Snow and Rock in Dundrum

one man clappin

hi all
Just wondering has anybody been into Snow and Rock's new store in Dundrum. i am thinking of buying skis (for the first time) and was going to call in there over the christmas. Is there anywhere else in southern Ireland that sell skis.

Tripp

Ive been in there a few times and its a great shop tbh. They do have a wide selection of ski equipment but thats all i can say really since im a snowboarder :P

one man clappin

Thanks, I will leave the snowboarding for the younger people. :rolleyes:

paddyb

The Great Outdoors just off Grafton St sell them as well but I think snow and rock have a much better selection.

flikflak

If it were me I would wait until in resort and try a few pairs out before I commited to buying a pair.

I got my Atomics in Austria about 5 years ago - think I paid about €350. They came with the bindings thrown in for free.

Esp if you are going closer to the end of the season then they have some great bargains.

Unless of course you are an expert skier and know exactly what you want and what suits you - even then though I would not buy them in snow and rock as I find them quite expensive. I would check out the internet and resort shops.

Don1

one man clappin wrote: »

Thanks, I will leave the snowboarding for the younger people. :rolleyes:

There was a mad fecker nudging 50 I reckon in NZ on an Alpine (rocket) board. There most weeks.
Also say a good few guys in there 50s and maybe beyond on normal boards. I'll agree that it is more youth dominated but wouldn't say its a sole preserve!

davmol

I was out there and they did a good deal for an entire ski package including boots,bindings,poles,skis and a bag,got it for 499 which was cheaper for roughly the same deal in France.

Its a great shop and as my mate who found out recently,when the gear gets broken you can return it to be repaired,they also do other snowboard maintenance procedures.Id rather spend the money in ireland TBH unless im beng totally ripped off.

robinph

I've not been to the Dublin store yet but was very happy with the store in Bristol sorting me out with repairs on a set of blades that I'd ordered through their online store before but had got a bit damaged by the postman, got a free bag out of them as well on that occasion.

Got a copy of their catalogue to look through yesterday as well so I can now figure out how to spend my next pay cheque.

rio1

Have you noticed the price difference between their website and the Dundrum store though? Its a disgrace, a jacket that costs €250 in the store is £171 online. Even adding their £25 postage fee into account it would still work out €30 cheaper to buy online...and the £25 is per package, so buy a few things and the savings are huge...it would be madness to buy in the shop, I don't know how they can justify it. A nice selection of gear, but the staff in the great outdoors seems more knowledgable, and I think they have more there, its just spread out well in Snow and Rock so it looks like they have more....

Tripp

Dont forget that the online store doesnt deliver to Ireland. Only to the North

Davo D

Tripp wrote: »

Dont forget that the online store doesnt deliver to Ireland. Only to the North

I got a delivery from the online store just last week. With the way sterling is at the moment you can make quite a saving.

Tripp

Hmm thats odd then. Cause whenever i try to Order something, There is no Ireland in the drop down box for my country

Davo D

Tripp wrote: »

Hmm thats odd then. Cause whenever i try to Order something, There is no Ireland in the drop down box for my country

They have it hidden as "Eire/Rep of Ireland"

Don1

Shops are always going to be more expensive as they have overheads to take care of. Also the further you go from the company's base the higher the cost due to logistics.

Obviously they will then add a bit on as its Ireland, but its not all profiteering.

As for boots and stuff, I'll be buying in Ireland as I want to try them on, get them molded and be ready to go as soon as I can afford a flight to the snow!

tywy

Don1 wrote: »

Shops are always going to be more expensive as they have overheads to take care of. Also the further you go from the company's base the higher the cost due to logistics.

Obviously they will then add a bit on as its Ireland, but its not all profiteering.

As for boots and stuff, I'll be buying in Ireland as I want to try them on, get them molded and be ready to go as soon as I can afford a flight to the snow!

Both stores I went into in Ireland fitted me one size too big for my ski boots so be careful. I bought in resort and I'm happy I did!

Don1

That seems unusual! You do need a bit of room for thick socks, but one size out is crazy!!I bought my snowboard boots off a friend of a friend knowing only that they were 10s, like my normal shoes. Fitted pretty much perfectly!

All luck of the draw in that respect I suppose, but you really should never leave a shop with ill-fitting boots!

djtechnics1210

I found shop very expensive... got spyder gear much much cheaper online

davmol

I was out there at the wkend and there a deal with 15% off everything.They had a standing offer of skis,poles,boots,bindings and a bag for 399 which is now 339.....ive checked the net and cant find anythingas good as that when you take into consideration post and package from abroad.

Theres tons of other stuff aswell out there.

djtechnics1210

davmol wrote: »

I was out there at the wkend and there a deal with 15% off everything.They had a standing offer of skis,poles,boots,bindings and a bag for 399 which is now 339.....ive checked the net and cant find anythingas good as that when you take into consideration post and package from abroad.

Theres tons of other stuff aswell out there.

Thats a very good deal.... thanks for posting bout it, must go back out.
It was before xmas when i was in there and it was very expensive, glad to see its reducing prices.

Don1

Anyone wanna give me money to go buy more gear? I have everything I need, its just a case of want now!

tywy

djtechnics1210 wrote: »

Thats a very good deal.... thanks for posting bout it, must go back out.
It was before xmas when i was in there and it was very expensive, glad to see its reducing prices.

They look like crap entry level everything... the boots look really really bad - plastic buckle kinda job.

I also don't really agree with buying skis unless you ski a hell of a lot. I ski 2 weeks a year and I wouldn't bother buying skis. You get the latest technology when you rent. Skis date so quickly. A decent pair of boots is what you really need!

Don1

Might be the latest tech but its used day in day out by loads of people including complete n00bs and people who don't give a crap as its "only rental gear"!
I know myself that I mind my gear and am glad to have my own board which will do me for my few weeks a year.

davmol

tywy wrote: »

They look like crap entry level everything... the boots look really really bad - plastic buckle kinda job.

I also don't really agree with buying skis unless you ski a hell of a lot. I ski 2 weeks a year and I wouldn't bother buying skis. You get the latest technology when you rent. Skis date so quickly. A decent pair of boots is what you really need!

For anyone who is fairly new(been once or twice before) and who goes once a year for a week skiing i think its a good offer.After a few years theyd pay thmselves back and if they lasted over time theres no reason you couldnt use them for 10+ years with proper maintenace.
And seriously what person who goes once a year is really going to notice the differnce in performance between them and the latest skis out there.

robinph

Ski designs do change over the years, but unless your still riding around on straight ones it's not that much of an issue the changes from one year to the next. Functionally there is not that much new each time and once it's a pair of carving skis you have your fine. Someone doing a season will probably be buying new each year, rental places may only replace their stock after every two years though judging from the state of some that I've seen ridden around the mountains before. A season is 14(?) weeks give or take so if your only doing a couple of weeks a year yourself then buying new every 5-7 years is about right for you getting good usage out of them over their lifetime, and you'll still not be that far behind the latest designs. Also your own skis will be better looked after over that many years than the pair that you may get landed with if you rent at the end of the season.

It is probably a bigger issue with board designs changing from one year to the next, but that is just to do with the fashion type aspect of what is painted on it not being cool enough any more.

I still would not recommend anyone buying their own skis until they are totally sure that they are going to be making good use of them though. Ski boots are another matter entirely though.

davmol

I have my own snowboard and have done for 4 years now its in very good nick still.
My GFriend was looking at the deal in snowandrock for 339.She thought as we're going in february and poss next xmas and will defo go once a year for the foreseeable future,do you not think that deal would pay itsself back over 4/5 years considering you woudlnt need to rent every time you go?this is a question not a rhetorical question as i assumed your skis would last indefintely if fairly well maintained.also after how long would you need to tune then considering she goes once a year?

Static M.e.

If are going to go at least twice a year, then I would say Yes get a new Snowboard. If not though I probably wouldn't bother. its a personal thing though I could never go back to Rental boards and is it great to have one but like any bit of sport equipment you just need to be aware of the hidden costs.

What is not taken into account when you buy a new board is you also need a decent set of bindings. (Burton Missions ~€170). You also have to pay for your Snowboard bag (~€140 [Not sure of cost]) and then every time you fly you have pay for extra baggage (~€60). On top of that you also need to get your board Waxed every trip, if you cant wax it yourself (~€40)

I'm assuming here that she already has boots? They should be a priority and are very important to get right.

If you can afford a board and feel OK about the costs above then sure get one. I also think Boards only last about 2 to 3 years before you need another one to progress further but that depends on what your doing on the mountain. My last board a Rome Agent is still in very good nick for cruising around the mountain but it fails miserably in the park or when you try and get any pop

davmol

I got a santa cruz board about 4 years ago and go to the snowpark every time i go snowboarding.I find it fine for boxes ,rails and jumps and have noticed only small marks on the bottom of the board.The structure of the board seems fine and I cant imagine buying a new one as everything about it feels fine.WHat is it that would make you buy a new one as it seems a waste of a seemingly perfect snowboad?im no expert just wondered why you think i should go with a new one.

As for my GF shes been once and is happy enough cruising round the moutains and the standard ski's out in snowand rock would to me seem fine to get her for what she'd be doing ,basic skiing around the mountains.Am i wrong here?
Im only being charged 18 euros to bring my snowboard with crystal but im sure its 60+ quid with aerlingus and ryanair.

Don1

I reckon it could be like a pair of runners that you hold on to for just a bit too long. You think they are fine and they are lovely and comfy, until you stick on the new ones, and go "ah, oops, this is waaaay better"!

Core technology as well as everything else marches on every year and the difference between a 4 year old board with high park mileage and a brand new board will be fairly sizeable I reckon!

paulharte

hmmm, I'm not so sure about the need to replace your board quite so often.

I used my jeenyus eddie wall (now the forum eddie wall) over 3 seasons (whistler, NZ, switzerland), did approx 150+ days on it. If you compare this to doing two weeks a year, then it would last you over 10 years!

Bear in mind that I do a lot of rails, you should be able to get at least 5 years of doing just two holidays a year out of a normal board.


PS: i still use the board now for dryslope, etc! Its not dead yet!

robinph

Boards maybe do take a bit more of a battering in their usage than a pair of skis would though, what with you guys doing all your craaaazy larking about in the park.

I don't think I've ever been charged for taking the skis on a plane though when I've been on a tour operator oganised flight, DIY flights yes though. I even managed to get my skis all the way back from New Zealand without being charged for them as that was included in the ticket, although I did get charged €25 by BMI for the connecting DUB-LHR leg on the way out.

Static M.e.

No, if everything about your board suits you fine, then I don't advise you get one. My board had zero pop and was too stiff for the park so I knew I needed a new board.

Its all about your style and how you feel on the mountain. In saying that though when your on this trip you might suddenly feel like your board is not as responsive as it use to be or you just cant enough lift as you use too, then it could be time for a new board even though your old board will still look like its in perfect nick, it just wont be as good as it was for you previously.

Its also depends of course on the original board in question. A lot of beginners boards are quite stiff to help them to get use to turning and so they wont catch an edge often but after 2 -3 years of riding, I think they should progress to a better board which is more responsive so they can start hitting the park and doing rails and such.

As Don1 mentioned if you tried a new board you could suddenly see huge improvements in your riding. But again if your board suits you fine and does everything you want it too, then I don't think you should get a new one, you will know yourself when you need one.

Sorry for some reason, I though your GF was getting a new Snowboard.. I don't know very much about Ski's at all.

bcirl03

Shop is way (x10) to expensive. Wait till you get to the resort and deal with people on the ground.

If your lucky the shop can let you try the skis before you buy - this happened to me in Zell am See two seasons ago. Told them what I was looking for, they advised and left 5 pairs of skis to one side for me to try. No deposit, no credit card just come back when you’ve made your mind up.

davmol

Fair enough,but what about the deal they have on offer.339 for skis,poles,bindings,bag and boots.I know it might not be the highest quality but seems like a good deal for my GF a 2nd time skiier.
Would people advise against this offer in favor of another abroad but i really cant see that deal being beaten.maybe im wrong???

I just figure that if she had skis theyd pay themslves back over a few years,thats if they last the few years which im assuuming they would.

tywy

But you can't really know what you want from your skis if it's only your second time. I dunno I think it's a waste of money so early on. Plus I'd say there's better value to be had second hand in resort with regards skis. I'd also be reluctant to buy boots in Dublin because they may not be fitted correctly which can result in agony!

Don1

We're also neglecting one thing here folks, how nice it feels to have your own stuff, and not have to be sharing with hundreds of others. Even if the quality is not as good as some rental gear, at least its your own!

flikflak

My 2c worth - for a 2nd time skier then its not worth bothering with buying skis. Boots? Yes i would say it is worth having your own.

I would wait until I got to resort to pick up a pair of boots to ensure the best fit and type for your ability.

If you do decide to buy your own skis then beware though as ski carridge can work out almost as expensive as hiring. Easyjet, Ryanair, charter airlines (Crystal and the like) will charge you for carrying your skis on the plane.

tywy

Don1 wrote: »

We're also neglecting one thing here folks, how nice it feels to have your own stuff, and not have to be sharing with hundreds of others. Even if the quality is not as good as some rental gear, at least its your own!

Yeah I completely understand that I'd love to have my own gear but I still think you'd get better skis second hand in resort. Even a better selection of new skis. Buying snow sports equipment in Ireland is a bit of a rip off and the selection isn't great either!

Don1

Oh I agree entirely, I was just putting that point up for the rental versus ownership! I sooner own mediocre gear than rent better stuff. Although, I don't own mediocre gear anymore, I upgraded everything over the last year. I'm just saying!

davmol

tywy wrote: »

But you can't really know what you want from your skis if it's only your second time. I dunno I think it's a waste of money so early on. Plus I'd say there's better value to be had second hand in resort with regards skis. I'd also be reluctant to buy boots in Dublin because they may not be fitted correctly which can result in agony!

Surely though in a reputable store like snownrock theyre not going to give you ill fitted boots?!! the lads out there seem very professional,did all types of tests on her feet for best fit ,i dont think theyre generic boots that theyd just throw on.Plus you have the added comfort of a guarantee that they give on the boots in case of damage,id assume.

Its 18 euro return to carry the skis on the plane,not bad but i think shes leaning more towards just getting the boots now.
Are they much cheaper aborad??,we're going to meribel and from what i hear its quite expensive


i appreciate all the comments,

djgos

Sorry if this is not directly about Snow & Rock or Skiing Gear. Unpatriotic as it may be, I caved in before Christmas. Between price, availibility of products, and the messing about going froom City Centre to Northside, to Southside, I am now a convert to Internet shopping. Once you know your size in a brand you should be fine. If you don't it is easy to try on in town and then order. I paid €150 for a pair of Asics Gel Kayano in town recently. I can get them from UK, delivered, for €110. And some running gear in the same delivery. As much as the saving is the sense of disbelief at paying €150 for a pair of runners; and I can't even wear them into Tamango's:-)
The trick is to find the right website, some do free delivery and price in euro, and have great customer service. Terrestrial retailers watch out; this recession will finally see e commerse take off.

Grab

Hi.. Im going snowboarding the end of january and was wondering wheres the best place to go and look for a board..??

I_luv_2_ski!

talk bout opening an old thread!!! lol

well you could try snow and rock in dundrum or the great outdoors in town on chatham street (just of grafton street)

other then that i have no idea...sometimes in the resort they have deals on boards but i never look to closely cause i ski not board!!! the skies can work out much cheaper tho!!!

granty1987

try and figure out what sort of board you want by narrowing down on what style of a boarder you predominantly are, ie; do you spend a lot of the day in the park or looking for that fresh patch of powder or you just enjoy bashing pistes like its going out of fashion. people here can recommend where is good to buy boards, and the general consensus is that online websites are cheapest but you will need to know what you are looking for before hand.

so if you are not sure what style or size board to get, let us know what your specs (height, weight, boot size) and prefered riding style is...

regarding buying boards, my first one a burton retro twin, i purchased in a rookie-styled error by getting it in the resort(livigno) along with the bindings, costing me a ridiculous amount of cash when compaired to my current one which i got for half the cash(salomon sanchez, which i prefer) online. try out sites like blue tomato, hot-zone, tsa, sputnik snowboarding, ebay in the uk, irishsnowboards, maybe even companies in the US, but beware of being caught out with post purchase import tax, as the likes of fed ex will ruin you a few weeks after delivery if your not careful... in ireland you can check out snow and rock, onboard, great outdoors, blvd, irishsnowboards, even 53 degrees north have some left from a few years back

davmol

A mate got a great deal off here- www.irishsnowboards.com

He went out and collected it and had it there and then tha day for a good price too,saved teh time and cost of overseas packing an post.I know in some cases there are bargains to be had online but i prefer the personal touch of buying here where i can adress problems with teh seller in a day rather than deal with an overseas seller.He got it tuned etc and bindings fitted all included in the price.