Denver, CO – As the dog days of summer wind down it’s time to look forward to the ski and snowboard season ahead. That means it’s not only time to pick up your season pass, but also augment your gear quiver with the cheapest deals of the year.nSki and snowboard shops across the U.S. use the occasion of Labor Day Weekend to unload excess inventory, making it the perfect time for skiers and riders to buy that new equipment, get info from resorts or check out the latest ski and snowboard flicks.
“Skiers and snowboarders have come to associate Labor Day weekend with finding great deals on winter merchandise,” said Keith Liefer, chief operating officer at Christy Sports. “Customers can easily find what they are looking for and be helped by knowledgeable staff members and manufacturer representatives.”
Christy Sports, with locations in Colorado and Utah, hold their annual Powder Daze sale starting this Friday at a single location at 8691 Park Meadows Center Drive, adjacent to Park Meadows Mall in Lakewood, Colo.
Also onsite at the event will be representatives from various ski areas including Eldora Mountain Resort, Loveland Ski Area, Copper Mountain, Winter Park and Steamboat. They will be on-hand to provide customers with resort information including ski schools and other winter activities. Teton Gravity Research will also be onsite with discount tickets for their new movie premieres this fall throughout Colorado. Trailers for “Deeper” and “Light The Wick” will be shown at Powder Daze, as well as films from previous years.
All four of the region’s Colorado Ski & Golf stores and Boulder Ski Deals will also hold their annual SKI REX tent sale beginning Labor Day weekend. While skiers and riders can outfit themselves with new gear purchases, SKI REX also offers a Junior Trade In program for Colorado kids.
“Junior Trade In has provided huge savings for literally thousands of Colorado families that want to keep their kids on the slopes for the lowest possible price,” says Dave Williams, Colorado Ski & Golf regional manager. “We remain committed to keeping prices lows so that kids and their families can enjoy Colorado’s great slopes.”
With the Junior Trade-In Program a complete set of used equipment is available for $99.99 and includes skis, boots, and bindings. A mandatory binding check adds $15 to the package price. Equipment can be returned by March 31 and parents can refit their kids into a different set of used equipment for the next season for 50 percent off. Equipment can be exchanged as often as needed during the season to make sure the size and fit is comfortable for the child. The net cost per child after the first year is $49.99 per year.
Junior Trade-In is also available on new equipment with setups starting at $199.99. Return it by March 31 and the 50 percent discount is given for next year’s equipment, with a net cost of $99.99 per year after the first year. Kids can keep their equipment for an additional season and return it for a 30 percent discount on updated gear after two seasons of usage. Similar deals are available for snowboarders at $99.99 for used equipment and $199.99 for new equipment that includes a full snowboard setup with boots and deck.
Sports Authority touts its SNIAGRAB event that starts Saturday at locations across Colorado, Washington, Idaho, Utah and Alaska, as the world’s largest ski and snowboard sale, celebrating its 56th edition this year after starting with Denver’s Gart Bros. Sports, now a part of Sports Authority. The sale offers discounts of up to 75% off original prices on 2009-10 ski and snowboard gear.
Hours and promotions will vary by location. Those without a participating Sports Authority store nearby should grab a late night latté, for they can purchase online at sale prices at www.sportsauthority.com beginning at midnight EDT in the wee hours of Saturday morning.