Tips for the budget-conscious skier
While skiing and snowboarding can be expensive sports—after all, all that specialized gear and clothing and cabin hire can really start to add up—there’s no reason that this absolutely has to be the case. Savvy snow-lovers have a variety of options to whittle down the costs of their winter hobby.
Budget gear. Keep an eye out for budget gear by brands that produce high quality products. Some that come to mind are Lands’ End, LL Bean, and Columbia Sportswear. You can also try shopping at outlet stores, or at the end of the season, when you’re likely to find that a lot of gear and equipment is marked down to crazy prices. Try to buy versatile gear that you can wear in a variety of different types of weather, and while keeping up with the winter fashions is essential for some, for many it’s a better idea to buy gear that you’ll be able to wear over multiple seasons. It’s ski-wear, not haute couture!
Second-hand equipment. While buying second-hand equipment isn’t for everyone, it might be a good consideration for new skiers and snowboarders, or for those who don’t venture out on the snow with any great frequency. If you’re only going to use it once or twice a year, is it really worth investing in a small fortune’s worth of goods? If not, consider trying eBay or other retailers for used gear, or sharing some of your gear amongst friends.
Cabin hire and trail costs. If you keep an eye out on travel websites and in your local magazines and newspapers, you might be able to get a great deal on flights and accommodation, particularly if you’re happy to go at a time that’s not especially busy. Remain flexible, and you might be able to negotiate discounts that you’d never even considered possible.
Elizabeth’s surprise pre-wedding weekend: I think I know what we should do. We should book some time at val d’isere ski as a surprise, you all know how much she loves that place!.
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