California Ski Company

 

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45

Christophe P.

Oakland, CA

This place is great.  It's an amazing concept, but the folks who work here actually know something (or quite a bit) about skiing.  They know new and old products so they can steer one in the right direction if one's aging equipment finally gives out.  This is like the ski shops I remember before the big-box sporting goods stores started driving out specialty shops such as this.  I'm glad they're here, and after discovering them, will always head there first.  Sure, I'll still go to the big-box outfits...when I need a fishing lure.  But for skiing, I want practical, intelligent, and experienced input, and that's what this shop has to offer...along with some great equipment.    If you have any questions, they can answer them!

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Neena S.

Concord, CA

California Ski Company is a breath of fresh retro air after trying to buy ski equipment at the big boxes or, heaven forbid, trying to find the answer to an equipment question.
I went in to have my custom boot insoles tweaked, and Greg not only knew what I was talking about but had some ideas about adjusting the fit that I hadn't thought of . The price was reasonable, the work done on the spot.
I'll buy my next major equipment purchase here, even if it costs a bit more. We've got to have places like this.

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Giorgio E.

Berkeley, CA

I have been to the store a few times now, and even though I never purchased anything, I know .. soon or later I will.

I was helped twice by the same person, a petite blond woman, very competent, friendly but not pushy in the sale. Her priority was simply to make sure we could find something that could fit perfectly my needs. Unfortunately, for my price range, and for lack of certain items in stock I ended up leaving the store with empty hands, but the knowledge in ski equipment they showed is superior to any other store I have been in Berkeley and in many other cities. There is no comparison with the kind of generic service you'll get at places like Any Mountain, Sport Chalet or even REI. As we all know, in this Country many sale reps working on the floor of some of the big department stores are not specialized in anything in particular. The same person selling skis today at Sport Chalet probably worked at Bed Bath an Beyond until yesterday. No kidding, just ask for specific questions in a field you know about and look for the puzzled expression in their face - like the cow when sees the train going by  :)

Not here! This store reminds me of the typical European ski shop, small in size but rich in mountain culture, and great for the reasons I mentioned above. On the slightly negative side, the prices are higher than other places, and their stock supply is limited (but they can order stuff for you on request).

They also have a great rental policy, and an excellent Ski Demo program. Ask for details, they are there to help and not just to sell.

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9

Aaron T.

San Leandro, CA

Overall:  I would definitely check this place out if you're into skiiing - beginner, intermediate, pro - to see what they have to offer.

Fair Warning: I haven't been skiing since I was a wee little kid, so I'm not an expert at all about ski stores.  I Googled these guys and stopped by to get fully outfitted for Tahoe.

Customer service: Great!  very educational and knowledgable about their products, and they LIKE to help you.  I think they actually enjoy it - as if they might do it even if they didn't get paid.  I learned tons of stuff about ski-wear, about boot fitting, and they told me a lot about which ski areas would be the best for beginning/intermediate, and which areas were much more advanced.

Product Variety: Probably 'adequate' for any normal/occasional skiier, and they can also order other items - they aren't a 'super-store', but you also get Much better attention.

Pricing: Fair/Good - Everything seemed well-priced - lots of items were 'on the cheap' - I went mid-grade.

Rental: I got a 170 pair of skis that seems just fine, good fitting advice on the boots, and only $30 for a one-day rental (seems pretty reasonable to me).  Esp. since 'one-day' means I rented it late PM Saturday, I can ski all-day Sunday, return Monday before 4PM, and it's only one-day!  That's potentially all Sunday plus Monday AM for $30.

You can also call ahead no more than 2 days for reservation of rental equipment - for MLK and Labor Day Weekend, you're allowed a max of 5 days.

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5

Elaine C.

Oakland, CA

After the no-service, high-price alternatives like REI or the snooty high-end shop that started our conversation with "Just so we aren't wasting time, how much are you prepared to spend?" I was thrilled to meet the folks at California Ski.  They didn't try to push a ski/binding package on me like the other shops I went to; instead, they told me that my discounted mail-order skis were just fine and found a reasonably priced set of bindings to go with them.

They have a nice selection of products and a great rental shop.  A kids' *season* rental of skis, boots, poles is $160 and includes tuning and maintenance.  I'll be back!

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Anna L.

Berkeley, CA

This is a small-time ski shop that only sells ski gear.  I honestly don't know what they do during the summertime, but for winter they're great.    Since they are small, I don't think they have a ton of staff, i.e. if it is relatively busy when you go in, you might have to wait a bit.

They do boot fitting and they know what they are doing.  If you are investing in a new pair of boots, plan to spend some time there to really figure out what boots work best for your feet.  They sell most of the big brands, e.g. Salomon, Atomic, Volkl, Fisher, Tecnica, and more.

This is in my opinion the best local place to go for ski rentals for the whole family if you are new to skiing and want boots that ACTUALLY FIT.  Boots can vary greatly in fit from brand to brand, and CalSkiCo offers several brands of boots to rent so that you can stay comfy on the slopes.  They also have really reasonable pricing.

If you own skis or boards, they have a shop that does tuning and repairs.  I like to go there especially for their summer waxes, in which they leave a nice thick coat on for storing your precious gear away at the end of the season.  Again, reasonably priced.

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