Lady In Shred

I love snowboarding, but I’ve always known that I would never be good enough to be a professional (don’t feel sad about this, I was just always realistic).  That being said, I began to find a way to fund my passion early on.  I started working at a snowboard shop when I was 17-years-old.  It took me a couple years to figure out the system, but I have found a few good ways to get your gear for free (or close to).

• Work at a Snowboard Shop.  The most honest way to get your gear on the cheap, working at a snowboard shop gives you a few great options.  A lot of shops have a fleet of demo gear that you will have access to as an employee.  My first season of snowboarding I just used all the shop’s demo gear for free.  Most employers know that you will be able to sell more product better if you’ve actually had experience riding it.  Talk to your manager and tell him what boards you’re interested in.  Chances are they will talk to the brand’s sales rep to try and get the board for free or they’ll allow you to buy the board at the store’s cost.

• Help Out at a Big Sale Event. Most snowboard retailers have huge pre-season, holiday, and end-of-season sales and chances are they are going to need a little extra help.  From setting up sale tents to manning the fitting room to just being a warm body to discourage thieves, you don’t necessarily need to know how to sell snowboards to help out at these events.   These sales are usually just a weekend long, so you won’t have to commit a ton of time.  Talk to your local shop to find out when these sales take place and ask if they need any additional help.  Bring up the idea of working the weekend in exchange for a snowboard or other products.  Even if they won’t make an even gear trade for your services, they should at least extend you their employee discount for the weekend.

• Help Out at a Demo. Product demos are events where the local sales reps bring gear up to the resort for riders to test out.  Demos are a ton of work for the vendor, so they usually like to enlist some help.  Try and get in touch with your favorite brand’s local rep and ask if they need any help at demos.  Prove to them that you are a hard worker and a humble snowboarder and they will be stoked to get you set up on some of their gear.  If you do help out a demo, plan on hauling heavy boxes, setting up tents, and turning screws in the cold.

• Trade. Most people who work in the industry have other needs besides snowboard gear.  For example, I trade snowboard product in exchange for tax preparation.  If you can provide a valuable service or other essential product, contact someone who works in the snowboard  industry and work out a little trade.

• Attend a Movie Premier. It’s not the most surefire way to get a new set-up, but a lot of free product is given away at movie premiers.  Check with your local snowboard shop in the fall to find out when and where the new snowboard videos will be premiered.  The sponsors of the video will probably do a product toss at the beginning and end of the show (think catching a fly ball in a crowd of fans at a baseball game) so bulk up and get ready to throw elbows for a t-shirt.  For bigger prizes, there will usually be a raffle.  Buy extra raffle tickets to double your chances.

How have you received free snowboard gear?