March 18, 2009
by Matt Boxler/
Snowboard manufacturers don’t build boards to stand idle at shops around the country, which is why the end of the season is a great time to find the best bargains. (photo: Burton Snowboards)
While spring is a time to focus on fun, as here at Waterville’s Baja Grill, it should also be a time to focus on finding deals on gear. (photo: Hank DeVre)
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Mix one part of struggling economy with one part of warm March sun with one part of retailers looking to unload their glut of 2008-09 gear and you have the perfect recipe for bargain-basement shopping.
Whether you’re being advised by your stockbroker or by your snowboarding know-it-all, now is the time to buy. Spring is the optimum time to find deals not just for gear but lift tickets as well — because after all, the season is still going strong.
Below are some of my favorite sites to find the best available deals. Get comfy on your couch and check them out.
www.sunandski.com — Sun & Ski Sports is in the midst of its final ski and snowboard blowout sale, with some items selling for as much as 85 percent off the initial retail prices. Hard goods, soft goods, accessories — it’s all there. You can find bargains such as a 2009 Burton Custom or Mayhem board for $299, or a K2 Luna women’s board for $262. How about a 2009 Burton Lodi women’s boot for $127 or a Grom youth boot for $44?
www.smarter.com — Check out the “What’s Hot” link at this comparison shopping site and you might find a Sims Horizon women’s snowboard for $65.99 or a Rossignol Circuit for $159. There are dozens of top snowboarding brands in boards, boots and apparel. How about a Burton Space Sack snowboard bag for $39?
www.snowboard4free.com — With a website name like this, how could you go wrong? While not much in this world is free (except perhaps shipping on this site for spring shoppers), bargain-basement prices are being offered here on all kinds of snowboard items. Check out the “closeout/clearance” section and find deals such as a 150 cm Arbor “Formula” for $199. Sure, the deck is blemished, but isn’t that what stickers are for? There also is an Airwalk “Galaxy” for kids available for $99, helmets and goggles for $19 and a snowboard bag for $29.
www.backcountry.com — Sale items here start at 50 percent off and get even better from there. Apparel from Mountain Hardwear, Burton, Columbia, The North Face, Millet, Cloudveil and more is listed. You can find everything you ever wanted in boards, boots, bindings, gloves and accessories.
www.alpinezone.com — This site has just about everything associated with skiing and snowboarding, including news, trip reports and public forums. It also has an outdoor gear directory that posts all the latest deals on all sorts of snowboard products.
www.tramdock.com — Tramdock keeps you on your toes by posting one item at a time for 20 minutes before moving on to the next offering. You can stay on top of the deals at hand by signing up to receive alerts, or by following its tweets on Twitter. Some recent deals: a Dakine Heritage beanie for $8, a Kombi Knuckledown FGR mitten for $23 and an Oakley Wisdom goggle for $30.
www.thesnowjunkies.com — The Snow Junkies’ motto is: “Never pay full price for lift tickets, lodging or gear.” Check out the “Picks of the Week” section. Just last week, for instance, Mad River Glen was offering a $17 lift ticket on St. Patrick’s Day if you were dressed in green. Waterville Valley countered with a $17 lift ticket the same day, adding: “and you can dress however you want.” From the Junkies, you can learn that Butternut is offering $20 lift tickets from now until the end of the season.
www.liftopia.com — Another great site for lift ticket deals, Liftopia partners directly with ski and snowboard resorts to bring customers deals that can’t be found elsewhere. Search by state or resort, or check the “Deals of the Week” section and you might find bargains like a $10 lift ticket at Jay Peak. Tickets must be purchased through Liftopia, and be aware that the best bargains sell out quickly.
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