COMPREHESIVE RECOMMENED SHOP LIST

**Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer** · 03-16-2009, 05:40 PM

Marmot Mountain Works - Berkley, CA. Awesome AT/Tele/Climbing/Hiking shop. Everyone there knows their stuff.

**land** · 03-16-2009, 05:48 PM

SLC:
i've haven't had any problems at sports den, and they have a good discount for the freeskier society.
anyone been to straightline by the U? I think it is mostly a consignment shop, it sounds pretty cool.

Edit: for climbing shops, IME around the corner from REI. Great selection, knowledgeable staff, with used stuff in the back.

Idaho Falls:
stay the f away from Idaho Mountain Trading. Ridiculous prices, poor selection, not so knowledgeable staff. Went to get some skinny solly brakes bent for my quad ones and they wouldn't do it. The shop tech talked to me like i was a complete idiot. Took them back to slc and had them mounted no problem. Went in today and the biggest skis they had were mantras.
and their climbing selection sucks too.
too bad its the only place in town..... go to jackson.

**frorider** · 03-16-2009, 06:27 PM

Mammoth Mountaineering....+1

**1000-oaks** · 03-16-2009, 07:55 PM

Jeff, the bootfitter at http://www.stefankaelin.com/ in Newport Beach, is super knowledgeable and professional. I think he used to work for many of the big boot manufacturers and race teams. Considering it's a snazzy Bogner fartbag-type ski shop (think ugly-as-hell women's jackets for $800), the techs seem to really know their stuff and the bootfitting prices were lower than I expected.

**hick** · 03-16-2009, 08:27 PM

Originally Posted by XtrPickels

The only places I recommend in Bozeman are those places in which you have friends working.

I've heard horror stories about northern lights. One of my best friends worked there, I trusted him with virgin Lotus 138s among other skis and he personally did them proper. I wouldn't trust anyone else and he's gone.

Chalet isn't bad over all, but caters to the tourist set. Barrel always seems to be overpriced with very little selection. I've never had work done there.

Be a regular in Bozeman and I think you service is better than a first time / touron.

PhD always gets a bad rap, but I've never had an issue with them.

Well put. If I absolutely have to have shop work done, I drive all the way to Big Sky and hit GAS. Northern Lights really sucks as does Barrell (IMO). Neither of these are ski shops, they do not do boot work or proper mounts (true alpine bindings). You'd think Bozeman would have a shop worth a shit since there is such a demand for one, but alas we are without.

**JeffreyJim** · 03-16-2009, 09:46 PM

I'm going to second Larry's and Green Mountain

Both those shops follow the addage that it's not the product but the people that makes a great shop.

Carvers (Breck) I have little experience with but was very impressed.

Generally, it seems the bigger the shop, the harder it is to offer consistantly good service. Good example, Boulder Ski Deals. There are 3 guys in there that REALLY know there shit but 25 that really don't cut it, thus, the rep they now have...

**Optimus Prime** · 03-16-2009, 09:57 PM

Originally Posted by Mathematics

x2

I got some boots from them last winter and they've been hooking me up on mounts & tunes since. its where I send anyone I know that ski's.

x3

Great shop, great selection, great prices, the guys know there stuff, its the first place I stop when I'm in town...

**The Dad** · 03-16-2009, 10:02 PM

The on-hill shop at Alpine Meadows deserves a shout-out. The crew -- particularly Bob -- knows their shit and works with you to avoid wasting your money, the equipment is in good shape, the retail prices are comparable to non-slopeside shops, and if you buy a Silver Pass in the fall, you pay $100 for a $200 credit, reloadable during the season at the same price.

**~V~** · 03-17-2009, 02:31 PM

If you have to get your skis mounted/repaired/etc in LA, go here:
Fluid Ski Surf Shop
Great guys, great work, prices are higher than what you'd find at Mammoth due to the lack of competition (and probably the lack of work) but definitely worth it. And if you're coming in from a little further away and need somewhere to wait while your stuff's getting taken care of, drop me a line and we'll grab a drink at Naja's

**booner** · 03-17-2009, 06:54 PM

Originally Posted by adrenalated

Not recommended:
-The Ski Company, Rochester NY. Mismounted my skis forward then argued with me about it Argument proved that they are clueless, as they tried to tell me that the line on the ski was in the wrong place, not the binding.

x2...I went in there last week because they told me on the phone they might have a boot part I needed(canting thingy fell out of my boot). I pulled one out of the boot that still had both so they could match it, so I went in there with a boot that was missing one and the canter and bolt from the other in a baggy. I walk in and tell the sales douche my issue and hand him all my stuff and he looks at the part and says "what's this?" WTF???!!! I had already explained that it was a boot part and he didn't even know what he was looking at. Then after I explain to the ignorant fuck what it is he takes my boot and the baggy in the back...he comes back and says "We were able to just put it back in"...OH NO SHIT? YOU WERE ABLE TO JUST PUT THAT BACK IN YOU DUMB FUCK!!! They finally pull their head out enough to find the part and install it incorrectly (not matching the other one). As I was waiting for these idiots I found a sweet hat I wanted but it was a bit torn. I ask if I can get a discount and the sales bitch just says no...no explanation..just a short no. FUCK YOU!!!!!!!!!

I'll also throw in the tune shop @ Bristol...Never EVER take your shit there. I went in there on a slushy day cause I'm a dipshit and didn't bring any brushes with me on a warm day as I usually do. I asked if I could borrow a brass brush...fuckhead hands me a horsehair. I repeat "B-RASS"...skippy says uhhhh, we have this...and tries to give me a FUCKING DUSTPAN BRUSH!!!!

**Vasya-s-Marsa** · 03-17-2009, 07:42 PM

I had good experience with The Sign of the Skier in Toronto (installing few pairs of binders, buying/fitting boots). Fast and courteous service, and the guys seem to know what they're doing. But, I'm no expert.

G · 03-17-2009, 08:01 PM

South Lake Tahoe:

Sierra ski & cycle works. Tiny shop staffed by a bunch of great guys.

sierraskiandcycleworks.com

**snowmonster** · 03-17-2009, 08:33 PM

East Coast:

Mounts in Boston, Joe Jones Wilderness House on Comm Ave. Knowledgeable staff.
Bootfitting - Jeff Bokum at S&W Sports in Concord, NH. Also has an office in Bethel, ME near Sunday River

**WReX** · 03-18-2009, 12:53 AM

Any progress on this, Mr. Olson?

Recommended: Start Haus in Truckee. Great after-sale service on bootfitting, highly knowledgeable staff, sweet deals on past years' models and at the end of the season, allowed me to demo skis brand new out of wrapper. If you want high-end race tunes, this is the place.

Recommended: Granite Chief in Truckee. Volunteered to do an overnight mount for me when a powder day was coming, I didn't even have to ask. They knew....

Recommended: Sierra Ski and Snowboard in Sacto. Jim is the man to talk to, does lots of testing of skis, and always has great advice. No experience with shop work.

NOT RECOMMENDED: Norski and Sport in Lafayette, Calif. Took my slalom skis in for a stone grind and tune. They fucked up my bases, somehow put big chatter marks in the tails. Kind of a pain in the ass getting them fixed, never really got the chatter marks out all the way, and the ptex is real thin now, I'm sure. Oh, and they almost lost my skis, tried to give me back some kid's size that were about two feet shorter! Friends report similar bad experiences. This place has been in chapter 11 bankruptcy, don't know if they'll survive. No experience with their Pleasanton location.

NOT RECOMMENDED: Any Copeland Sports location. Goes without saying probably. Computer stores with nonexistent service are called box shovers, so cheapo sports stores would be stick shovers, I suppose. I bought a new pair, and they actually mounted the bindings at two completely different locations on the two skis. How clueless can you get?

Sorry to hear about Sluff Vertigo's bad experience with Bobo's Mogul Mouse in Reno, Nevada. I've always liked the place. Best selection of skis I've seen anywhere, hands down. The shop has given me decent, if not outstanding service.

On the fence about Porter's in Truckee. Like the people there, but tunes have been mediocre.

**mach.850** · 03-18-2009, 07:54 PM

Denver Metro:

Edgeworks. Matt does good work mount and tune-wise, plus he has price matched for me on smoking deals that I've found online, specifically skins and a pack.

Green Mountain Sports. Really, any question?

Anchorage/Girdwood:

World Cup Girdwood location. The shop guys know their shit, ski, are knowledgable and friendly, and will turn mounts for you in no time. Recently I needed two mounts done ASAP (like closing time to ski the next day). One mount needed brakes bent and the other was a bit iffy as to whether there would be any interference from previous drills. Their response was "No problem." I ran over to the Merc to grab them some frosties for the extra effort. When I returned they already had a jig on one pair and actually showed me how everything lined up, then proceeded to invite me to have a beer from the 12'er I had just brought them! Being no ski tech myself, they showed me some really good stuff to help me out in the future. The next morning both mounts were ready to ride first tram.

I didn't ask for change but if any of you guys are mags and read this you guys FKNA rock. My sincere thanks.

Mach

**Zalg8** · 03-18-2009, 09:55 PM

Foothills Ski and Bike, in Genesse, CO - For selection and tuning

Larry's Bootfitting, in Boulder, CO - For fitting and whatever else

Edgeworks, in Denver, CO - For tuning

Colorado Ski and Golf, in Littleon, CO - For selection and service (they messed up a mount on my P40's and gave me a sweet deal on some 666's)

**ninjabirdman** · 03-18-2009, 11:42 PM

Originally Posted by WReX

Recommended: Start Haus in Truckee. Great after-sale service on bootfitting, highly knowledgeable staff, sweet deals on past years' models and at the end of the season, allowed me to demo skis brand new out of wrapper. If you want high-end race tunes, this is the place.

second this recommendation. not sure why stroupskier thought this is an outlet shop, but i've always had good experiences here. you get what you pay for, and starthaus you'll pay a lot, but i've gotten mounts, tunes and bootfitting done here and never been unhappy.

Originally Posted by SCUTSKI

The Backcountry... Truckee, CA
All my interactions with Mike and Crew have been positive, including rush mounts (for a sixer of Mendocino Brewing's Eye of the Hawk, depending on the tech), bootfitting for the ex-GF, and general bullshitting about BC stuff. I've heard mostly good stuff about them on bikes, although my brother's buddy said they seriously messed up something on his hydraulics--not sure exactly what it was though.

I've had a mixed bag at the backcountry. mike is definitely a great source of knowledge, and i've had multiple dynafit mounts done here (will other places in truckee even do them?) with great success. they always seem to want to treat customers well. unfortunately, i've had disappointing bootfitting experience here. i think mike knows a lot about tele fit, but maybe not at boots? and the rest of the staff is somewhat transient, so they don't have time to develop skills. kind of a bummer, because usually the blow of buying boots full-price is offset by free boot work, but these guys don't have the tools to do stretches/grinds like starthaus or cosmos can.

i also don't have a ton of experience with their bike shop, but a buddy rented a bike from there to go ride, and it came with (i would say dangerously) bald tires and a poorly tuned drivetrain. wasn't the best endorsement of the pride their shop takes in the shape their rental fleet is in.

so, i would conditionally recommend the backcountry as long as you're not looking for boot knowledge.

**kiwipete** · 03-19-2009, 12:41 AM

Christchurch NZ:

R&R - Duncan will hook you up.
Out the back of retail store is Ski and Snowboard Surgery of Kingswood Skis fame #1 option for tech.

**skichick** · 03-19-2009, 01:28 AM

Originally Posted by Sluff Vertigo

No Go Recommend - Bobo's in Reno
Arrogant staff and an idiot running the shop.

I'll second this. I've had a hard time with them about things as simple as ski wax.

**mtskier** · 03-19-2009, 09:01 PM

i'll second the whiteroom (whitefish, mt) and pepi's (jackson) and add the ski rack (burlington, vt) to the list.

ski express in richmond is pretty good too. they have a pickup and delivery service for tunes.
http://www.skiexpressvt.com/express-delivery-tuning.htm

i won't go back to northern lights (bozeman). they mis-drilled a pair of freerides and i didn't find out until i took the bindings off the sell them. shady.

**The Dad** · 03-19-2009, 10:17 PM

Originally Posted by WReX

Recommended: Sierra Ski and Snowboard in Sacto. Jim is the man to talk to, does lots of testing of skis, and always has great advice. No experience with shop work.

Actually, Jim is now at Start Haus.

And I second your recommendation of Start Haus.

**nickfury** · 03-20-2009, 10:23 AM

crystal glide ski and board services north vancouver crystalglide.ca ski and sb repairs and tunes AT binding mounts

**concretejungle** · 06-06-2009, 02:18 PM

Redstone Cyclery in Lyons, CO

Dave runs a great shop and makes it easy for my bike jong self.

**verbier61** · 06-08-2009, 01:50 AM

cool (I missed it 'cuz I was travelling when it started....)
a few spots in yurp:

verbier:
evasion (at savoleyres) for ski, drill and bootfitting
mountain air (at medran) for ski (less selection than evasion, though), drill, bootfitting

martigny:
look montagne (only for AT rando stuff)

chamonix:
snell (quite obvious, but still I like them)

(near) aosta:
Baroli in Villeneuve: bootfitting

milan:
la montagna (for AT/rando stuff)

domodossola:
GVM (for freeride.. they have armada, moment, etc)

brescia:
MDL (for freeride)

**llyon** · 06-08-2009, 08:51 AM

Ive seen botched mounts from both Evasion and Mountain Air. Then again, I wouldnt say any other Verbier shops are better, so I guess you have to pick your poison.