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