Do your homework.  Plain and simple.  A salesperson should help you reinforce your buying decision not make it for you.  If you can arm yourself with some basic facts about the skis you are interested in you can fact check the salesperson you are talking with.  Be prepared with a few choices and if the person helping you continually pushes you toward the same manufacturer you should be wary.  There are a lot of great skis out there and most manufacturers will make a ski that will suit your style.

Comfort and trust come with credibility and knowledge. We’re here to inform our customers of the different technologies and advancements that ultimately make the ski experience easier and more fun for all types of skiers. We inquire and listen to our customers to help them build an idea of what type of skier they are so that we may suggest a certain type of ski, not just a particular brand.

Just as in boots, a good sales person will listen more than they talk.  Be wary of sales people who dominate the conversation.  An experienced sales person will ask questions to help them lead you into the right decision.  Remember, the ski is being chosen for you not the sales person.  Avoid sales people who tend to tell you what they like the best.  Chances are that you and that individual have very little in common once you are on the slopes.

The sales person is truly interested when he takes the time to ask a few questions and then listens to what the guest replies.  Follow up questions by the sales person along with suggestions of what might work best for the guest can then be discussed.

When purchasing a ski from a sales person, be sure that they are asking you questions in order to qualify you as a skier.  Finding out what type of skier you are, what type of runs you enjoy  -  if it’s Breckenridge  for example tell them you favorite run.  This gives the sales person an idea of where you like to spend your time.  How long and how often you ski can also be important to the type of ski you may purchase. 

Be wary of the Bro’ who says this one board is the best for you. He should give you at least 3 choices based on height, weight, foot size and riding style. Hopefully he will then go on to explain the performance differences between them.  Sorry to say but sometimes it does come down to graphics. As far as bindings go the first question should be “What size foot do you have?” Then it should be “What kind of boots do you have, did you bring one with you?” Then he should ask about your riding style. Anymore any binding will fit on any board. Some bindings are stiff and responsive, some are soft and forgiving. Hopefully he will then go on to explain the many adjustments that can be made on the binding.

You should be given all of your options for whatever it is you’re looking for (different companies, different models, etc.)  You shouldn’t be sold what the salesperson thinks is the best, but what the salesperson thinks is best for You!  Your ability level, your style of riding, your budget!