Last season gear at bargain prices in SE PA?

I live in SE PA (Philadelphia, Allentown, Reading areas are all close by),
.... when and where are the best times and places to find gear on sale from
last season?

I took up DH skiing last season, and rented equipment all season. Some
friends in the know -- but who live in different parts of the country --
tell me the start of a new season is when great discounts are available on
gear from last year, ... skis, boots, bindings, poles.

So I'm looking for dates (early/mid/late september, october, etc.), store
names, etc. Thanks.

Walt wrote in
:

Anna Nonamus wrote:

I live in SE PA (Philadelphia, Allentown, Reading areas are all close
by), ... when and where are the best times and places to find gear on
sale from last season?

I took up DH skiing last season, and rented equipment all season.
Some friends in the know -- but who live in different parts of the
country -- tell me the start of a new season is when great discounts
are available on gear from last year, ... skis, boots, bindings,
poles.

So I'm looking for dates (early/mid/late september, october, etc.),
store names, etc. Thanks.

A third option is to go somewhere like Buckman's (look in the yellow
pages) and rent gear by the season. Pick it up in November, return it
in March. Not sure how much they charge, but this may be your best
option.


We did a seasonal lease for our son last year. I think we spent a total
of $100 for everything (boots, skis, poles, and bindings). Adult skis may
lease for a little more. It's definitely a good option. Plus the shop
ought to be willing to tune them up mid-season. It's cheaper than renting
if you ski more than 4-5 days and gets you on the slopes quicker.

I would agree with the comments of others. Don't buy anything yet. Wait
at least one more season. I rented for 3 seasons and then bought a fairly
inexpensive pair of Head's that I've been very happy with.

Chuck wrote:
Walt wrote

A third option is to go somewhere like Buckman's (look in the yellow
pages) and rent gear by the season. Pick it up in November, return it
in March. Not sure how much they charge, but this may be your best
option.


We did a seasonal lease for our son last year. I think we spent a total
of $100 for everything (boots, skis, poles, and bindings). Adult skis may
lease for a little more. It's definitely a good option. Plus the shop
ought to be willing to tune them up mid-season. It's cheaper than renting
if you ski more than 4-5 days and gets you on the slopes quicker.


Did you lease from Buckman's or somewhere else? I think Anna is looking
for specifics on particular vendors. If you had a good experience with
your son's lease last season, I'm sure she'd appreciate knowing the name
of the shop.

NOTE: I'm not pushing Buckmans. Actually I've never had any dealings
with them at all other than a free calendar that hung in my office the
season before last. There was a date on the calendar that said
"seasonal rentals due back in the shop" so that's how I know they do
season rentals.

--
//-Walt
//
//

Anna Nonamus ... wrote in message
I live in SE PA (Philadelphia, Allentown, Reading areas are all close by),
... when and where are the best times and places to find gear on sale from
last season?

So I'm looking for dates (early/mid/late september, october, etc.), store
names, etc. Thanks.

I have had good luck on eBay with the following stores:
skidad2
therasin
parkcitylodging

The problem for you on eBay or at a store is they are not going to be
very helpful unless you know a lot about your skiing equipment needs
and a lot about the used skis. Just learning to inspect used or old
skis takes a while.
Our local ski areas (Central PA) have swaps in October and I would be
glad to help if you come out here. I am sure your nearby areas have
swaps, too.
Otherwise, just put yourself in the hands of a good shop and buy a
reasonable beginner/intermediate setup.
Right now is a good time to start visiting shops to find out who you
will want to deal with. A good shop will ask the same kind of
questions a good date would ask.

"for a good time, email" Crashj

"Anna Nonamus" ... wrote in message
news
On 2 Sep 2003 15:36:52 GMT, Chuck wrote:

Anna Nonamus ... wrote in
news
I live in SE PA (Philadelphia, Allentown, Reading areas are all close
by), ... when and where are the best times and places to find gear on
sale from last season?

I took up DH skiing last season, and rented equipment all season. Some
friends in the know -- but who live in different parts of the
country -- tell me the start of a new season is when great discounts
are available on gear from last year, ... skis, boots, bindings,
poles.

So I'm looking for dates (early/mid/late september, october, etc.),
store names, etc. Thanks.

BTW where do you ski? We live in SE PA too and have come to call Blue
Mt.
our home ski area. Bear Creek is closer but the extra 400 ft vertical at
Blue makes a big difference.


Have skied Blue Mt about about eight times last season, took a lesson
there
and it helped enormously. So I guess I'd call it home, especially like
the
Burma Road trail, really cool switch backs and a nice long run. Was just
workign my way up to the more advcanced trails when the season ended. Also
have been to Bear Creek for night skiing (apres work) several times. Also
did Montage twice and Elk Mt twice.



I like Elk Mountain it has some nice runs. If you get the chance try
Mountain Creek in NJ, it has some nice runs too. It is my home mountain,
generally ski at least once during the season each of the Pocono ski areas.

Someone earlier mentioned if you ski less than 20 times per season it may be
better to rent, I would say less than 10 times per season. If you are
really into skiing than buy go buy a pair of skis it will help keep you
motivated to ski since you will already have skis. However, first buy a
good pair of boots and make sure you spend at least 30 minutes with the
potential boot you will buy on your feet. Walk around the shop, hop around,
stand around, sit with them on and then walk some more. After about 30
minutes most of the pressure points will be noticed and then the bootfitter
can do some needed modification or you will decide that these aren't the
boots for you. Don't rush the boot fitting! Also do not buy boots that are
for advance skiers it may too stiff for you or too hard to flex them
forward, which will keep you in the back seat and you will not be able to
control the skis underneath you not fun.

As far as skis buy something that is a level or two above your current
ability, a high level beginner or low level intermediate anything higher
again may be too stiff and will be much too hard to control or stay in
control. What happens when you get a ski that is too stiff for you is it
could send you into the back seat in a time that you need to make a turn or
in rough terrain thus you lose control and cannot turn the skis as you would
like too.

If you are in the South Jersey area, Danzeisen & Quigley is the largest and
generally has a good supply of equipment, they also have rentals.

Good luck and happy skiing,

JQ
Dancing on the edge

You just missed the big August sale at Ski Hut.

Seth
http://skiinghistory.org

"Anna Nonamus" ... wrote in message
news
I live in SE PA (Philadelphia, Allentown, Reading areas are all close by),
... when and where are the best times and places to find gear on sale from
last season?

I took up DH skiing last season, and rented equipment all season. Some
friends in the know -- but who live in different parts of the country --
tell me the start of a new season is when great discounts are available on
gear from last year, ... skis, boots, bindings, poles.

So I'm looking for dates (early/mid/late september, october, etc.), store
names, etc. Thanks.

Anna Nonamus ... wrote in
news
On 2 Sep 2003 15:36:52 GMT, Chuck wrote:

Anna Nonamus ... wrote in
news
I live in SE PA (Philadelphia, Allentown, Reading areas are all
close by), ... when and where are the best times and places to find
gear on sale from last season?

I took up DH skiing last season, and rented equipment all season.
Some friends in the know -- but who live in different parts of the
country -- tell me the start of a new season is when great discounts
are available on gear from last year, ... skis, boots, bindings,
poles.

So I'm looking for dates (early/mid/late september, october, etc.),
store names, etc. Thanks.

BTW where do you ski? We live in SE PA too and have come to call Blue
Mt. our home ski area. Bear Creek is closer but the extra 400 ft
vertical at Blue makes a big difference.


Have skied Blue Mt about about eight times last season, took a lesson
there and it helped enormously. So I guess I'd call it home,
especially like the Burma Road trail, really cool switch backs and a
nice long run. Was just workign my way up to the more advcanced
trails when the season ended. Also have been to Bear Creek for night
skiing (apres work) several times. Also did Montage twice and Elk Mt
twice.


We usually do Bear Creek on Sunday nights when the entire family up to 6
people can ski for $50 (not incl. rentals).

Personally I like the Lazy Mile at Blue. It's listed as an intermediate
level trail but anyone beyond a sheer novice ought to be able to handle
it. Burma is nice too, as is Paradise, but both are marked for "slow
skiing" . The thing I don't like about Burma is you can't get down to
the base without that little up-hill jaunt by the Burma Chair.

Chuck wrote:

We leased from Wick's. I *am* pushing them because I've had very good
experiences with them.

Wick's is still in business?!? Wow. I hadn't heard of Wick's Ski shop
in a couple of decades.

Back in the 70's Wicks was doing business on the Philadelphia pike north
of Wilmington, just about a mile from where I grew up. We used to drive
by it every day and I always wondered what the heck a ski shop was doing
in Delaware; DE's as flat as a pancake and hardly gets any snow at
all. They closed up shop sometime in the late 70's - the ersatz
Tyrollean A-frame is now occupied by a florist - and I figured that they
went the way of most small businesses. Turns out that they just moved
to Exton PA. Whadayaknow?

Well, ya gotta figure that a small business in a service industry who's
been around for 30+ years has to be doing something right.

--
//-Walt
//
//

"Walt" wrote in message
...
Chuck wrote:

We leased from Wick's. I *am* pushing them because I've had very good
experiences with them.

Wick's is still in business?!? Wow. I hadn't heard of Wick's Ski shop
in a couple of decades.

Back in the 70's Wicks was doing business on the Philadelphia pike north
of Wilmington, just about a mile from where I grew up. We used to drive
by it every day and I always wondered what the heck a ski shop was doing
in Delaware; DE's as flat as a pancake and hardly gets any snow at
all. They closed up shop sometime in the late 70's - the ersatz
Tyrollean A-frame is now occupied by a florist - and I figured that they
went the way of most small businesses. Turns out that they just moved
to Exton PA. Whadayaknow?

Well, ya gotta figure that a small business in a service industry who's
been around for 30+ years has to be doing something right.

There used to be a small ski shop in my town - pretty busy with sales,
rentals, repairs and bus trips in the winter, pretty much starving in the
summer. Because I came in for lots of ding repairs (So Cal skiing), I got
to be a favored customer.

Then a branch of Oshman's opened up a mile or so away. The little guys hung
on for about another year, then shut down. I screwed up by not buying the
tuning bench when the owner offered it to me cheap.

Now even the local Oshman's is shut down. Nearest "ski" store is the
Sportmart (Gart's chain, I think) over the hill more or less on the way to
work.

Richard Henry wrote:

over the hill more or less on the way to work.

I know what you mean.
I feel the same way every morning....

--
//-Walt
//
//