Why You Shouldn’t Buy New Skis This Season
People are already preparing to make the long, ritualistic weekend trek up the I-70 Corridor to their favorite ski resort. Every skier is thinking about their new outerwear setup and trying to look as “steezy” as possible. But, we are here to talk about the two magic planks under our feet that make all the fun happen.
624 thousand alpine skis were sold in 2012, per the Snowsports Industries America. In Colorado alone, there were around 500,000 skiers and snowboarders in 2013–2014. The ski industry in Colorado was worth $4.8 billion dollars in annually in 2013–2014 and it’s still growing. That means that there is a lot of ski gear floating around Colorado, and most importantly a lot of used gear.
Every fall when I walk into a REI or Christy Mountain Sports, a fresh new pair of Skis always draws me in, like a siren at sea calling a sailor to his death. The price never seems that bad in the shop. I somehow always convince myself that, “$800 dollars isn’t that much.” But, admittedly that’s a lot of cash. Throwing down $800 isn’t attainable for most people when they’re already paying for a ski pass, transportation, and especially some post shred après ski (post ski beer and/or party). That’s why used skis are the way to go.
I’m not saying that you shouldn't buy skis if you need them. I’m just saying that you shouldn't buy new skis. Honestly a new pair of skis are awesome, but they are always missing something. New ski’s don’t have soul. Skis with a few years on them have been through some stuff, but are probably ready to take a few more years. Used skis have an almost a spiritual quality to them, you know that they’ve had a life when you pop in.
Skiers often lay their skis to rest too soon and buy new ones every year, or every other year. There are so many places where you can buy a used pair of skis. Here in Fort Collins, I recommend the Gearage. They always have great pairs of used skis during the fall and winter. Other places to look would be Craigslist. Last year I got myself a pair of 2015 Armada Al Dentes from someone here in Fort Collins.
Rather than spending $500 to $800 on a new pair of skis, why not look at the used market and spend around $200 to $400 dollars. Next time you think about getting new pair of skis, consider the skis out there without a home. Without a skier to shred on them. This season, I urge you to adopt a pair of used skis. There’s so many out there that are still usable and ready to rip up the mountain.
