Ski Blog | ski equipment
Independent Ski and Snowboard Hire
Altitude's ski rental partner Skimium are one of the largest ski providers in Europe. But despite their size and market leading prices, they maintain a personal touch. And by booking with the code ALTIT17 you can save a massive 60%!
The stores that are affiliated to skimium.com are independent stores located in the heart of the ski resorts. At these winter sports specialists, who all have a great reputation, you’ll find a wide range of the highest quality material that is available for either sale or rent. You can also find a variety of technical clothing and accessories and the men and machines that provide a highly professional workshop service. In the true mountain spirit, you’ll be looked after and advised by professionals that are passionate about their sport!
skimium.com in a few words: it’s EASY, it’s the COMFORT of ordering from your own home and the BEST PRICE advantage through ordering on the internet (up to 20% discount off the public prices that are communicated in the stores), but it’s not only that...
SKIMIUM IS EVEN MORE:
A wide selection of all the different categories of equipment in order to satisfy the requirements of all types of people, all types of ability and all types of desire.
An on-line Advice Guide enabling you to select the material that is the best suited to your ability, your desire and to what you want to do.
Only 25% deposit required, no administration fees.
Get the most of your skiing holiday with your family and friends with at least a further discount of 5% off the store prices for any reservation that includes at least 4 (or +) pairs of skis or snowboards.
Benefit from the Professional Advice to get the most out of your equipment.
A Commitment to guaranteeing your Safety, through our on-line advice service.
A Direct and Personal Contact with your rental store.
THE STORES THAT ARE AFFILIATED TO SKIMIUM.COM ARE COMMITTED TO:
Operating a Transparent Pricing Policy:
Benefit from the most advantageous prices by reserving on the internet
A Technical Charter:
A selection of the most reputable brands
Up to date material (no more than 3 seasons old)
Equipment that is checked and prepared before each individual rental (sharpening, repairing of bases and waxing of boards; shoes are dried out and treated)
The equipment is adjusted by professionals according to what you are going to do, your ability and your size
A Customer Services Charter:
A friendly and personalised service
Expert advice
A product range dedicated to Women
Your kids treated like little Champions
Comfort for the duration of the rental period
HOW DOES IT WORK?
RESERVING YOUR SKI EQUIPMENT ON SKIMIUM.COM IS VERY EASY AND ONLY TAKES A FEW MINUTES:
Today:
Select a skimium.com store in the resort where you will be heading to and indicate the date of your first skiing day along and for how many days you want to rent the equipment for.
Choose your material from a wide selection of skis, snowboards, shoes, boots and helmets.
You can consult our ‘How to choose the right equipment’ guides to help you find the material that is best adapted to your ability and to what you want to do.
Validate your selection and enter the personal details about yourself (height, weight, sizes...) and your preferences so that your material can be personalised just for you.
Confirm your reservation by paying a deposit of only 25 %. A confirmation email with the reservation form (with all the details concerning your order and other practical information) will be sent to you immediately.
Print and retain your reservation form and start getting ready for your holidays with peace of mind that your equipment will be waiting for you when you get there.
When you get there:
With your reservation form and a proof of identity, go along to the skimium.com store to settle the balance and collect your material that has already been prepared for you, once the adjustments have been checked.
Your skimium.com advisor will be extremely happy to welcome you and advise you on the use of your material.
Get your skis on and make the most of your holiday!
For further information, feel free to refer to our General Rental Conditions
Skimium.com is a partner of Decathlon
Reserve your skis online !
Skimium, the exclusive ski hire partner of Altitude Holidays. Save over 50% off ski hire this winter
WHO ARE WE?
Skimium.com is a partner of Decathlon
The stores that are affiliated to skimium.com are independent stores located in the heart of the ski resorts. At these winter sports specialists, who all have a great reputation, you’ll find a wide range of the highest quality material that is available for either sale or rent. You can also find a variety of technical clothing and accessories and the men and machines that provide a highly professional workshop service. In the true mountain spirit, you’ll be looked after and advised by professionals that are passionate about their sport!
skimium.com in a few words: it’s EASY, it’s the COMFORT of ordering from your own home and the BEST PRICE advantage through ordering on the internet (up to 20% discount off the public prices that are communicated in the stores), but it’s not only that...
SKIMIUM IS EVEN MORE:
· A wide selection of all the different categories of equipment in order to satisfy the requirements of all types of people, all types of ability and all types of desire.
· An on-line Advice Guide enabling you to select the material that is the best suited to your ability, your desire and to what you want to do.
· Only 25% deposit required, no administration fees.
· Get the most of your skiing holiday with your family and friends with at least a further discount of 5% off the store prices for any reservation that includes at least 4 (or +) pairs of skis or snowboards.
· Benefit from the Professional Advice to get the most out of your equipment.
· A Commitment to guaranteeing your Safety, through our on-line advice service.
· A Direct and Personal Contact with your rental store.
THE STORES THAT ARE AFFILIATED TO SKIMIUM.COM ARE COMMITTED TO:
Operating a Transparent Pricing Policy:
· Benefit from the most advantageous prices by reserving on the internet
A Technical Charter:
· A selection of the most reputable brands
· Up to date material (no more than 3 seasons old)
· Equipment that is checked and prepared before each individual rental (sharpening, repairing of bases and waxing of boards; shoes are dried out and treated)
· The equipment is adjusted by professionals according to what you are going to do, your ability and your size
A Customer Services Charter:
· A friendly and personalised service
· Expert advice
· A product range dedicated to Women
· Your kids treated like little Champions
· Comfort for the duration of the rental period
HOW DOES IT WORK?
RESERVING YOUR SKI EQUIPMENT ON SKIMIUM.COM IS VERY EASY AND ONLY TAKES A FEW MINUTES:
Today:
· Select a skimium.com store in the resort where you will be heading to and indicate the date of your first skiing day along and for how many days you want to rent the equipment for.
· Choose your material from a wide selection of skis, snowboards, shoes, boots and helmets.
· You can consult our ‘How to choose the right equipment’ guides to help you find the material that is best adapted to your ability and to what you want to do.
· Validate your selection and enter the personal details about yourself (height, weight, sizes...) and your preferences so that your material can be personalised just for you.
· Confirm your reservation by paying a deposit of only 25 %. A confirmation email with the reservation form (with all the details concerning your order and other practical information) will be sent to you immediately.
· Print and retain your reservation form and start getting ready for your holidays with peace of mind that your equipment will be waiting for you when you get there.
When you get there:
· With your reservation form and a proof of identity, go along to the skimium.com store to settle the balance and collect your material that has already been prepared for you, once the adjustments have been checked.
· Your skimium.com advisor will be extremely happy to welcome you and advise you on the use of your material.
· Get your skis on and make the most of your holiday!
For further information, feel free to refer to our General Rental Conditions
Start saving now with Altitude Holidays and Skimium!
The Do’s and Don’ts Of Skiing For Beginners
This is a guest blog by Amber Kingsley.
Amber is a freelance writer for RedSeven and loves sharing her tips for winter destinations. As an avid skier and snowboarder herself, she knows how intimidating that first ride can be but hopes these tips will encourage other wanna-be snow bunnies to give the slopes a try.
Nothing can ruin the perfect winter holiday by skipping out on the slopes. If you’re just starting out and you’re intimidated by the eight year olds dashing by you on their miniature skis like there’s no tomorrow, don’t worry. There are a few tips you should look into before your first (or second) lesson, just to know what to expect and what you can do to make things easier for you so you can enjoy the snow covered mountains of your favorite winter destinations.
DO: Bend those ankles
As a beginner, bending your knees is the golden rule. But what they’re not telling you is that you’re not actually bending your knees per se, but your ankles. The knees follow along and this gives you a good stance. What it does is get your shanks to slide to the front of your boots, which in turn will make you have a better control over whatever you’re doing (we won’t call it skiing just yet). Bending your ankles also makes your whole body absorb shocks (like bumpy terrain) Check that your heel is sitting comfortably in your heel cap to make sure you’re doing it right.
DON’T: Lean forward
This is a general advice plenty of instructors tend to give, but if you’re smart you’ll aim to be central and avoid leaning forward. This way, you’ll be able to use the entire ski and turning will be a lot more precise. Leaning forward is a very imprecise suggestion anyway and what you should get out if it is the need to vertically align your body over your hips and over your feet. Stand up straight and see how that modifies your stance. You’re not going jet-fast, like pro skiers who actually need extreme body bending!
DO: Wear the right gear
Wearing jeans make you look silly. Wearing jeans also makes you never want to go skiing again, so try and avoid going to your first lesson in your regular clothes. Falling will be on the agenda for your first lessons, so you and the snow will get acquainted quite well and, if you’re not wearing special clothing, your encounter will get a little too intimate. If you don’t have a good pair of boots, snow pants and a warm jacket, you might as well just watch the sports channel at home. All of these items are usually rentable in resorts, so there’s no excuse to go unprepared.
DON’T: Learn from your friends
A good idea when you’re new to skiing is getting an instructor. With a teacher, you’re on neutral ground. The rules are unspoken and set because of the formal relationship you both know you have. Skiing is difficult and can get frustrating at first, so learning from someone close to you might turn into a disaster. If that someone is your lover or your spouse, you run the risk of directing the whole anger towards them and quitting the whole thing sooner than you should. Even if your friend is a professional skier, you’re still on safer ground with someone you’re not familiar with.
DO: Look forward
A long time ago, when you started riding a bike, you were told not to look at the wheel because, guess what, you were at risk of falling. Skiing is the same. When you look at the tips of your skis you lose focus and you end up missing obstacles or losing your direction. Look at least ten feet away to make sure you can anticipate whatever might come at you (or whatever you might ski into).
DON’T: Be a couch potato
If you’ve booked a two week skiing trip in advance and all you can do before you get there is google weather conditions and buy gear online, you might also mentally prepare yourself for a physical shock. Ok, you might be an athlete or you might work out three time per week. If that’s the case, there’s nothing to worry about, google away.
But if that’s not you, you might be faced with a problem when you reach the slope. Skiing is really challenging for your body and it will drain you (in the best way possible, really) of your energy. Getting your body in shape before the whole ordeal will make sure your muscles won’t protest on your second day of skiing.
Finally, take a moment to breathe and don’t worry about how bad your first lessons are. Hint: they’re all bad. Nobody is graceful on his first day. We all looked like idiots in the beginning. But the feeling you get when you look over the white slope with confidence, without worrying you might fall or hit something, is hard to compare to anything else.
Winter is Nearly Here! Ski Shows, Early Snow & Winnie The Pooh - WE’RE EXCITED!
The clocks have gone back, the Ski Shows (Birmingham, London and Freeze) have all been and gone, the weather is getting colder, the ski mags are dropping on the doormats and we are excited! That must mean that summer is over and winter is nearly here!
So what will this season bring? What will the season be like for snow? What has changed in the resorts? Where will the best places to ski be? What are the best ski and snowboard deals available?
As ever there is a load of new skis, snowboards and kit available and technology makes leaps and bounds – we particularly liked these new hi tech googles that wouldn't be out of place in a James Bond film!
We have loved the pictures and reports of early snow across most of the Alps which bodes well for the season though this can change very quickly as we wrote about in a blog last season.
What are your plans for this winter? Hopefully you will be able to make it out there for a ski holiday at some time this season – do check out our special deals and offers page on our website to find some ski accommodation that suits you and your budget!
The more it snows
(Tiddly Pom)
The more it goes
(Tiddly Pom)
The more it goes
(Tiddly Pom)
On snowing.
And nobody knows
(Tiddly Pom)
How cold my toes
(Tiddly Pom)
How cold my toes
(Tiddly Pom)
Are growing.
We may just be a little excited! How about you?