I’m just going to say it. Snowsports are expensive.
The equipment is expensive, the lift tickets are expensive, and don’t even get me going on the food court prices.
So what do you do if you wanna learn how to snowboard or ski and have no money?
Well here are some tips on how to do it for cheap from my personal experience:
Lift tickets:
you can work at a ski resort. You’ll get a free season pass and usually discounted tickets for friends/family also
*If you don’t have the time, or already have a job, there are some mountains that you just have to work one shift a week in return for a season pass. It’s usually called a liaison position.
Once you are in the ski industry, free or discounted reciprocal skiing at other mountains to common practice.
*Just chat with your HR department
Gear:
You can get pro deals through your employer, last season’s demo gear, or just a general employee discount.
Also, look around at your coworkers. You are looking at experts and gear retailers. They have so much knowledge and who knows maybe one of them has an old snowboard in the basement.
Also, start looking online and be patient. As we get into the offseason prices will go down.
Hack: look in areas where skiing and snowboarding aren’t as common.
Example: I (Lizzy) got my board and boots set up for 50 bucks on Craiglist. It was in Ohio during the summer.
You don’t have to be rich, just determined.
I taught myself snowboarding (and by that, I mean books, YouTube, friends, even strangers taught me)
Once, a little eight-year-old girl I met for only a moment helped me get over and conquer my fear of jumping. Sitting there at the approach, I knew I would have to pick up speed in the run to make it, but every time I tried, I got scared and chickened out.
I told her she could go first as I timidly sat there, not wanting anyone to even see me try it.
She said no, you go. I replied, “I’m scared” and she said, “So what, I was too, but you just have to do it” She gave me a few quick tips, said go for it and rode off and hit the jump perfectly and keep riding on to the lift.
I’ll be honest, I sat there for a while. But I got up, and with all the fake confidence I could muster, I hit that jump and you know what I stinkin landed it.
You don’t get to feel that level of alive all the time. Just remember that. Chase these moments.
You have to just go for it and I promise you will figure it out.
I’m became a snowboard instructor because you know what.
“Fake it til you make it”
From the other side,
Lizzy
from the other side 