, a local ski instructor thought it was terrible that they were closing and took over the space, managing to catch some of the employees before they were taken by other shops. That shop, MSI (Mountain Sports Inc.?) was wonderful to my daughter, her former boyfriend and I as we all had our boots fit there. They even worked on her boots for seven hours for a minimal fee ($40) although she'd gotten them direct from a rep. And here is the reason I am now devoted.....they sent me a get well card within ONE DAY of my accident, signed by everyone in the store! So, even though I still won't be getting my next pair of SKIS from them (I like K2's), I am still their customer for boot issues (Blake) and ski tuning (when I don't do it myself). I also plan to take my questionable skis into them for a repair soon. (When I hit the tree, my binding toe piece was ripped off the ski. I think I need the skis and the bindings checked for usability.)

 

[Quiver Queen]

Competitive Edge in East Longmeadow, MA.
For boots--Starting Gate by Stratton.

 

[cyn]

Count me in for Northern Ski works. Great tunes, boot fitting and service.
In Fernie, I like Ski Base for bootfitting and general service.

 

[Quiver Queen]

Also Basin @ Killington is a good shop for clothing and gear. I've recently discovered Carol there, one of the most knowledgable boot fitters I've ever run across. She's got an incredible memory of her customers' boot issues, is very willing to share her information, and is very interested in making things fit and work just right.

 

[SueNJ]

Ditto Northern Ski Works (Killington was the one I went to).

Also in VT, Green Mountain Orthotics Lab at Stratton--excellent bootfitters who worked miracles with my awful feet, and who take you on the mountain to test-drive what they've done after they work on your boots.

Locally in NJ, I recommend Pelican Ski Shop in Morris Plains--specifically, I deal with Ray Bush, who is their senior bootfitter and who makes it his business to get to know the ski lines for the upcoming season (his wife, also a great skier, demos the women's skis so he gets a woman's perspective as well).

 

[CMCM]

Granite Chief in Truckee Calif., near Squaw Valley. Great great bootfitters who won't quit tweaking until your boots are just right, nice selection of other stuff including clothing and gloves. Great sales, too! And Sierra Snowboard's gigantic store in Sacramento....huge ski selection, huge selection of everything for skiing. Nice, knowledgeable people who will spend eons of time helping you. If you're lucky enough to encounter Sierra Jim, he's an encyclopedia of knowledge because he's been on most of the skis himself!