Downhill Skiing -- 5 Ways to Save Money

Isn't it time you saved more of your hard earnedin October or November. Attend the show on the
money when you go downhill skiing? You knowlast or second last day. You'll usually find great
the slopes, now you just have to learn the ropes.bargains on ski jackets and gloves.
The key is to avoid the normal flow so you canReplace One Item Each Year
save money and ski more often. Expert skiingA rule of thumb that some expert skiers follow is
requires an increase in mileage on the slopes, so ifto replace one item of clothing or equipment each
you want to ski every weekend or every otheryear. If you purchased good quality gear in the
weekend, it's to your advantage to get the mostfirst place, you may find that this simple rule will
out of your skiing dollar.work for you as well. The idea is to get the
Buy Last Year's Skislongest life possible from your clothes and
If at all possible, buy your ski equipment andequipment and to wear everything out before
clothes in the fall or spring. The best months inyou replace it. You also don't normally need to be
the autumn are October and November, while thetwo or three deep in anything.
best months in the spring are March and April.As an aspiring expert skier, you want to free up
Never buy in mid-season!as much of your hard earned dollar as possible to
Some of the gear that didn't sell in the winter orpay for lift tickets, which means more mileage on
spring is returned to the shelves in the fall.the slopes.
Although you may not always get the bestSki During the Week
selection, you will definitely get a good discount.If you can get away, there is money to be saved
Perhaps even as low as the wholesale price. Theyby skiing during the week, Monday to Friday. The
need to clear this stock out to make room forweekday rates for lift tickets are reduced at ski
the new equipment and clothes.resorts, although not as much as we would like to
In terms of skis, most ski shops will have a fewsee. However, you can also opt for a half-day
pair of high-end skis left over from the previousticket, which affords an additional savings. This
year, but you need to get to the ski shop in latemay be the way to go if you are out just for the
October or early November before they're soldday, and want to practice a new technique or
out. Forget the demos, go for last year's skis,tactic from one of the ski lessons for a couple of
which are brand new.hours.
In addition, forget about sporting goods stores,In addition, during the week the crowds are down
since they only deal with middle of the roadand lift lines are almost non-existent. This means a
recreational skis. For expert skiing, you need anlot more runs and mileage for the price of your
all-terrain ski or the closest thing to it. Remember,lift ticket, when compared to weekend skiing.
most ski shops only have a limited number ofBesides, when you are out skiing moguls, trees,
these skis on hand at any given time.and steeps, sometimes you don't want an
Select Neutral Colors and Good Quality Clothesaudience, especially if you are experimenting with
In terms of clothing, buy ski jackets and pants ina new technique or maneuver.
neutral colors like red, black, and blue. TheseBrown Bag It
colors will stand the test of time. Although theyBring your own food and save on your eating
are not the fanciest, you don't need to be fancyexpenses. You can spend upwards of $8 - $10
to ski in the expert zones.for a full lunch at most ski resorts. By brown
Besides, colorful clothes are usually morebagging it, and supplementing with a bowl of soup
expensive and tend to be trendy. You know,or chowder, you can easily get away with
avant-garde one year, and pushed to the back ofspending just $4 for a complete meal, depending
the closest the next year. You don't want to blowon what you bring in the bag. For a twenty-five
your ski budget on new jackets and pants everyday ski season, the savings can be appreciable.
year, just to fit in.Moreover, ski resorts serve cafeteria style food,
In addition, buy good quality. This will ensure thatwhich you are probably aware of, can be quite
you get a longer life out of your jacket, pants,bad. A hamburger, fries, and a coke, just isn't
and gloves. This means you save big time overgoing to cut it if you are going back into the
the long haul.expert zones in the afternoon. Keep the soup or
Consider buying your clothes, like your skis andchowder, but jettison the rest. By bringing your
boots, in the spring or fall, not during the skiown lunch, you'll be saving money, getting the
season when the prices are at their highest. Ifright nourishment, and supplying your body with
you have a ski show in your area, it will usually bethe energy you need to ski until the lifts close.