Snowboarding is an awesome sport to get into, but it’s pretty easy to rack up a hefty bill when everything’s said and done. But not to worry, there are a ton of great sites out there that offer great brands for way less. Here are my tips for shredding on a budget:
1. Buy your gear at the right time:
The best times to buy equipment and apparel are before the winter season begins and when the season is coming to a close. Retailers have lots of sales throughout the year but the biggest sales are around cyber monday/pre holiday and end of season sales.The first time I purchased equipment I purchased it at the end of the season and scored some seriously amazing deals. I ride a 2010 149 Nitro Haze, originally this board costs $350 but I purchased it for $95, which is basically dirt cheap. This season I bought all of my new gear on cyber monday. I was able to purchase a new jacket, snowpants and goggles all for under $180!
2. Check out flash sale and discount sites:
There are tons of these sites out there. Flash sale sites are web stores that offer items at a significant discount for short periods of time (some as short as 15 minutes). Discount sites are web stores that offer items at a percent discount, normally overstock items or last season items. Here are some of my favorite sites:
- http://www.whiskeymilitia.com/ (where I purchsed my board)
- http://www.the-house.com/ (where I purchased my jacket and snowpants)
There are tons more, but those are a few of my favorites!
3. Be knowledgeable about brands and equipment.
While Burton is a great brand and perhaps the most well known, it doesn’t mean that it’s your only option. Brand name boards can cost more than private/independant label boards, but that doesn’t mean brand name boards are better quality. There are tons of brands out there and the industry is growing so you have butt loads of options, nearly endless! It’s important to do as much research as you can on what board/equipment is the best fit for you. We’re talking opportunity cost here, you want to get the best value. This means you’ll need to find the best equipment for you, at the best price possible. Having as many options as you can will increase your chances of making the right choice. QUICK TIP: the “Good Wood” award is a good and easy way to determine what boards were the best of the year. You can also check forums and reviews to determine the quality of brands, certain boards and certain equipment.
4. Be Patient!
Making a hasty decision on what equipment to purchase can really cost you (pun intended there ;) ). Especially when flash sites like Whiskey Militia swap out items every 15 minutes. I’m not saying; spend all day on their site refreshing the page every 15 minutes, but do check a few times a day when you’re looking for something specific. You might get lucky!
5. Do your research!
It’s extremely important that you understand the equipment you’ll be buying. For instance, are you going to be using your board for park riding or all mountain riding? Here is a good guide to decide what what type of board to get: http://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/snowboard.html .
Also, note that there is a difference between men’s and women’s boards. Basically men’s boards typically have wider stances, are wider in general and are stiffer, so if you’re a beginner and a female it might be harder to learn. However, women can ride men’s boards, most men’s boards are actually unisex. So if you find the deal of the century but it’s a men’s board you can still consider it. Just make sure the sizing is right. For instance, my board is a men’s board but I was able to get away with it because it was the smallest size and a park board, meaning it was extra flexible and slimmer than an average men’s board. In terms of bindings and boots there are also men’s and women’s categories. However I would advise that if you’re a female you buy female bindings. Men’s bindings have much more calf support and come farther up the leg than womens’, which can be uncomfortable if you have a smaller stature. Doing your research will prevent you from purchasing the wrong equipment and spending more money and time than you need to.
Welp, those are my top tips for getting gear cheap! I hope this helped you, I know I was completely lost when first purchasing my gear! Thanks for reading!
Laters,
xxgk
Nitro Haze 2010:
Latest Nitro Haze:
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