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It's that time - ski sales

Stores rolling out big bargains for snow enthusiasts

By Roger Fillion, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published August 27, 2008 at 9:05 p.m.

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Sports Authority employees organize skis in preparation for the "Sniagrab" sale, which kicks off this Labor Day weekend.

Photo by Tim Hussin / The Rocky

Sports Authority employees organize skis in preparation for the "Sniagrab" sale, which kicks off this Labor Day weekend.

A Colorado Ski & Golf worker unpacks ski boots.

Photo by Tim Hussin / The Rocky

A Colorado Ski & Golf worker unpacks ski boots.

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With Democrats swarming around Denver for their convention, Coloradans may not be too focused on hitting the ski slopes.

But this Labor Day weekend marks one of the best opportunities of the year for skiers to buys skis, snowboards, boots and other gear at bargain prices.

Sports Authority, Christy Sports and Colorado Ski & Golf are sponsoring annual sales with price cuts of up to 75 percent off last year's gear to make way for new equipment.

The sales extravaganza marks the unofficial start of the ski season.

Snow enthusiasts will get a crack at sorting through thousands of discounted skis, snowboards, boots, bindings, jackets, clothes and accessories.

The sales will occur at locations up and down the Front Range - from Colorado Springs to Denver to Fort Collins - as well as in Dillon and Steamboat Springs.

"Everything is representative of what we sell in our brick- and-mortar stores," said Bob Dapper, head of mountain operations at Christy Sports.

The Lakewood company will operate two tent sales, one in Dillon and one in Steamboat Springs.

"What's going to be available is top-of-the-line stuff at half price," said Dapper.

Colorado Ski & Golf is sponsoring its annual "Ski Rex" tent sales at five locations. Prices will be slashed for skis, snowboards, boots, clothing and accessories such as gloves and helmets.

"Every pair of skis, boots and poles from last year will be 40 percent off," said Ken Gart, president of Specialty Sports Venture, which includes the Colorado Ski & Golf stores.

He said it makes skiing "more affordable for families" if people buy their passes and equipment early.

And for the first time the company will unveil a recycling program.

Skiers and boarders can haul in old equipment and accessories to be donated to charity or shredded and used in a variety of new products including composite decking, flooring and furniture.

Sports Authority expects to attract nearly 30,000 shoppers to its multiple locations. The company's long-running "Sniagrab" - the word bargains spelled backward - is in its 54th year.

"We have dozens of ski resorts and mountains setting up tents, we have thousands of passers-by, and we have hundreds of people waiting in line to get unbelievable bargains on ski and snowboard equipment," David Campisi, president of Sports Authority, said in a news release.

fillionr@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2467 Staff writer Joanne Kelley contributed to this report.