Thread: Boulder Ski Deals shop - any recent experience?

Just picked up new skis and I need them mounted and tuned. Boulder Ski Deals is a relatively good deal - about $50 for the mount and tune - but I don't know if they're any good. I've never paid too much attention to that kind of thing, but last season I got a tune from Neptunes that was beyond horrible - it made my skis almost unskiable. So, I'm now wary of where I'm bringing them. Anyone got any info on whether BSD has a decent crew in the shop these days? Anywhere else you'd recommend in Boulder?

(I'd like to use Bent Gate or Green Mountain, but I can't justify driving that far, twice, for a ski mount when the fam only has one car right now and I'm not usually the one who has it.)

Careful using that sort of negative talk about Neptune's Pegleg. They've banned customers for less...

Originally Posted by Cruiser

Careful using that sort of negative talk about Neptune's Pegleg. They've banned customers for less...

It would be an honor. Not only did they fuck up the tune, they were dicks about the whole thing. I dropped off 2 pairs of skis for a tune on a Saturday afternoon, and was told that it would be a few days and they'd call when they were ready. On Sunday morning I get a call saying they're ready, and when I said "Oh, great, uh, I should be able to pick them up tomorrow" the girl on the phone says "Well, they've been sitting here and we really need the space. Can you get them today?" Sitting there? I dropped them off less than 24 hours ago. In any case, I say fine and - though it's a bit inconvenient - drive over to pick them up. Guess what? They can't find one pair of my skis, and after 20 minutes of looking they realize it's because that pair hasn't been tuned yet. "They should be done in a few days, we'll call you."

Then when I get out on the hill, the skis are all squirrely and won't hold an edge on anything. Terrible experience all around, and I haven't been back.

Alpine Base and Edge on Spruce and 28th. Absolutely the best around. I usually bring them some beer in addition to regular charges when i need something. I have absolute trust in these guys.
I've had hit or miss experiences at Neptune as well. I've never had a ski tune from Bent Gate, but I have a lot of respect for those guys too.

Boulder ski deals are good people. I have given that place tons of business over the years, and they have always been awesome to me. Most of the times they will do little things, like replace boot buckles for free. They even molded my intuitions for free last year. That alone has earned my business. They are also the only ski shop in boulder that doesn't close down or turn into a patio furniture store after April 1st.

sidenote...Join Boulder Freeride through CU. Its like $35 a year or $65 for 5 years (you don't have to be a student to join), and you get 50% off service including mounts and tunes at BSD. you also get 10% off hardgoods, and 20% off softgoods. great shop.

Disclaimer: It is owned by vail resorts, so if you hate corporate stores, don't go there.

I was just in there today, and asked the tech how they do their tunes - since some ski manufacturers use different bevel degrees on their edges these days. They said they tune everything to 90 degrees unless you specify otherwise. Not sure if this is the norm at all shops or not - but seems like it would affect the way the ski skis.

Originally Posted by Shepweird

Alpine Base and Edge on Spruce and 28th. Absolutely the best around. I usually bring them some beer in addition to regular charges when i need something. I have absolute trust in these guys.
I've had hit or miss experiences at Neptune as well. I've never had a ski tune from Bent Gate, but I have a lot of respect for those guys too.

^^
This

Peter and Charlie will make sure everything is done right.

Ski Deals has a Snowell machine and everything goes through it, as far as I know. I'm not saying it doesn't do a good job, but if you are super picky about your tune, Ski Deals might not be the place. What the tech told you is true. They tune 90deg for everything and I'm not saying they won't do it, but I've never heard of them beveling a ski. I just don't know how technical they get there.
With that said, I do like the shop. They have good prices and they don't seem mind if I fondle everything in the store. They are a great mass-consumer shop.

I used to take my gear to them but a few years back I had them do a mount and they forget to set the screws so just glue was holding the binding to the ski. Needless to say it ripped out at Winter Park at the top.

Hmm. I was trying to save myself a few bucks - a mount and new-ski prep at Alpine Base & Edge is $85, while it's about $55 at Boulder Ski Deals. But after my experience with that last shitty tune, maybe it's worth $30 to ensure that it's done right. I do like supporting the small local business, so maybe that's how I'll justify it. Thanks for all the input.

I've had great experiences with BSD with everything except tuning skis. It's a great shop; they've done great work on my skis, but I won't let them tune my skis again. I got a base grind and tune last year before a trip to SLC. It felt like the skis were sharper when I dropped them off. Fortunately I only needed edges on the first day, and skied powder the rest of my trip. I'll tune my own skis from now on. My recommendation is to have them mount the skis and do the tuning yourself.

peter is the man, at alpine base and edge

also, larry's boot fitting does mounts and stuff and is equally strong of a recommendation.

Originally Posted by Pegleg

(I'd like to use Bent Gate or Green Mountain, but I can't justify driving that far, twice, for a ski mount when the fam only has one car right now and I'm not usually the one who has it.)

Kinda of a thread jack, but is Green Mountain known for being a good shop?

Originally Posted by slcdawg

Kinda of a thread jack, but is Green Mountain known for being a good shop?

I dealt with Green Mountain when Marshal was working there and it was great. This may have been largely because Marshal is the man, and I think a lot of Green Mountain's good rep around TGR was related to Marshal's efforts. I have no idea how the shop is now, since I believe Marshal is no longer working there. I doubt it's quality has taken a nosedive, but you never know, sometimes it really is one guy that makes a small shop go.

My rec for Boulder is Alpine Base & Edge. It is $$$, but they really do go above and beyond. I have had 4-5 pairs mounted or tuned there and was always a bit skeptical of the prices until:

Dropped off a well used pair of EHPs for a full tune ($50?? or so). I was trying to push pennies by getting a stonegrind and base bevel with the intention of doing the side edges myself, but Peter convinced me to go with the full monty. EHPs had one borderline coreshot, and some delamination in the tails, neither of which I mentioned or asked to be fixed. Coreshot is now invisible, and the delams are fixed and look bomber. Basically when you pay for a full tune it means every inch of the ski is looked over and touched up. Very impressed.

I went to one of Alpine Base and Edge's tuning clinics last night and was impressed. I was the only one there but Peter still took the time to teach his craft to me when he could have just cancelled the session. I will be back next week for part two and give them a big two thumbs up. They have some pretty impressive tuning equipment in the back too.

Originally Posted by North

Dropped off a well used pair of EHPs for a full tune ($50?? or so). I was trying to push pennies by getting a stonegrind and base bevel with the intention of doing the side edges myself, but Peter convinced me to go with the full monty. EHPs had one borderline coreshot, and some delamination in the tails, neither of which I mentioned or asked to be fixed. Coreshot is now invisible, and the delams are fixed and look bomber. Basically when you pay for a full tune it means every inch of the ski is looked over and touched up. Very impressed.

a ski brought in for a base grind will look like that from any shop. No shop is going to base grind your ski without first filling any core shots.

I just picked up dockaroo's skis from Alpine base and edge. I typically do everything, but usually get it done by someone good once a year.

I figure if I'm going to pay someone else to do it, I'm going to pay for them to do it well. A tune is pretty important, I'd rather pay the extra $$ to get something worthwhile instead of being pissed I just spent $30 for nothing.

Originally Posted by skiracer88_00

a ski brought in for a base grind will look like that from any shop. No shop is going to base grind your ski without first filling any core shots.

True. I guess I should've been more specific. This "borderline coreshot" was pretty minor (no core actually visible but still deep) and similar to stuff that's just been ground over in the past. IMO it didn't need to be filled, but I was pleasantly surprised when it was. I guess I was more impressed with the delam fix. It was REALLY minor, and hard to spot since I'd done a hurried fix myself.

Originally Posted by marshalolson

peter is the man, at alpine base and edge

also, larry's boot fitting does mounts and stuff and is equally strong of a recommendation.

This. I avoid BSD like the plague, preferring Christy's or even REI for gear.

Not like it's needed at this point, but another vote for Alpine Base and Edge. We've been customers since Peter first opened at his old location and have always had great tunes, mounts, and overall service. Turnaround times can be longer than other places, but we wouldn't take our skis anywhere else in town.

thanks for shout-outs for my efforts at GMS. that shop still rocks and i strongly recommend, for sure.

jeff handles most of the tunes there, and corky, the owner, knows more about skis and tuning etc that i ever will. incidentally they sell blizzard and tecnica among other things as well.

I just picked up a pair of skis from Larry and they were going to send out my skis to do the mounting (not sure where), so I'm not sure they do that. I found that odd because I know they have jigs in the back. Maybe it's on a case by case basis.

I'll recommend Christy Sports- the one by the mall, if possible. I've taken several pairs of skis there over the past five years and they've always done the work well and fast (next day most of the time).

As you can see, lots of good shops in the area- it's probably down to your location and convenience.

Another vote for Alpine Base & Edge. I've had skis f'd up at both BSD and Neptune. Also tried Larry's, but they didn't bother to tighten the heel plate screws. if you want it done right by guys who care, there's only one option.

Originally Posted by thaar

I just picked up a pair of skis from Larry and they were going to send out my skis to do the mounting (not sure where), so I'm not sure they do that. I found that odd because I know they have jigs in the back. Maybe it's on a case by case basis.

Larry uses Christys on 30th.