'Tis the season for skiing and snowboarding, which can be expensive sports -- unless you know where to shop.
"We've got everything: We've got skiing, we've got snowboarding, we've got new, we've got used," said Ken Demaret, owner of Ski and Snowboard Outlet. "We've got clothing for kids, we've got clothing for adults."
There are two Ski and Snowboard Outlet stores, one in Costa Mesa and the other in San Gabriel. They offer gear at 50 to 75 percent off.
"We buy closeouts from last year from the manufacturers. We also buy stores that are in difficulty. We will sometimes go and buy an entire store all at one time," said Demaret.
But before you buy, make sure you think about safety. Pads, guards and helmets are recommended.
If you're buying used gear, buy correctly, or it could be dangerous.
- Check for wear and tear on boots.
- Examine bindings. Plastic can go bad after years of use or disuse.
- With skis, inspect the entire length.
- Look for signs of repair on any gear.
