| Isn't it time you saved more of your hard earned | | | | in October or November. Attend the show on the |
| money when you go downhill skiing? You know | | | | last 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 can | | | | Replace One Item Each Year |
| save money and ski more often. Expert skiing | | | | A rule of thumb that some expert skiers follow is |
| requires an increase in mileage on the slopes, so if | | | | to replace one item of clothing or equipment each |
| you want to ski every weekend or every other | | | | year. If you purchased good quality gear in the |
| weekend, it's to your advantage to get the most | | | | first 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 Skis | | | | longest life possible from your clothes and |
| If at all possible, buy your ski equipment and | | | | equipment and to wear everything out before |
| clothes in the fall or spring. The best months in | | | | you replace it. You also don't normally need to be |
| the autumn are October and November, while the | | | | two 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 or | | | | pay 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 best | | | | Ski 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. They | | | | by skiing during the week, Monday to Friday. The |
| need to clear this stock out to make room for | | | | weekday 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 few | | | | see. However, you can also opt for a half-day |
| pair of high-end skis left over from the previous | | | | ticket, which affords an additional savings. This |
| year, but you need to get to the ski shop in late | | | | may be the way to go if you are out just for the |
| October or early November before they're sold | | | | day, 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 road | | | | and lift lines are almost non-existent. This means a |
| recreational skis. For expert skiing, you need an | | | | lot 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 of | | | | Besides, 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 Clothes | | | | audience, especially if you are experimenting with |
| In terms of clothing, buy ski jackets and pants in | | | | a new technique or maneuver. |
| neutral colors like red, black, and blue. These | | | | Brown Bag It |
| colors will stand the test of time. Although they | | | | Bring your own food and save on your eating |
| are not the fanciest, you don't need to be fancy | | | | expenses. 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 more | | | | bagging 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 of | | | | spending just $4 for a complete meal, depending |
| the closest the next year. You don't want to blow | | | | on what you bring in the bag. For a twenty-five |
| your ski budget on new jackets and pants every | | | | day 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 that | | | | which 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 over | | | | going 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 and | | | | chowder, but jettison the rest. By bringing your |
| boots, in the spring or fall, not during the ski | | | | own lunch, you'll be saving money, getting the |
| season when the prices are at their highest. If | | | | right nourishment, and supplying your body with |
| you have a ski show in your area, it will usually be | | | | the energy you need to ski until the lifts close. |