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Skiing would be more fun if it wasn't so expensive

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Del_the_FH
Posts: 24 - Karma: 10
I hate how the wonderful love of skiing that i have has been slightly tarnished due to the fact that it costs an arm and a leg just to continue riding every season.  I am starting to feel that the product industry is coming closer to a point where progression can not only take place in design and performance, but also in production, distribution, and overall cost to the consumers.  I think that a time is coming where companies need to start focusing on maintaining quality while lowering cost, and if this were possible it could help to progress the sport at an even higher rate.  Anyone agree/disagree?
Oct 27 2007 7:12AM
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Moses
Posts: 1849 - Karma: 564
I usually tell people that a good way to purchase new or slightly used equipment is through local ski swaps.  I’ve found $.50 poles and 03’ 173 cm K2 enemies for $20 just recently.  Also, if they don’t mind they can go dumpster diving.  You’d be surprised what some shops through away (like perfectly good mogul skis that have only been mounted once).  As for high ticket prices, there are always lower key areas that you can go to (instead of Breck go to Arapahoe), and beginners, who would generally use the easier terrain that is only accessed by one lift, most likely pay less for tickets.      
Oct 27 2007 8:57AM
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Joan
Posts: 2944 - Karma: 1,305
i work in the summer, that pays for all my shit
Oct 27 2007 9:09AM
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SkierX
Posts: 16253 - Karma: 538
The cost of skiing is nowhere near comparable to some other sports.

Hell, just look at Mountain Biking and the cost of that.

Skiing can be done rather cheap if you put some time and effort into a few different areas.
Oct 27 2007 9:33AM
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salomonskiier12
Posts: 2862 - Karma: 19
for example, once you have the equpitment (maybe 600-800$ total), you really don't need any other fees besides lift tickets.  But there is always skiinning and hiking to get to the actual good stuff
Oct 27 2007 9:38AM
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SkierX
Posts: 16253 - Karma: 538
Again though, a beginner could EASILY get used gear and into the sport for under $200 total (including snowpants, gloves, and a suitable jacket)

You don't need brand new boots, brand-new skis, or the latest $300 outerwear to go skiing.
Oct 27 2007 9:43AM
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golf
Posts: 1418 - Karma: 14
Its really not that expensive. I use a jacket and pants for about 2 seasons and at the most I would pay $150 for a jacket. As far as skis always buy them at the end of the season, Its usually like $150 cheaper and I usually use the same pair of skis for 2 to 2.5 seasons. Lift tickets are the most expensive thing, theres not really anyway to get around the high prices. Just work hard and your work will pay off
Oct 27 2007 10:31AM
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Joan
Posts: 2944 - Karma: 1,305
unless you like to compete and then its alot more money
Oct 27 2007 10:42AM
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Armanzoid
Posts: 2453 - Karma: 26
The precedence has already been set that people are willing to pay. Companies would never ruin such a good thing.
Oct 27 2007 10:44AM
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salomonskiier12
Posts: 2862 - Karma: 19
but comps sometimes take the fun out of skiing
Oct 27 2007 11:07AM
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hewy
Posts: 1355 - Karma: 205
 boots are the only thing I see overpriced. Half the boots today are more then most sets of skis.
Oct 27 2007 11:09AM
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Canuker
Posts: 4730 - Karma: 165
dude thats like one sport, i mean sure when you get into motor sports thats different. But look at soccer, baseball, lacrosse, hockey, skateboarding, surfing( well actually surfing is quite pricey) etc.. they dont have to pay over 1000 to get a good setup.

personally i am really cheap and wont pay over $200 for skis and like 120 for bindings, but thats why i shop ebay
Oct 27 2007 1:17PM
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YourExcellency
Posts: 82 - Karma: 10
When I skied Mammoth a few years ago it was $395 for a season pass and their season is 9 months long. I would hardly call skiing everyday for 9 months at a world class resort for $395 to be expensive. Same thing goes with gear. Ever hear of Ebay? I mean what are you doing buying top of the line new gear every season while buying daily lift tickets at Aspen?
Oct 27 2007 1:21PM
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FUUUCK
Posts: 18426 - Karma: 4,888
Skiing isnt really that expensive, try riding DH in the summer and skiing in the winter, then things get pricey
Oct 27 2007 1:23PM
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Canuker
Posts: 4730 - Karma: 165
oh ya i kinda forgot about the league fee's and stuff, i was thinking equipment. I play competitive "A" lacrosse and its not that expensive.

but i still think skiing is pretty expensive when you ad up lift tickets, equipment, if you buy lunch at the chalet, and the gas you use to drive there.

Oct 27 2007 2:13PM
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Canuker
Posts: 4730 - Karma: 165
^^ those last two points were kinda pushing it.

Oh and about the title it wouldnt make skiing more fun, it would just make it more........well less expensive.............................. personally im prepared to pay the price tag to do something i love
Oct 27 2007 2:16PM
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TechnoPotamus
Posts: 11626 - Karma: 3,522
this is a good issue to talk about.  I definitely agree with the thread, it is getting really expensive and costs such a huge chunk of money to get everything especially when you're parents stop hooking you up.
Oct 27 2007 2:53PM
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DJSTEVEINNIAMIXX
Posts: 1859 - Karma: 1,664
thats why you get sponsersizederacled.Plus skiing is not that expensive compared to some sports.like golfing is crazy.
Oct 27 2007 3:15PM
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alaskakid
Posts: 5540 - Karma: 430
Yah I agree that skiing is expensive. Even snowboarding, a rather similar sport, has much cheaper boards/boots/bindings. I think a big deal with companies is charging $180 for 5k/5g shells, which is pretty rediculous. That is why I check sac/wm daily, and buy everything 50% off. There are sick deals online, you just have to look. That said, it is a little better feeling riding in an expensive sick setup than a cheap setup, maybe its just gives you more confidence, but that's my opinion. I could see a lot of people disagreeing with that last sentence though.
Oct 27 2007 3:18PM
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Poomba
Posts: 329 - Karma: 10
Yep. Especially Lacrosse. Ive got as much money in that as i do in skiing in gear alone
Oct 27 2007 4:49PM
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Pirruccio
Posts: 1301 - Karma: 70
i once met a guy that claimed to spend 12 thousand dollars on a dh bike
Oct 27 2007 4:52PM
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t_rob
Posts: 6433 - Karma: 11,458
think ski bum. what year equitment does he ride? who knows its pretty fucking old.
Oct 27 2007 4:59PM
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UNREAL
Posts: 3989 - Karma: 23
Thats ridic... but possible

But DH isnt that expensive actually.

Buy a used bike for 2000-4000

Use for 2-4 seasons

helmet = 100

and thats it
Oct 27 2007 5:05PM
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skiP.E.I.
Posts: 7822 - Karma: 21,853
what are you talking about??! the fun part is trying to do everything you can to freeload, bum rides and otherwise avoid costs to go skiing!  It would obviously still be the same fun, just easier to do all the time. The trouble is more people would do it, so hills would be even more crowded!
Oct 27 2007 5:12PM
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miroz
Posts: 10333 - Karma: 3,945
im going to say that no, skiing wouldn't and couldn't really be any more fun, especially due to money, and heres why: i know that almost everybody feels better about getting something when they have EARNED it, not just had their parents pay for it.  Nothing is that expensive in skiing that it is out of reach, even if you have to work all summer to pay for those new SFBs or whatever you want...my point is that skiing isn't that expensive and even if it is for some of us, its not hard to work and meet you goals and feel good about your payoff for the next 6 months during the winter riding your new gear
Oct 27 2007 5:19PM
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alexL
Posts: 512 - Karma: 28
i could believe it, at the shop i work at we have a 6000 dollar dh wheelset, and with all the other crap im sure you could make a 12000 dollar bike

but as for skiing, like you can definately blow alot of money on it if you want to (my 4 days in tahoe last march cost around 3000 dollars with everything added up, that doesnt count casino losses either)

but you can still have fun skiing without spending much at all, half the time its more fun to like set up a rail or something at a park and just spend the day chilling with friends and skiing, that doesnt cost anything rele, if you HAVE to go to a resort to have fun then sure it can add up, but thats still worth it in my opinion

and the amount of money people spend to play hockey is just retarded
Oct 27 2007 5:27PM
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railsldr1242
Posts: 474 - Karma: 36
the only thing ive bought in the past two years is a helmet, besides that im going on my third year with the same setup
Oct 27 2007 5:37PM
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skiP.E.I.
Posts: 7822 - Karma: 21,853
yeah, any kind of bicycle riding if you do it alot is waay pricey. even the worst, crappiest parts are half expensive, and if you ride like 3+ times a week you have to replace everything all the time. Especially if you jump, it is insane to have more than a one speed drivetrain that is totally bombproof, because otehrwise everything just breaks, and it is EXPENSIVE. still cheaper than driving a car everywhere though, if its your daily transportation.
Oct 27 2007 5:46PM
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Del_the_FH
Posts: 24 - Karma: 10
consider the people out there who do work all summer and happen to work all winter as well, but instead of having the luxury of spending all of the money you earned on ski gear you are required to spend it on living expenses like car and health insurance or rent?  If you are trying to support yourself it can certainly be a challenge to have the money required to ride.  Not to mention the fact that so many of the skiers that make this sport what it is are just wearing a few thousand dollars of their parents money every season.  I feel that its pretty hard to compete with that but we are all entitled to our own opinions.  And i was trying to say that if every broke ass ski bum in the sport could afford that next level up of equipment, it could do things to progress the sport.
Oct 27 2007 5:57PM
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BigJew
Posts: 6974 - Karma: 79
I like your name.

And I don't think that skiing is that expensive, the average person needs 1 setup. 1100$ will get you skis boots and bindings that are middle range if new or high end if it's a year old. 300$ will get you a full 20k/20k outerwear setup and a helmet and gloves if you buy online. And 300$-500$ will get you a seasons pass at most places, you can do better if you qualify for a student discount. So 1700$ will get you through your first year of skiing and then 300-500$ for every year after that. That's not too unreasonable.
Oct 27 2007 6:46PM
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*rkp*
Posts: 8198 - Karma: 257
just buy all your stuff off ebay or other cheap sites.   i just bought some look p12's brand new for 130$. (the race ones)      good deals all over the place!
Oct 27 2007 6:49PM
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Josh_Jibz
Posts: 236 - Karma: 28
Ok so if skiing wasnt that expensive and relatively "cheap" without the overpriced lift passes, then wouldnt you think that fucking shitloads more people would go skiing....there would need to be new resorts made to compensate for this and the mountains would be fucking packed...the lift lines would also increase from their already massively long lines and half the time youd be waiting instead of actually skiing.

Secondly I think spending the money and going skiing is a reward to the hard work put in to actually get the money and go...
Oct 27 2007 6:55PM
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poofartpee
Posts: 7436 - Karma: 1,538
mountain biking is really only expensive until u actually have a bike...so many people just dump money into upgrades that are not really neccesary
Oct 27 2007 7:07PM
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Aenigma
Posts: 11256 - Karma: 424
It's really as expensive as you want it to be.  You don't have to get new equipment, it doesn't have to be top of the line, you don't even have to buy any lift tickets.  I know people who ski backcountry on nice skis they've gotten at ski swaps and probably don't spend more than $200 a season to ski 120 days.  On the other hand, there's kids who go up once or twice a week and have a million pairs of skis, a square mile of 500,000,000k waterproofed clothes etc, and replace everything once or twice a season.  That's what makes it look expensive. I'm not really one to talk since I've sold my soul to skiing and mountain biking, but it's not hard to see both sides of the argument.  If skiing is breaking your bank account, it's a choice (or you need to quit your job at Mickey D's).  
Oct 27 2007 7:16PM
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josexi
Posts: 267 - Karma: 8
compare it to golf then dont bitch
Oct 27 2007 7:35PM
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waynewong
Posts: 1359 - Karma: 23
Skiing is crazy expensive -

Lift tickets - 70$ a day
Season passes - 1200$
Gas - 4$ a gallon this winter (oil will hit 100$ a barrel in three weeks, its at 91$ today)

Now add the cost of a winter rental - 2000$ a month
Family passes and clothes and gear

For my family of three -

I spend well over 10,000 a winter and that is getting off light

Yes skiing is cheap if your 16 years old, skiing on a student pass and driving in mom's car

like the OP stated

try paying for life and skiing - especially if your older than 21 qand cannot get student discounts



Oct 27 2007 8:59PM
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*V-Love*
Posts: 500 - Karma: 19
I agree, just a one day lift pass is expensive unless ya go after a certain time 
Oct 27 2007 9:09PM
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MtHoodCork9
Posts: 494 - Karma: -4
You got to find a resort with reasonable season pass prices, thats the key to saving money. For me its 300 bucks to ski all season up at mt hood meadows. As far as gear goes, just try to buy your gear when shops are having sales. You can find good deals online too.
Oct 27 2007 9:21PM
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wiglaf
Posts: 4877 - Karma: 141

The current cost of skiing is pretty ridiculous.. Especially for people who are new to the sport and families. How does a family afford to take their 3 kids skiing more then once or twice a year? Pretty much the only reason why I got to ski growing up was b/c my dad ran a school ski club and they gave us free tickets.  How are new people supposed to be introduced to the sport when they have a $70lift ticket on top of rentals? I know I sure as hell wouldn’t even think about going skiing at those prices.

 

Oct 27 2007 10:24PM
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Dan.
Posts: 7201 - Karma: 1,126
Just get a job, its not that much money. Out of highschool you should be able to get enough pay to afford equipment, gas, and living expenses.
Oct 27 2007 10:35PM
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FUUUCK
Posts: 18426 - Karma: 4,888
believe it or not, parts break all the time, and if you want to get into racing youre getting pads, shoes, gloves, shorts, jersey, and goggles.
Oct 27 2007 10:56PM
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HermioneGranger
Posts: 1933 - Karma: 101
LIFE IS JUST EXPENSIVE, ITS THE TRUTH!!!!
Oct 27 2007 11:01PM
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SkierX
Posts: 16253 - Karma: 538
Skiing is no different than most sport where if you want a top of the line setup, you need to spend a lot of money.

Be it hockey, football, surfing, skiing.

You can ski cheap if you don't mind used equipment, and not having the most current gear.
Oct 28 2007 10:12AM
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stompdat
Posts: 641 - Karma: 50
Skiing is expensive, and it is especially expensive for the youngins. They keep growing out of their stuff, and having to buy new things again and again. And yeah, when going on a trip, share the cost of the gas. It's just the right thing to do. It'll save you barrels of cash.
Oct 28 2007 10:31AM
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FartBoy05
Posts: 1306 - Karma: 9
ive spent 5thousand so far.  so yeah its pretty expensive.
Oct 28 2007 10:35AM
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jhackbeez
Posts: 2136 - Karma: 258
skiing is just one of lifes pleasures, the kind where you dont care how much yuo spend on it.  no matter what.
Oct 28 2007 11:12AM
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dinopudge
Posts: 199 - Karma: 10
skiing isn't that expensive. i ride horses too and that's wayy more expensive.

but either way, ii don't think that skiing would be any more fun if it wasn't as expensive as it is.
Oct 28 2007 3:56PM
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slimbruddah
Posts: 2611 - Karma: 25
Skiing is an expensive sport... which sucks. But whatever, anything less expensive would be more fun haha
Oct 28 2007 4:17PM
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breckfreeskier
Posts: 1541 - Karma: 22
I save money by stealing. It really cuts down the costs.
Oct 28 2007 4:18PM
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