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Links and information to ski wear companies – Day-tripper.net, the independently researched site for day trippers, shoppers and visitors to France.

Testing skis, snowboards, boots and skiwear in France

Skiing in France – Ski train

Testing of skis usually starts off in the United States. We are concerned only with events in France though.

The main testing events in France for skiers is the "Ski Force Winter Tour" event. The main Snowboarders event is the "Rock on Snowboard Tour". The main Rock on Snowboard site makes no mention of ski tests, but the Fete de Glisses (part of this event) held at Avoriaz, does have skis as well as snowboards available for testing. With many name changes over the last few years, these are now basically the two opportunities to test skis and snowboards, with boots and skiwear companies also present.

Les Deux Alpes, which opens every year at the end of October for a week, use to be the first opportunity to test the new ski seasons skis, snowboards and skiwear at the Mondial du Ski. Over the years, a mixture of bad luck (no snow, a big theft and poor management locally) has seen the opportunities at Deux Alpes almost disappear. This year (2011) there were hardly any exhibitors, with a small showing for snowboarders the main attraction. However the glacier had a fresh dusting of snow and the weather was good. Lack of advanced publicity saw few people attend in 2011, which whilst great for those who made it, does not auger well for the opening of the resort in October in future years. The talk locally is that the resort will not open in 2012 for the traditional October pre season event.

Want to buy skis and skiwear cheaper? Try the Sales in France – these can only be held at Government approved times in France. Race gear is a particular good buy in France, as United Kingdom shops are scared of being left with unsold stock.

There are an increasing number of shops selling ski wear in the Factory shopping centres.

When and where to test skis, snowboards and skiwear

The main testing events in France for skiers is the "Ski Force Winter Tour" event. The main Snowboarders event is the "Rock on Snowboard Tour". The main Rock on Snowboard site makes no mention of ski tests, but the Fete de Glisses (part of this event) held at Avoriaz, does have skis as well as snowboards available for testing.

Some tests done by the main ski magazine for the 2011/12 ski season.

– Freeskier Magazine ski tests and brands.

– 2012 Buyers guide. www.freeskier.com

– Ski Mag Tests 2012.

– Buyers guide 2012. www.skinet.com

– Ski and Boots review 2012. www.skinet.com

– Skipass Magazine.

– 2012 ski tests. www.skipass.com

– 2012 snowboard tests. www.skipass.com

– Sports-Hiver, a French ski magazine (in French).

– 2012 Ski tests (in French) www.sports-hiver.com

All the events open to the public where skis and snowboards can be tried in 2011 / 2012

Val Thorens, 19th and 20th November (Ski Force Winter Tour). www.valthorens.com

Val Thorens, 26th and 27th November (Rock on Snowboard Tour). www.valthorens.com

Val D'Isere, 26th and 27th November (Ski Force Winter Tour). www.valdisere.com

Piau Englay, 3rd and 4th December (Rock on Snowboard Tour). www.piau-engaly.com

Grand Bornand, 3rd and 4th December (Ski Force Winter Tour). www.legrandbornand.com

Avoriaz, 10th and 11th December (Rock on Snowboard Tour). www.avoriaz.com

– Called the "Fetes de Glisses", and part of the Rock on Snowboard Tour, there is the opportunity to test skis here as well as snowboards. www.avoriaz.com

Alpes D'Huez, 10th and 11th (Ski Force Winter Tour). www.alpedhuez.com

– Ski and Boarderweek, Val Thorens. 10th to 17th December 2011. European snow sport and music festival with ski and snowboard freestyle competitions, demonstrations, free tests and varied entertainment including live concerts. www.valthorens.com

Serre Chevalier, 18th and 19th December (Rock on Snowboard Tour). www.serre-chevalier.com

La Plagne, Urban Festival and "Spring testing" opportunity. 9th to 15th April 2012. www.urbanplagne.com

 

Ski Force Winter Tour 2011 – Fourth year of tests.

Test 15 ski brands this year. This tour is organised by the French Federation of sports and recreation industries (FIFAS) and is the main opportunity to test skis in France for the season ahead. www.fifas.com

– 2011 publicity leaflet (in French). www.fifas.com

– Join the Ski Force Winter Tour facebook group. www.facebook.com

– 19th and 20th November – Val Thorens. www.valthorens.com

– 26th and 27th November – Val D'Isere. www.valdisere.com

– 3rd and 4th December – Grand Bornand. www.legrandbornand.com

– 10th and 11th December – L'Alpes D'Huez. www.alpedhuez.com

Companies represented at the Ski Force events.

– Atomic. Austrian producer of skis and skiwear. www.atomicsnow.com

– Blizzard. Men's and women's skis. French company. www.blizzard-ski.com

– Dynastar. French skis. www.dynastar.com

– Elan. Slovenian skis. www.elanskis.com

– Fischer. www.fischersports.com

– Head. Skis. www.head.com

– K2. An American ski producer. www.k2skis.com / www.k2snowboarding.com

– Kastle. www.kaestle-ski.com

– Movement – Swiss company. www.movementskis.com

– Nordica – Produces a large range of skis. www.nordica.com

– Rossingnol. www.rossignol.com

– Salomon. A well established and popular company making skis and ski wear. www.salomonski.com / www.salomonsports.com

– Scott. www.scott-sports.com

– Volkl. German company producing skis. www.volkl.com

– White Doctor. Skis. www.white-doctor.com

 

– Rock on Snowboard Tour. www.rockonsnowboardtour.com

The main snowboard testing event. There will be over 30 brands to test.

– Join the RockonSnowonBoard facebook group. www.facebook.com

Val Thorens, 1st and 2nd December 2012. www.valthorens.com

Isola 2000, 8th and 9th December. hiver.isola2000.com

Avoriaz, 15th and 16th December. www.avoriaz.com

Other ski events in France

– Meribel, Altitude Festival. Comedy talent performances. 26th to 31st March 2012. www.altitudefestival.com

– Basscamp Music Festival, Morzine. 2nd to 6th April 2012. Morzine's first electronic music and Snowsports Festival. www.basscamp-festival.com

La Plagne, Urban Festival and "Spring testing" opportunity. 9th to 15th April 2012. www.urbanplagne.com