Bernard Charvin Sports Courchevel: Ski Hire & Boot Fitting
If you want independent ski hire in the middle of Courchevel 1850, Bernard Charvin Sports Courchevel offers decades of local alpine heritage and technical knowledge. The shop stands on Rue du Rocher, roughly a two-minute stroll uphill from the main ski hub at La Croisette.
Bernard Charvin, an Olympian and former French national team racer, established the business in 1972. Today, this family-run shop remains a dependable stop for skiers who value precise boot fitting, hand-selected carving and racing models, and personal service. Here is everything you need to know about renting your winter sports gear here.
At a glance
| Type of shop | Independent ski rental and winter sports boutique |
|---|---|
| Village | Courchevel 1850 |
| Rental | Downhill skis, snowboards, cross-country, snowshoes, sledges |
| Boot fitting | Custom shell adjustments and tailored footbeds |
| Delivery / storage | Free hotel and chalet delivery across Courchevel |
| Booking | Online quote and reservation via official website |
| Price range | Upper mid-range for Courchevel 1850; varies by package |
Who this shop suits best
Choosing the right ski shop in Courchevel 1850 comes down to the kind of service and gear you value. Bernard Charvin Sports works particularly well for vacationers who want genuine personal attention rather than the fast-paced assembly lines found at large chain stores. Because the shop has racing heritage in its DNA, intermediate and advanced skiers who appreciate sharp edges, well-structured bases, and dialed-in bindings will feel right at home here.
Families also find the shop convenient. Through its affiliated Les Enfants boutique, the Charvin group stocks specialised equipment for very small children, including snow pushchairs and pull sledges, which are often difficult to source in resort. If you stay in a private chalet or luxury hotel in 1850 and prefer not to haul rental bags through the street, their delivery team will drop your gear directly into your ski room.
This shop might not suit you if your primary goal is finding the absolute lowest price in the valley. High-end equipment, professional servicing robots, and prime 1850 retail real estate mean prices match the standard of Courchevel 1850. Travelers on tight budgets may prefer checking rental options down in Courchevel Village 1550 or Courchevel 1650 Moriond.
What you can rent
The shop maintains a broad fleet of more than 400 pairs of skis, catering to different styles and terrain across Les 3 Vallées. Their alpine lineup covers recreational piste skis, stiff racing models, wider freeride skis for off-piste snow, and dedicated women’s models. Snowboarders can pick up modern freeride and all-mountain boards with supportive bindings.
Beyond standard downhill gear, the shop rents several niche alternatives that many smaller ski shops no longer carry:
- Monoskis and skwals for classic carving enthusiasts
- Snowblades and short skis for easy agility
- Cross-country ski packages (ski de fond) for valley and forest trails
- Snowshoes for winter walking away from marked runs
- Ortovox and Arva avalanche transceivers for off-piste safety
- Protective ski helmets for adults and children
Parents traveling with babies and toddlers can hire dedicated winter transport through the affiliated children’s boutique. Having a sturdy sledge pushchair makes walking along the snowy sidewalks of 1850 simple and fun.
| Children’s Transport Equipment | Daily Hire Rate |
|---|---|
| All-terrain pushchair | 15 euros |
| Pushchair-sledge | 12 euros |
| Baby bucket sledge | 5 euros |
Boots and custom fitting
Poorly fitting ski boots cause cold toes, painful pressure points, and sloppy edge control. When you ski all day across the expansive terrain of Courchevel and Méribel, having boots adapted to your specific foot anatomy makes the difference between an enjoyable morning and an early walk back to your hotel.
The staff provides custom boot fitting services directly in the shop. Technicians assess foot width, arch height, and ankle volume before matching you with an appropriate shell. If you suffer from hot spots or narrow pinches, they can reshape boot shells and craft custom footbeds to stabilize your stance and relieve pressure.
Hygiene standards are rigorous. After every rental return, boots are cleaned, disinfected, and thoroughly dried on heated racks before they go back into the fleet, ensuring fresh liners when you slide into them on your first morning.
Chalet delivery, storage, and workshop repairs
If you arrive late on a Saturday afternoon or want to avoid carrying heavy gear back to your accommodation, the shop provides free equipment delivery to hotels and chalets across Courchevel. You can arrange to have your skis, snowboards, and boots dropped off right at your residence so everything sits ready when the lifts open.
The in-house repair workshop uses high-grade Montana machinery and automated Wintersteiger robots. The technicians handle base grinding, ceramic edge sharpening, stone structuring, and stone-wax finishes. Every rental ski undergoes base refurbishing after each return so the next skier receives smooth glide and reliable edge hold on hard morning snow.
You can also bring your own personal skis or snowboards into the workshop for overnight servicing, base patch repairs, or precise binding adjustments to match international safety standards.
Booking ahead and prices
Adult ski and snowboard hire prices are calculated by quote via the shop’s official website. Rates depend on your chosen equipment category, the length of your stay, and your travel dates. Peak weeks, such as the Christmas holidays, New Year, and the school holiday period in February, see heavy demand for premium demo skis and children’s boots.
Securing your equipment online before your trip guarantees that your preferred ski models and boot sizes are set aside. When you arrive, the staff already has your sizing profile and weight details entered into their system, which cuts your fitting time significantly.
Prices sit in the upper mid-range for Courchevel, reflecting the central 1850 address and high standard of machinery. Rental rates for pushchairs and sledges remain fixed, while ski packages vary across the season. Always check their official website for current quotes and seasonal package terms.
Getting there and hitting the slopes
The shop is located at 60-62 Rue du Rocher in central Courchevel 1850. If you walk down Rue du Rocher toward the snow, you reach the main lift hub at La Croisette in roughly two minutes, a distance of about 200 to 300 meters. From La Croisette, you can step straight into the Verdons gondola toward the family pistes or take the Chenus gondola to access higher slopes.
La Croisette is also the primary morning gathering point for local ski schools. If your children have morning lessons, picking up your gear near Rue du Rocher leaves you just a quick stroll from the instructor meeting flags.
Local tip: Pick up your rental gear the afternoon or evening before your first ski day. Rue du Rocher gets busy between 8:30 AM and 9:30 AM with families heading toward morning lessons, so an early fitting lets you walk straight to the lifts without waiting.
Before you go: safety and packing essentials
Courchevel offers vast lift-served terrain, but high mountain environments require common sense. Helmets are strongly encouraged for adults and essential for children; you can rent certified helmets directly with your ski package. If you plan to explore untracked terrain outside the marked runs, always hire a certified local guide, carry an avalanche transceiver, shovel, and probe, and consult the daily avalanche bulletin posted at La Croisette before heading up.
Check your travel insurance to make sure it covers on-mountain rescue and winter sports accidents. You can also purchase Carré Neige rescue cover alongside your lift pass at the ticket windows or online.
For boot fittings, wear a single pair of clean, technical ski socks made of wool or synthetic blend. Thick cotton socks bunch up, trap perspiration, and lead to blisters. Remember that the legal drinking age in France is 18. If you enjoy drinks during après-ski, leave the car parked, use the free village shuttle buses, or walk carefully on icy pavements back to your room.
What recent visitors say
A quick, honest snapshot from recent Google reviews, so you know what to expect before you go.
What people liked
“PERFECT! Have you been searching for a store where getting kitted out is no longer a chore? You’ve found it! An attentive, caring, and competent team, with just the right touch of whimsy: genuine, unpretentious service. Young people who…”
“Undoubtedly one of the best ski rental shops in Courchevel, the prices are affordable, the skis are excellent quality, and the staff (ski technicians and shop) are top-notch! Expertise, attentiveness, and a great sense of humor: all the…”
“Always satisfied, year after year. Good equipment, good advice, the clothing department on the ground floor is also very good, and the items are fairly priced.”
What some found difficult
“We received a baby gift that was the wrong size. We went in to the shop to exchange the size for the exact same item. They refused. No reason given. What a joke. Worst service.”
“I paid 170 EUR, already including a 10% “discount”, to rent mediocre ski’s (without boots) for 7 days. For my 3 year old I paid 95 EUR for ski’s + boot. A total rip-off. At Skiset / Intersport you’d pay 80 – 110 EUR for similar ski’s, and…”
Reviews via Google Maps. Opinions are those of their authors.
Frequently asked questions
Can I arrange for my rental skis to be delivered to my chalet?
Yes, Bernard Charvin Sports offers free delivery of ski and snowboard equipment directly to chalets and hotels across Courchevel. You can arrange delivery when booking your gear through their official website.
How far is the shop from the nearest ski lift?
The shop is roughly 200 to 300 meters from La Croisette, which is about a two-minute walk. At La Croisette, you can board the Verdons or Chenus gondolas to access the rest of the mountain.
Does the shop rent sledges and pushchairs for young children?
Yes, through its affiliated Les Enfants boutique, the shop rents baby bucket sledges, pushchair-sledges, and all-terrain pushchairs. Daily rates range from 5 to 15 euros depending on the item.
What are the shop’s operating hours during the ski season?
During the winter season from December to mid-April, the shop is open daily, typically from 8:30 AM to 8:00 PM, though exact hours vary slightly with resort schedules.
Find it
Address: Rue du Rocher, 73120 Courchevel, France
