Panda Ski & Sport

My recent purchase of new ski boots at Panda Ski and Sport in Bay Ridge was not only the best ski equipment-buying experience I've had in 36 years of skiing. It was also one of the best customer service experiences I've had buying anything anywhere in my life! Robert, the owner, was welcoming, knowledgeable and patient, gracious, smart and fun. His staff was great, too. Robert explained everything: how to put boots on properly, how they should fit, why you might need ski boots a size smaller than you take in street shoes, what kind of boots are appropriate for my ability level. But honing in on the right pair of boots was just the beginning. Then Robert took something out of the liner in the right boot to remedy a place where the boot was rubbing my shin; added a heel lift in the right boot to make the ankle less loose; tried a heel lift in the left but took it out when I said it felt better without; evaluated whether I pronate or supinate and adjusted something on the side of one of the boots with a little cranking mechanism; heated up the boots so they would become pliable and shape themselves to my feet; and had me stand in them for a few minutes in skiing position until they cooled down. Then Robert set up my kids with snazzy seasonal rentals, and offered us a really good deal for purchasing my 14-year-old daughter's skis at the end of the season if she likes them. (My 7-year-old son is still growing, so that wouldn't make sense.) It was really easy to get to the store, too. It's a few seconds off the 92nd Street exit of the BQE, right before the entrance to the Verazzano Bridge. I know there aren't many places to buy skis in the five boroughs, and that some people go to New Jersey or Long Island, or even Paragon (nooooooo!), but now that I've discovered Panda Ski and Sport I can reassure you that there is absolutely no reason to leave Brooklyn to buy skis! I'll be going to Panda Ski and Sport for the rest of my life. more

After calling ahead, I brought an old pair of ski boots to the store to see if they could be repaired. The person I spoke with on the phone was nice enough, and said it probably wasn't likely but to bring them over and have a look. When I got there though, instead of just telling me they couldn't be fixed, the store employees first claimed that I had insulted them by even asking if they could fix the boots, then started insulting me and continued as I walked out of the store. Any idiot would have seen this as an opportunity to try and sell me a new pair of ski boots, and I might have been interested if they had. But now I will never, ever go back to this store, and I will make sure to tell everyone who asks how awful their service is. more

I went to panda to have a pair of ski bindings mounted. My train was delayed and I ended up getting to the shop just as they were closing. It was really nice that they stayed open so I could drop off my stuff. Then, when the owner saw that I came down from midtown manhattan, he decided to stay late and do the skis right then. What a good guy. I checked out the shop while I waited and noticed they had a really solid selection with fair prices. To top it off, they gave me vouchers for discounted lift tickets at hunter for this friday. Great experience, would definitely recommend... more

I remember going here last season to get my snowboard waxed and sharpened only because it was the closest store to me that offered the services. The reviews online all seemingly good, i didnt have any worries going in. The store is nicely stocked but after paying 30 dollars to have my equipment ""professional"" waxed and sharpened i was absolutely disgusted with the end result. I've been snowboarding for quite a few years and i know when i see a half assed job. First off the edges did not feel sharpened at all and i even still found some burrs left on it afterwards. They seem to completely ignore areas toward the tail and tip of the board which is ridiculous if im paying this amount of money. Second the wax job was horrendous. It was extremely streaky with no consistency throughout the board. Its as if they just threw some wax on, spread it unevenly and didnt bother to scrap off any excess. Even as they were handing me the board, there was a ton of excess wax half peeled off on the side of the boards. Oh yea, and the tail and tip end of the board were not waxed at all. They just skipped it altogether. Needless to say, the wax must be cheap to as it came off after a run or two on the mountain. Having had a bad experience and not learning from my mistakes, i decided to give panda sports one more chance in hopes that it was a fluke last season. So this season, i went back for a hot wax on my snowbard and lo and behold, the same outcome. The tail and tip of the board were completely ignored and the wax job as a whole screamed shoddy workmanship. I honestly don't know how this store has gotten so many positive reviews. If you are looking to buy snowboarding gear at full price with subpar repair services then this place is for you. Otherwise, look online for snowboard gear deals and find a better store to wax. Terrible experience and absolutely not reccommended nor will i ever return. Just gonna make time to wax my own gear. more

I love this place. The people that work at Panda are awesome and the selection of equipment and clothing is enormous! And I can't believe how nice they are to my son Jack. Panda rocks! more

I needed parts for my Thule roof-rack for my trip which was that day. Even though they didn't have the parts I needed, the owner went out of his way to put together a customized solution for me, with some spare parts. He easily spent an hour helping me install everything. It worked and I was on my way! more

Just picked up some sweet new Salomon boots here and was glad I made the trip! Good selection of gear to choose from, and the super helpful staff made me feel at home right away. I'll be back! Pros: good selection, good vibes, knowledgeable staff Cons: a little far but worth the trip more

I have never been to a ski & snowboard shop with better customer service and product knowledge. If your gear needs service or repairs no one does it better than these guys. Pros: Customer Service, Inventory, Quality of Repairs Cons: No indoor half pipe more

Great selection of Skis and Snowboards right here in Brooklyn NY. After talking to Robert ( the owner) at Panda Sport, he was very knowlegeable. I purchased Volkl AC 50 Skis and Tecnica Dragon 100 Ski Boots. After trying on ski boots from Salomon, Nordica, Fischer and Tecnica i felt the Tecnica Ski Boots fit me the best. It was great to be able to try on so many different Ski boots at one store to see which fit the best. I would recommend Panda Sport to anyone looking for a Ski or Snowboard shop in New York City. Pros: Great selection of Skis and Snowboards more

Best ski and snowboard shop NYC. The staff was very helpful and knowlegable. i purchased Salomon X-Wing Tornado skis and they mounted the bindings while i waited for free (great service). Panda Sport also has a great selection of ski and snowboard clothing. i live in queens and would recommend this ski shop to anyone looking for skis or snowboards. Pros: knowlegable ski and snowboard staff more

An original ski and snowboard shop in Brooklyn. Hard to believe, but they got the goods. Lots of equipment and clothing for the winter. Summer goods, and golf in the summer. I like the day trip that run all winter long. You guys are great. Pros: Great staff and selection Cons: Got to get up real early to catch the ski bus. more

I purchased a burton troop with lexa bindings at the shop a month ago. Now I just came back from a trip and I must say the board was amazing! The guy sean was really knowledgable and made me feel really comfortable. He knew off the top of his head the exact specifications of the board, and was able to match me up with one that would be perfect for my snowboarding style. I have been to other shops to get a feel, and panda beats em all when it comes to serive and knowledge. Everyone in their shop skis or boards, and they are real promoters of the sport.so all in all I would say my buying experience was great and the guy was the best in the city. Stop here if you are serious about the sport! more

Panda Ski and Sport was a great buying experience. Very knowledgeable and helpful staff. Had the Thule bike carrier I was looking for in stock. Had the carrier assembled when I arrived at the store and also installed it on my Jeep for free. Highly recommend! Pros: Great buying experience! more

Staff was very helpful, my shopping experience was tailored around my needs and the product knowledge was unquestionable. They carry various name brands at fair prices, not to mention the staff's inclination to assist me with any questions i may have had. They are a one stop shop, with everything a consumer in their market might need. A definite 'must-visit' shop. Pros: variety of brands under one roof, excellent customer service and product knowledge Cons: parking more