Budget Airlines are past masters at hammering the hapless cost-conscious traveller, and the cost-conscious skier or ‘boarder is no different. In fact, we tend to get hammered more than most; Windsurfers and Cyclist being about the only people who incur the monetary wrath of the airlines more than us.

If you paid British Airways for the World’s Favourite Airline™ to cart your ski luggage you’d be looking at up to £70 return. If you hadn’t booked by midnight on Wednesday the 11th of November, Ryan Air will take £80 off you. Even if the cost appears (relatively) low you also have to be aware of the total baggage weight allowance; Easyjet charge £52 but, all of your hold bags must not exceed 32 kgs, (or excess charges head your way).

It’s always nice to own your mode of snowy transport, but like most forms of transport the upkeep and repair costs can mount. A season’s end Hot Wax, Edge Sharpen and Tune at a UK shop is typically £15 for skis or £17.50 for a snowboard. If you’ve pushed your luck and gouged the base on an errant rock, the cost is £22 and £25. Add in the cost of buying the things in the first place, average it out over a four or five seasons, (by which time both your ability and ski/board designs have probably changed radically, let alone your body!), and the benefits of hiring start to look attractive.

Alpine Elements have honed their pre-booked ski/board & boot hire system to save money on in-resort prices, correctly match the user’s ability to their equipment and reduce first day hire-shop queueing to a minimum. Not got a helmet that fits your kid – they do seem to grow every year? Lids for up to 12 year olds are available.

Pre-booking your equipment with Alpine Elements also prevents one form of alpine credit card scam. Unscrupulous in-resort hire shops have been known to make illegitimate transactions on a credit card for damage to skis & boards.

We’ve vetted all of our suppliers for quality and service, and are convinced that they represent the very best available in the resort  Not only that but, there are some extra-special deals around right now that actually include ski-hire.