By Cynthia W. Gentry, © 2005 by Cynthia W. Gentry, published in budget savvy, Winter 2005; www.budgetsavvymag.com.
It’s winter, and you can hear a mountain with fresh powder calling your name. There’s just one problem: your budget is smaller than a lift line in July. How can you hit the slopes without wiping yourself out financially?
Gear Up for Less
If you’re an avid skier, think seriously about investing in your own skis, poles and boots. In the long run, you’ll save much more money compared to renting. But you don’t have to buy brand-new, top-of-the line gear. You can find great used equipment at flea markets, ski trade shows and swap meets. Or watch your paper for end-of-season store liquidations.
Online auction sites like eBay are another way to score ski gear. If you have questions about the product, email the seller and ask for photos. Check the seller’s ratings, especially negative ones. Think about using a payment service like PayPal: qualified purchases paid for through PayPal are eligible for up to https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_pbp-info-outside$500.00 coverage at no additional cost.
Rent Equipment on a Shoestring
Not ready to take the plunge and buy your own equipment? You still have several options when renting. If you’re spending a weekend on the slopes, you can save money (and hassles) by renting your equipment for several days or even a week. Some resorts offer you discounts on equipment rentals if you buy a season pass. Call and ask.
When you’re renting, know the difference between packages. A “basic” package is usually the cheapest, and the equipment will usually be comfortable (although not high performance) and good enough for most beginners-and even some intermediates. “Performance” packages feature better gear, while “demo” packages offer new high-performance skis and boots.
Here’s another tip for saving money: don’t rent at the ski resort. Their equipment is, sadly, the most expensive. Rent your stuff in town. The downside is that if something breaks or needs adjusting, you’ll have to come off the mountain to get it fixed.
If you’re a novice skier, think seriously about signing up for a beginner package. These often include a half-day of instruction, rental equipment and free use of beginner lifts. You’ll not only save money; you’ll also save the nerves of the friend who would otherwise be trying to teach you.
Get a Lift
When it comes to skiing, one of the biggest expenses is simply getting up the mountain. But with a little planning ahead, you can save big on lift tickets. Buy discounted tickets through rental shops in town (not at the resort), or buy them online. Ski midweek, instead of on the weekends when it’s more crowded. If you know you’re going to ski a lot, you can also get discounts on multi-day passes.
Or buy an early season pass. For example, a midweek season pass to Alpine Meadows near Lake Tahoe is $549 if you buy it between July 12 and October 1; that price jumps to $825 when the season starts. A full pass goes for $929 until October 1. After that, it’s $1240. Another advantage of having a season pass is that some resorts give you discounts on equipment rentals if you have one.
You can also sometimes get discounts if you buy your tickets online or if you’re a club member of a specialty sporting goods store like REI. Skiers who fall into certain age brackets-like if you’re under 22 or over 65-often get discounts. Groups sometimes qualify for discounted rates, too. If you work for a large corporation, check to see if you fall into this category. Call the ticket office of the ski resort and ask about group discounts.
And if you’re really a ski fanatic, consider getting a job at a resort. Benefits can include free skiing and snowboarding, discounted food purchases, discounts on skis and clothing, discounted lift tickets and free ski and snowboarding lessons.
Lodging on a Budget
You’ve had a full day on the slopes, and exhaustion is taking over. How can you get a good night’s sleep without paying outrageous resort prices? Well, the more the merrier (and cheaper). Get together with a group of friends and rent a condo, or join your company’s ski club. Note that the closer you stay to the resort, the more expensive lodging will be (with lodging at the resort being the most expensive of all.
Depending on where your nearest ski resort is, you may not need to pay for lodging at all. For example, if you live in the San Francisco Bay area, there are numerous resorts within a days drive. Get an early start, and you can make a full day of it.
Fuel Up
A skier’s gotta eat, but what do you do when a couple of burgers and Gatorades will set you back $30 at the ski resort cafeteria? At the risk of sound like a broken record, plan ahead, plan ahead, plan ahead. Don’t eat at the resort, where the food is expensive and the quality questionable. Pack a sack lunch, and be sure to take along lots of water. If you’re staying in a condo, cook at home. A big spaghetti dinner in front of your condo’s fireplace might be a lot more satisfying than fighting the crowds at an overpriced restaurant.
Package Shopping
True powder hounds may want to consider ski packages that include your flight, hotel, lift tickets and ski rentals. You’ll save time and most likely, money. Some packages even include free nights of lodging and lift tickets. Check out Expedia.com and airline Web sites early for the best bargains, or consider an all-inclusive resort like Club Med.
Cool Clothes, Cool Prices
No matter what your budget, here’s a short list of the clothes you’ll need on the slopes:
- Ski jacket. The single most important piece of apparel. Look for one that’s waterproof and windproof while allowing a degree of breathability. Invest in one that allows you to layer in a fleece liner.
- Ski pants. No matter how tempted you are, do not-I repeat, do not-wear jeans on the slopes. They’ll get wet, and you’ll be miserable.
- Gloves. You don’t have to buy top-of-the-line gloves, but make sure they’re sturdy and can repel water.
- Hat. You lose 30% of your body heat through your head. Don’t forget a nice fleece hat. Even a baseball cap will do on warm days.
- Socks. Look for non-cotton thermal socks that whisk moisture away from your feet and keep them warm. (Cotton keeps moisture in.)
- Long underwear. A light silk set may be all you’ll need, but you’ll be glad you made the investment.
- Goggles. If you don’t protect your eyes, the intensity of light reflected of the snow can actually sunburn your eyes. So look for good UVA and UVB protection; your goggles should block at least 95% of these rays. And as usual, for the best prices, shop before you get to the mountain.