How to get started cheap

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Sazkwatch

New member
I got really big into skiing last year and I was on a super budget, however, I ended the season with good(ish) gear and will be passing it on to my friends that I'm dragging up the mountain this year. Here's what I gathered.

(1): GOODWILL IS YOUR FRIEND! I'm not talking about thrift shops, they rip you off most of the time. Try and find a store where people drop off their old unused stuff and buy from there. I found soloman boots and got k2 skis for $10, stole the bindings off, and put them on a pair of bases that I bought from a friend for $20.

(2) Try and buy a night pass to the resort, and make sure that your job is in the day so that you get off work/school and go straight to the mountain. Night-only passes are typically cheaper then the full-passes and you still shred up good snow from the snow machines and resorts always keep it well lit.

(3) Lose your dignity. Your gear is going to look insanely gaper but if you get lucky, you may not look so bad, but I doubt it.

(4) Look for sales!!! Labor day is a big one, and most stores use holidays before winter to start selling to get a base point for how many people are going to be skiing to see how much product they should bring into their store.

(5) Unnamed brands. Sorry, but for some reason a little bird in the top left of those sunglasses make them $300.

(6) Work a job with good tips!!! Sizzler, Magelby's, Olive Garden, just be a busser or waiter and watch the money roll in. I did it at Sonic and I make about $100 a week in tips working full time in summer, 10 weeks tips without pay and you're good for season!

Hope this helps you guys! Raise your cheap beer and hitch your house on your truck and lets go skiing!
 
Definitely very helpful! I'll add one thing to do with goodwill; pay attention for ski swaps in your area! As far as buying cheap, used gear, there's no better place. And, like a couple in my town, some swaps even have bootfitters working!
 
Right now is a great time during the year for some seriously good deals. You can get last years stuff so cheap right now
 
Good point but instead of losing your dignity I'd say change your perspective. It's plenty dignified to wear used gear or generic brands. I have far more respect for people that are actually focused on skiing instead of just trying to look cool.
 
Can anyone tell me what the point of expensive skis are..

I've only ever had sub 200$ skis and I have never had a problem on big jumps (40ft+) or rails or durability. My current skis I have used for 3 years going onto 4 this season skiing 25+ days a season..

I just thought this was a good place to ask this question. I've pondered on it for a while and I just don't understand it.
 
13134898:OregonDead said:
I think the point is making more $$. I've never paid full price for skis and no one needs to.
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I get that obviously, I watch Mad Men. But I guess what I'm asking is, who is dumb enough to pay for them and why?
 
Sometimes I don't think anyone pays full price. Marking gear with a higher price makes people feel better when they get it for a lower "discounted" price. I know some dentists that ski and they are stoked to pay the full "discounted" price for new gear in the shop. For the rest of us it sometimes takes just a little extra effort to get gear for a price that is affordable.
 
13134852:Bogez said:
Can anyone tell me what the point of expensive skis are..

I've only ever had sub 200$ skis and I have never had a problem on big jumps (40ft+) or rails or durability. My current skis I have used for 3 years going onto 4 this season skiing 25+ days a season..

I just thought this was a good place to ask this question. I've pondered on it for a while and I just don't understand it.
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I do the same thing (never more then 200 for skis).

But i ski 100ish days a season so they only last me around one season....
 
If you have the time get a part-time job at a mountain. You'll probably get a free pass and make friends with more experienced skiers/ riders easily. Most mountains give employees pretty decent deals on gear and even sometimes offer reduced or free lessons.
 
Buy old gear. Everything goes 50% off in the spring. Can get old stuff at ski expos and sales at mtns. USed to have a big one at gore with $75 percent off good shit.

Buy used. Who cares if the skis have a scratch on them or the bases aren't mint. If you're riding in the park buy that shit. You're gonna fuck em up anyway. I just bought a pair of og public enemies in great condition for $31 from somebody at the mtn this spring.

Same with outerwear. I got nice 4sqaure jacket used for $40 that I still wear. Got it 4 years ago I think so probably a 5 or 6 year old jacket. Who cares.

Get a pass early, maybe even to somewhere cheap if there's multiple options. Go to the more expensive hills when there are deals. One mtn has a $17 tuesday night lift ticket, another has bring a coke can buy 1 get ones. Shit like that.

Get a job at the mtn. Mtn life is fun. Always a good option if you want to move to another area at some point. IF you have a few seasons at a mountain it's pretty easy to get a job at another one. Free pass, making money you might not be able to ski a ton but you'll ski more than working off the mountain most times. Also meal discounts. IF you get comp tickets you can hook your friends up from other hills and have them hook you up at theirs.

Ski patrol is an option. You don't get paid most of the time but free pass and free skiing pretty much anywhere. You gotta drop a few bucks on the course and stuff but pretty cruisy job many places.

Ride your shit till it's broken, wear your shit till it's ripped to shit, or doesn't fit anymore. Having brand new everything is overrated.
 
13134947:OregonDead said:
Sometimes I don't think anyone pays full price. Marking gear with a higher price makes people feel better when they get it for a lower "discounted" price. I know some dentists that ski and they are stoked to pay the full "discounted" price for new gear in the shop. For the rest of us it sometimes takes just a little extra effort to get gear for a price that is affordable.
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In some countries they actually do. In 'murica nobody pays that shit.
 
13134852:Bogez said:
Can anyone tell me what the point of expensive skis are..

I've only ever had sub 200$ skis and I have never had a problem on big jumps (40ft+) or rails or durability. My current skis I have used for 3 years going onto 4 this season skiing 25+ days a season..

I just thought this was a good place to ask this question. I've pondered on it for a while and I just don't understand it.
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I understand it for park, but if you're skiing big mountain or touring, you're gunna want some nice skis to keep yourself safe. That being said I still buy all my stuff used and my setups are around $600. If i'm getting park skis i can settle for a crappy setup and never have payed more than $250
 
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