The spring is good time for a skier. I have always thought that way. Your average skier might think that  winter is gone and it is time to hit your bike, pull out your dusty golf bag, start gardening etc. But usuallly if you really want to enjoy the slopes the spring is made for that: no crowds, sunshine, slush, late season dumps on high elavation, the great spring skiing up north here in Scandinavia etc. I’d say don’t quit skiing until the resorts close, and even after that you can earn your turns for a long time.

If you happen to live on the flatlands the hiking possibilities are limited though – it is time to hit the shops and surf the internet for cheap equipment and discount sales, thinking about the following season.

It is kind of strange how people like me rush to the latest equipment every year. E.g the Marker Duke binding I reviewed few weeks ago, is pretty much beta tested by the consumers on its first release season. I bet the next season’s model is much more defined and even better. Same goes for the skis in general. Take Völkl Gotama for example – the manufacturer has fine tuned the ski for years and today you can be hundred percent sure the model is proven from years of hard skiing by many different type and level skiers.

Sure there has been very much innovation in the ski design in the lastest years and  e.g. in the new shapes category there has been something very appealing every year (next year no exception, see some candies here, I drool for several pairs very badly already).

However, it is very misleading to think that the new supershapes and technological wonders will make you any better skier.  Check any old school mountain guide, almost anywhere in the world and be ready to get humbled by old farts on 210′s (ok, a bit of exageration here but I guess the point was pretty clear, and if not check out the article and cool video about the long board day of the Kirkwood, California locals).

That being said, my principle is to stick with a year or two old skis, buy from spring discounts and not worry too much about my gear (core shots, edge burns etc.). You see, I’ve never had a sponsor - except if you count some good deals from local retailers that I happen to know. But when I got a bit older I noticed that it is easier to just work for your money and buy cheap ski equipment from good deals (mostly online) than try to convince someone that I am good enough for a “light” sponsor/pro form deal (and yes, I’ve noticed long time ago that I am not good enough for a “heavy” or “real” deal, heh.  Hars realities of life, one can say).

Anyway, here is the deal.

Anyone can go and check through your local ski shops. And I recommend to do that. The shop guys you know might give you THE deal after you’ve visited the shop twenty times and drooled over those sexy sticks you have been eying the whole season.

Also, searching and checking online shops is open for everyone. I recommend that too.

Still, I have a CONCRETE HINT for you.

Check out the German E-bay website www.ebay.de

And look for a (German) shop called “Ski Bilek“.

And wait! Here’s the point. They won’t tag their offerings with the shop name. You have to know what your looking for. Click e.g. “Sport” –> and under “Skisport“, “Alpin“. Now search for the model you want to buy. Note that some of the Ski Bilek’s offering are under the category “Sofort and neu“, meaning you have to pay the fixed start price. But sometimes, especially at the beginning of the new season and in the end of season, you can find lots of great deals here. There has been Blizzard Titan Pros at around 100 €, Völkl Gotamas at around 200€, Völkl Sanouks at around 250€ and so on. I’ve scored myself a pair of Salomon CR Johnson Pro Models at 120(!) Euros and Fisher Big Stix 106′s at 130 Euros. Talkin’ about a good deal!

At the German E-bay, and all the other auction sites in general, be ware of the so called “snipers” (meaning the program that is coded to optimise the auction process). I’ve lost couple of really tempting deals for some late second one Euro offers. That is quite frustrating. I even asked some hints on TGR forums for this. The general opinion was that there is no use to download a sniper program to yourself – just use common sense and decide on the price your willing to pay in the end and stay with it. Usually that price is higher than any of the “snipers” are willing to pay, and you still get a good price.