Good Year to Buy Skis?

[jbotti]

The last two seasons have been pretty good for the ski industry both with snow and equipment sales. There are always end of season deals, but the past few seasons they have been less plentiful. It's January and I am alreday seeing some price cutting (very modest) on internet sales. This is something I haven't seen in several years. I also noticed that O2Gearshop slashed prices on a bunch of their apparel (again it's January!) (BTW, some great prices on some Patgonia stuff if anyone cares).

My sense is that this is going to be a borderline disaster for industry wide equipment sales and my guess is also that by late february we will start seeing year end type deals all over the place.

The best deals always occur on a few skis that the manufacturers made way too many of (Fischer Watea 78, 84 and Dynastar Sultan 85's were in plentiful supply all for $350 and lower at one point in years past).

Not sure what will be in oversupply but this spring and next September I think will be very good times to buy skis and bindings. Too bad I don't need any!! Well that's actually never stopped me in the past!!

[Gary]

Good point JB...I've seen early sales on products at our local ski shop trying to get clothing and gear out the door.
Tough industry to be in so connected to Mother Nature.

Most of the stuff I like is usually in high demand and low productoin.... . Fortunately for the industry, I bought when I needed and paid the upper price....yes doing my part to bring the economy back.

No regrets here though....the right gear rocks!

Best, g

[LivingProof]

Not sure what will be in oversupply but this spring and next September I think will be very good times to buy skis and bindings. Too bad I don't need any!! Well that's actually never stopped me in the past!!

!

To borrow a Heluva line in another forum....."Come On Man!". John Botti would not be John Botti without a dream of a new ski in the '13 quiver. Heck, JB, you'd sell 3 just to have space to buy 1 pair. 

Gary found a local shop selling last years new GS skis for $100, just as Svend did in Toronto. I was in a local shop last week and the inventory did not look like it moved at all. Must have $1M to 2M just sitting on the floor of a huge shop. In addition, the closeout area had a ton of really good stuff from last year at 30% off, while we can debate how good a deal that is, the stuff is not moving.

As we love to rant about great deals, I picked up a Patagucci puff top for 50% off at a local store deal on New Years Day. Wore it on a milder day this week and it was great.

I'm more concerned about he health of some local ski areas. They really bit the bullet this past holiday season. My local mountain has several of it's best trails completely devoid of snow as the weather still is problematic. 55 in Philly today. Our local mountains and shops need snow to motivate people to spend.

[jbotti]

No I'm holding firm

[LivingProof]

No I'm holding firm

Are we playing "liars Poker"? I propose that team Real Skiers does a week in Big Sky next season. If you still have your same quiver, I'll buy a round for all, if not, you pony up!

[jbotti]

Sounds great!! Not because I think I iwll win, but because it would be fun to ski with a Realskiers group in Big Sky.

[beastieboy]

I do think the industry is hurting this year, with the lack of cooperation from Mother Nature.  When it's brown in the backyard, all of those CT and Mass skiiers don't head to VT.  When you don't head to VT, you don't need new stuff.  Of course, if it had cooperated and been snowy for just Christmas week, we probably wouldn't be seeing all the deals already.

Hopefully everyone will survive with just bruises.

[Liam]

I think it will be felt even more pointedly next season.

I know in the local shop I work in from time to time, they had their best early season ever.  They cleared out a lot of older stuff, cleared out all rental stuff, and moved more 'new season' skis than ever before.  Boots have been flying of the shelves.  And I think this was a reaction to last season's banner year (and a 30 inch october snowstorm) that got everyone thinking it would be snowmageddon 2.

But I suspect, long term trends like Global warming and the general precariousness of winter sports will be back on everyone's mind next season (and the economy..well, who knows?) and we'll see an even bigger dip.  I wonder if that's why we're seeing these price slashing sales, no one wants to be stuck next season with stuff they couldn't sell this season.

[jim-ratliff]

John:
I think this us going to be a great time to buy the fat rockers you've secretly been dreaming about.
The segment the manufacturers are most focused on and the segment most affected by lack of off-piste snow.
On our way back from Utah, and very glad that we both had a pair of narrow waisted skis with us.
Jim

[jbotti]

I was looking through Ebay tonight just to see if big deals had started showing up yet. I was not surprised to see a bunch of stuff deeply discounted and remember it's February. The weather across the whole country continues to be terrible for skiing with very limited snow and warm temps. Get out your shopping list. Between now and May we will see a ton of stuff at blowout prices!!

Here is a small smattering of what I saw tonight:

New Head Peak 90's for $420
New Head Inferno 104's for $395
New Head Kiss of Death for $395
New Head Peak 78's with bindings for $399


I only checked Head skis. I'm sure similar deals are starting to be available on other Brands.

Of course I don't need any new skis!!!

[byronm]

J....that is great news for me...I have been demoing this year in prep for purchase. Demo options limited in my area but reserved Peak 84's for next week. May not be the exact ski match for current conditions but one more ski to compare before decision time.

[midwif]

J Botti is a terrible influence on the buying habits of this board.

[jbotti]

J Botti is a terrible influence on the buying habits of this board.

I try!!

In a similar theme, I was just over on the Levelnine sports website and noticed that pretty much all their current year model skis currently come with free bindings and a free ski bag, free shipping and free binding mount. So the Head Rock n Rolls with a mojo 12 binding cost $599 shipped to your door. Not terrible.

I will keep my eyes on any great deals that I see and post all the ones that I don't buy first

I really don't need any new skis. However I got an email from Max today who told me that past 50 days almost all skis lose their pop, snap, edge hold and luster!

[jim-ratliff]

I really don't need any new skis. However I got an email from Max today who told me that past 50 days almost all skis lose their pop, snap, edge hold and luster!

The two of you are double teaming us.  JBotti finds the deals, Max tells us that our existing skis are worn out.
That's a bad influence on us.

[midwif]

The two of you are double teaming us.  JBotti finds the deals, Max tells us that our existing skis are worn out.
That's a bad influence on us.

And aren't you glad!!!
You've been feeling that lack of pop, snap and luster in  your Magnums, haven't you?
The love is gone.
Hence the demo'ing at Sugarbush.

Anyone know where Jim can demo Progressor 800's on the east coast?
Jim has the yen.