I am planning a ski tour in the Ecrins next Easter. The majority of our group will need to hire touring skis. We will be starting and finishing in Monetiers les Bains, entering the area via La Grave. I would be grateful for any input regarding what ski hire shops there are in the area that would be able to provide good kit.
Thanks
Paul Kutarski
try contacting John Hare. He lives down there. you should be able to use the website or FB to contact him
Hi - try Approach in BRIANÇON Sud
Kings in Vallouise
Brèchu Sports in Villeneuve
Melquiond in Chantemerle
Ski Complice in Chantemerle
Approach and Kings very helpful if you are. Melquiond main shop good - Daniel is the man there to answer a tech question or fit boots though doesn't normally deal with the hire side. Book as early as you can with any of them - touring gear hire around here is really still in it's early days. N.B. Most ski shops around here are closed until mid October school holidays and then again until Christmas holidays start. Approach are always open.
Have fun - you will always find worthwhile skiing around here.
well done John. we really need a page on the webste with this sort of info. it just needs someone to look after it....
John,
Thank you for the info. I will be in Serre Chevalier for some downhill earlier in the season and will pop into the shops you suggest.
I agree it would be really useful to have a database of hire shops where decent ski touring kit can be hired - it is really difficult to work out on line what the score is at most resorts. I now have all my own kit, but others I go with still need skis. Our group has hired from Passe Montagne in Geneva a couple of times - they provided good kit at a reasonable price and even left skis and picked them up for us from the Ibis at the airport - this worked well both times, but would be a problem if there were to be any issues with the kit and hence our desire to hire locally. In Chamonix I would strongly recommend Sanglard Sports, who have repeatedly given our group excellent service, providing good kit (and they didn't quibble over a significantly damaged touring ski last year), but my experience of hiring kit elsewhere has been very hit and miss.
That's a good point Phil, but changes from season to season might render much of the information redundant. I think this kind of query and up-to date response is evidence of the best practice in action. Website info somehow still retains an aura of authority that it may not deserve.
Last season I hired Superguide skis, Skins, Crampons, and poles from Braemar Mountain Sports <braemar@braemarmountainsports.com>
They UPS the skis to you well in advance, so you get a chance to check it all out at home. Then you UPS the skis back when you're done.
Hi Paul
We are ski touring around that area from April 22 to 27 from la Grave and over the back to the Dome des Ecrins if anyone is interested. For 5 to 6 days depending on the conditions, and we are going with a local guide Jean Yves Hubaud.
I would be very keen to hear how your trip goes best Janet Johnson