Boulder, CO – Christy Sports and Eldora Mountain Resort are partnering to offer discounted children’s ski rentals and passes for the upcoming season through the Gear & Grow program as well as bus service to the ski area from two of Christy Sports’ retail locations.

Children participating in the Gear & Grow program receive an Eldora child season pass and a Christy Sports season ski rental. The price starts at $199 and is available for children ranging from ages six to 12, and equipment upgrades are available including snowboards and performance ski packages. Any time during the ski season, parents can exchange equipment as their child grows and can also upgrade equipment as the child becomes a better skier.

The program is available from any of the Christy Sports locations in Boulder, Fort Collins, Flat Iron, Park Meadows, Denver West and Denver Southwest. It is also available for purchase in person at Eldora Mountain Sports or by phone at (303) 440-8700. Rental equipment can be picked up between now and Oct. 23, 2011 at Christy Sports.

“This is the 7th year, we have offered the Gear & Grow program, and each year it gets more and more popular,” said Dan Fox, Front Range operations director at Christy Sports. “In today’s tight economy, parents are looking for ways to save money and the Gear & Grow program provides them with an affordable option when it comes to equipment and ski passes.”

Eldora is a family friendly resort located just west of Boulder and a short drive from Denver.

In addition, Eldora will be offering a bus service from the Christy Sports Littleton and Park Meadows locations to the ski resort on select Saturdays during the ski season. For $30, riders will receive a round-trip bus ride and a lift ticket for skiing that day. Riders will also get 40 percent off walk-in ski and board rentals from Christy Sports.  The bus service will leave the Christy Sports location at 8 a.m. and will return at 4 p.m. Bus riders 18 years and under will need a parent or guardian to sign a release waiver, and children 12 years and under will need to be accompanied by a parent.

Bus service from the Christy Sports Littleton location will run on: Jan. 21, Feb. 4, Feb. 25, March 10 and March 24. The Park Meadows location bus service will run on Jan. 28, Feb. 11, March 3, and March 17. Customers interested in the bus service should visit the Christy Sports’ Littleton or Park Meadows locations, or call (303) 972-0432 or (303) 708-8535.