The recent rains dropped early snowfall on the high Sierras as well as some local mountain ranges. Mammoth opened one lift the first week of October, the earliest start date in the resort's history. We've already had some increases so far,'' says Christi Deverian, ski apparel buyer at Newport Ski Company of Newport Beach. One way some suggest looking for the best bargains is to call a few local stores to find out if they are sponsoring a ski swap. These are annual parking lot sales where consumers can bring in their old ski wear and equipment and trade or sell to someone else, generally at a fraction of the original price.
Most stores have mini-sales on particular items throughout the ski season.
Or you can plan ahead for next winter by waiting until mid to late February for the post-season inventory clearance sales. Savings can run anywhere from 30 to 50 percent, with some shops taking even bigger cuts. However brand names, colors and sizes will probably be scarce. You can also cut costs by planning your ski trip during the week when hotel prices and lift tickets are generally cheaper. Skiers can also take advantage of numerous discount packages offered by ski shops and travel agencies for families, students and seniors.