- Utah Ski Gear offers affordable used equipment to help families enjoy winter sports.
- Travis Moise highlights significant savings on gear with used packages starting at $117.
- Utah Olympic Oval provides opportunities in various winter sports with free lessons and scholarships.
SALT LAKE CITY – As you watch the Olympics in Italy, you might have an itch to get into winter sports yourself.
But the costs of enjoying Utah's "Greatest Snow on Earth" can be daunting.
That's why Lillian Rowley is trying to be creative. The Juab County resident recently went to Utah Ski Gear in Sandy, which offers trade-ins and sells used equipment, to try to get a bigger snowboard for her teenage son.
"There's no need for a new board. We're just going out there to have fun," Rowley told KSL. "We're not looking to make it to the Olympics. We're just going to have fun on the mountain."
Travis Moise, who owns the ski shop, said the price difference between new and used gear is substantial. He said customers can outfit a child for the slopes for as low as $117, while the adult package comes as cheap as $153.
That's a fraction of what it costs brand new.
"Big difference," Moise said. "I mean, you can get a whole used package for the price of just new bindings, let alone the skis and the boots."
Another cost-saving strategy is to look at last year's models. For example, a new boot at Utah Ski Gear from 2025 used to cost $649, but it was recently listed at $389.
Just be careful with used helmets. Many experts advise replacing them every few years.
Other ways to save on the slopes include going to smaller resorts, skiing later in the day and buying a season pass early when it's still on sale. Also, consider shopping around for passes and taking advantage of the Ski Utah season passport for kids, which costs as little as $69. Some resorts like Brian Head and Nordic Valley even offer free skiing for children.
"It's definitely possible to ski – even with a family – and not have it be super expensive," Moise said.
More than just skiing
Of course, there's more to do during the winter in Utah than just ski and snowboard. The Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns offers speed skating, figure skating, hockey and curling.
The Oval provides free lessons for kids at certain schools. For others, scholarships are available.
"You are able to get up to 25% off of your session of the sport that you would like to learn," said Jennifer Howland, communities outreach coordinator at Utah Olympic Oval.
The Oval's website has more information for those who just want to try it out or for those who want to become a future Olympian.
"No matter your age or your ability, we have a home here," Howland said.
