5 Ways to Make Snowboarding Affordable

It’s a tough call. Charge a season pass, even though you’re not sure you can afford to pay it off. Go out a few times and pay full price for daily lift tickets. Or just say forget it and hope you have more money next year. Then there’s the issue of other expenses. Unless you plan on running down the slopes, you need a board, boots and bindings, not to mention adequate protection from the elements. It all might seem unaffordable.

It doesn’t have to be. Here are some tips to help you cut costs, most of which I have personally found to be helpful, if you decide to snowboard on a regular basis this season.

1. Buy equipment when it’s cheapest
After the season is over, prices drop considerably. I bought a well-known snowboard that sold for about $500 during the season for under $300 (unused) the following summer. I’ve also gotten great deals on boots, gloves, snowpants, pretty much everything. It’s great if you can afford new stuff all the time, but if you can’t, go for the deals.

Check out more general numbers and costs regarding this subject: Snowboarding on a Budget in Vermont

2. Use the same equipment multiple seasons
Again, it’s great if you can afford new stuff all the time, but if you could, you wouldn’t be reading this. I’ve used just about everything I’ve ever had for at least two seasons. Duct tape is a great way to patch up soft goods and I’ve used it on a coat that I wore for four seasons and snow pants that are currently in their fourth season. There are also fabric patches you can buy, but I’ve found duct tape to be at least as effective, and cheaper.

3. Buy a Restricted Season Pass
Season passes aren’t cheap. Luckily, many mountains offer season passes that allow less than full access, but at a reduced price. I buy a “Blackout Pass” that allows me to ride all but 18 days that fall on or near holidays (it also allows for two “floating days,” which I can use to snowboard on two blackout days of my choice). It is significantly cheaper than a regular season pass. Many mountains offer weekday passes and other options.

4. Sacrifice
Yeah, that’s a dirty word for a lot of people, but it’s good for you and might result in a winter of tearing up the mountain. Cigarettes, cable/satellite TV, drinks at the bar, take-out, the latest and greatest in cell phone technology, new clothes, the list of things you don’t need goes on and on. You’re probably living a life of excess, just like most of us Americans. Choose your priorities.

5. Work extra/work on the mountain
These are last resorts. Some mountains will give you a season pass if you work for them. Or you could occasionally work overtime at your regular job, or work an extra part-time short-term job, to pay for a pass (I’d recommend pre-season, so as to not interfere with your riding). Personally, I can’t see pulling 40 hours a week on the mountain only to witness, on a near daily basis, people snowboarding while I’m working and not snowboarding. I already work less than 40 hours a week so I can do things like snowboard, and I’d prefer to work an extra shift here and there to pay for the pass, rather than commit to a seasonal position and earn the pass. I’ve done the math, and maybe I’m missing something, but working on the mountain just doesn’t make sense to me.

These strategies (with the exception of working on the mountain) have served me well and helped me do a lot of snowboarding over the last several years. I hope they help you too.


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