“What exactly is Coq + Bull?” We hear you ask. Well, far from just a story, Coq + Bull is a man named Alan, and he’s on a mission to keep your skis and snowboards in tip top condition so you can enjoy them for longer. We caught up with him to find out more about what he does and why it’s important to take care of your gear.
How long have you lived in Morzine and what were you doing before
I moved to the Morzine area nine years ago with my family following a bit of a career change. In my previous life I was an independent financial advisor, looking after about 300 clients.
Why did you decide to start Coq & Bull?
Following the financial crash of 2008, I decided to review what I was doing for a living. I never planned to be a financial advisor, it just kinda happened after I returned to the UK after my season in Avoriaz in 1996. I really enjoyed repairing skis and being in the mountains, so I decided to come back to Morzine to catch up with old friends and see what the score was. It seemed to me that although the ski shops were servicing their own skis, they weren’t repairing skis like we used to. So, I thought I’d give it a whirl. Coq + Bull surgery was formed.
What kind of services do you offer?
I specialise in ski / board repairs and boot fitting. I offer quite a range of services; normal stuff like waxing, edging and base repairs, but also more bespoke stuff like edge replacement, patches, inserts and retro boot fitting. I offer a pick-up and drop-off service to customers in the area, too. Normally the skis / boards are repaired overnight in my workshop ready for first lifts the next morning, or you can find me at Café Chaud between 8.30am and 10.30am, and 4pm until 6pm if you just want to drop your kit off.
What are the most common requests people come to you with?
I suppose the most common request is wax and edging. Often I receive photos of a pretty beaten up ski with questions such as, ‘can you do anything with this as I’ve been told it’s ready for the dechetterie’. It’s pretty rare that a ski can’t be repaired. That being said I, can’t do much with a ski that’s folded in two!
Why is it important for people to get their skis and snowboards serviced regularly?
By keeping your skis and snowboards regularly serviced you prolong the life of them. If you want to have that ‘out of the bubble wrap’ feeling all the time, you need to service your kit. I hate seeing things just thrown away when they could be repaired, so I do my best to repair them.
Do you have any tips for keeping skis and snowboards in good condition?
Yeah, keep off the rocks! Seriously though, just keep your skis / board waxed and looked-after and they’ll just keep on going. Out of season put on a thick wax coat to protect the base from drying out and help reduce rust on the edges. Don’t leave your skis in the ski-bag all summer, you’ll create the perfect conditions for rust if there’s any moisture in the there.
Tell us a bit about what you do in the summer?
When I’m not repairing skis I’m repairing and building bikes. I work with a company in Thonon called Vélo Métier who have the same ethos as Coq and Bull, and that is, to repair and fix things rather than just buying a new part. We service all kinds of bikes from old classics to the latest e-bikes. We’re going to set up a pop up service centre at the market in Morzine on Wednesdays after the Winter season so you’ll have somewhere to take you bikes whilst all the bike shops are closed! We even build bikes with Reynolds tubing, which I love doing.
Find out more about what Alan does (and book your skis in for a service!) at coqandbull.com or follow Coq +Bull on Facebook. Or, find him his pop-up workshop at Café Chaud from 8:30am until 10:30am and 4pm and 6pm every day except Thursday. Happy shredding!
