The Best Ski and Snowboard Equipment Testing Events in 2026-2027: Glide and Try!

Which station are you departing from? Val Thorens · Avoriaz · Val d'Isere · Ski Force

The Grand Premiere – Val Thorens

📅 November 21 and 22, 2026 (subject to snow conditions)
🎿 Why go there? : It's the start of the season. The test village, Place Caron, brings together more than 50 ski and snowboard brands.
📍 Practical tip: To test, you need a pass and a test card (free upon presentation of the pass). Ideal for fine-tuning your equipment before Christmas.
🏁 The closing weekend: The Great Finale, May 1st and 2nd, 2027 (program to be announced).
🧥 Regarding attire: You will be outside all day at over 2,000 meters: warm and waterproof clothing makes all the difference.

Rock On Snow – Avoriaz

📅 December 11-13, 2026, from 9am to 7pm
🎿 Why go there? : more than 80 brands of skis, snowboards and accessories to test for free, with open access, on the Avoriaz plateau.
📍 Practical tip: The perfect time to get equipped before the Christmas holidays.
🧥 Regarding attire: Three days outside doing back-to-back tests: bring a jacket and pants that insulate and breathe.

First Tracks – Val d'Isère

📅 Opening weekend: scheduled to open on November 28, 2026
🎿 Why go there? In recent years, the Premières Traces weekend has hosted a free test village on the snow front (Ski Force Winter Tour). The 2026 program is yet to be confirmed on the resort's website.
🧥 Regarding attire: In late November, the mornings are cold: an outfit delivered in advance avoids having to look for a store on opening day.

Ski Force: Ski Brand Testing Events

The Ski Force is organised by the ski brands of the Union Sport & Cycle. It exists in two versions: a professional tour, and a public circuit at the beginning of the season.

🎿 Ski Force Pro 2027 – reserved for professionals
Retailers and resellers test the following season's product lines there. Tentative schedule, subject to confirmation:

• January 11-12 : Flaine
• January 18-19 : Courchevel (Le Praz)
• February 1-2 : Serre-Chevalier
• February 4-5 : a resort in the Pyrenees (to be determined)

⛷️ Ski Force Winter Tour – the public circuit
This early-season tour offers a free test village. It notably stopped at Val d'Isere for the opening weekend (last edition confirmed: end of November 2024), as well as at Tignes, At Grand-Bornand and to Serre-Chevalier. No dates have been announced yet for 2026-2027: check the resort's website before you go.

Are you going to a different station?

📍 Find our ski clothing rental at Tignes, Courchevel, Meribel, Alpe d'Huez, Chamonix, Flaine, Serre-Chevalier, to Arcs, has La Plagne, Megeve, Morzine, to 2 Alps, has La Clusaz, At Grand-Bornand and to Chamrousse.
ℹ️ We rent ski and snowboard clothing, not skis or boots.

A tip for participants: rent your ski and snowboard gear.

A gear test takes a full day outdoors. There's no point in investing in a complete outfit if you only need it for a few days. O'rentees offers you the ski and snowboard clothing rental.

🎿 Why rent your outfit?

• Practical : your outfit is delivered to the station, hotel or Point Station.
• Economic : no need to buy an outfit that you rarely use.
• Eco-responsible Renting also means reducing your footprint.

👉 Book now on O'rentees Get ready for an exceptional 2026-2027 season, both on the slopes and at test events. Book at least 4 working days before your stay, ideally 8.