Beginner

To get the thread back on topic:

You can hire stuff in the U.K. but I don't know about other countries

http://www.skitogshire.co.uk/store/what2wear.php

If you look at the 'what's in your bag for a week's ski-ing' thread you might find it helpful.

I hope you enjoy yourselves,

Ally

We booked the holiday yesterday, we are going to Sauze D'Oulx in Italy on the 27th December for 7 nights. What is best to do skiing or snowboarding or do we try both. Were just worried that if we try both we are not going to improve enough in either. Also can you just hire the ski's and ski passes when you get to the resort? or is it best to pre- order them.

Hi HelzBelz,
It is generally cheaper if you book your skis and boots ahead of time on the internet, direct from the ski hire shop, as you get a discount. It is best to find the shop closest to your hotel especially if you are ski-ing as it's very hard work walking along in ski boots carrying skis. You usually have to pay a deposit, and the balance when you get there.

The lift price is the same whether you buy it ahead of time or in resort, if you are buying it direct from the lift operators through the tourist board website. But if you buy it ahead of time and get it posted out to you it saves queueing to buy one when you get there. If you are thinking about buying them through the tour operator then you will have to check their prices against the direct internet prices, to see which is the cheapest.

I don't know whether you should try boarding or ski-ing. I've only ever been ski-ing. But I would think you should decide to stick to one or the other, and if you want to be in lessons together then you will have to agree which one to try. You can book lessons ahead of time as well.

Hope this helps,

Ally

Helzbelz, have you booked your holiday with a tour operator?

Thanks AllyG - all the information we can get before we go is helpful. I have heard that skiing is easier to pick up.

snowb4ndit - we booked through thomson, but just booked the flight, transfer and hotel,with the view to sort the ski hire out when we get to the resort.

Hi,
Great choice of resort in picking Sauze – myself and OH learnt to ski there a couple of years ago and loved it.
As a first ski (or snowboard) holiday, you may find it cheaper to book a learn to ski package through the tour op (we used Thompsons too) as these tend to include lift pass, lessons and ski/snowboard hire and usually work out much cheaper than booking everything separately. I can also thoroughly recommend the ski school that Thompsons/Crystal use, especially Sergio who is fantastic.
If you have any other questions about Sauze, I'll do my best to help.
Have fun :D
Lynn

Having only started skiing last year I would say Skiing is easier to pick up (judging by the amount of first time boarders in saw on their backside) so if you are going for a week i would and thats only my opinion try skiing first, you can always go for snowboarding once you have the feel for the conditions.

Steve

Hey Ally, thanks for the tip. I'll be in London at the begining of december, and going back there after, so I could hire something there, but I would prefere if there were somewhere to hire in Sauze, so I wouldn't have to carry things throughout Europe and save some money.

HelzBelz, we are at the same spot in planning, but my ski-trip is only for 2 days.

I was also thinking about hiring equipment there. Don't know how cheaper would that be to book from the internet, but since I don't know exactly what I need, I think personally will be easier to pick, and maybe people would help me at the store. If it helps, I've found 4 stores there, 2 Maison Clataud (http://www.clataud.it/) and 2 Lo Sportivo (http://www.losportivo.net/inglese/noleggio.html). I think my hotel is a partner of Lo Sportivo, so I hope they have some discount for me. I'll email them and find things out. Since I'm not using a tour op, I guess I can't book those combined equipment-lift-lessons packages. And I don't think I'll book lessons this time. Gonna try it the hard way, haha.

About snowboard vs ski, I'm also deciding. I'm thinking ski is similar to inline skating and snowboard to skateboard. As I'm fine at skating but haven't skateboarded so much, I think it would be easier to ski, but I've always dreamed of snowboarding, so I'll probably choose the board (and I thinks its cooler). One thing is for sure, I'll stick to one of them the whole time.