Posted 1 year ago by Skier-Z

Resell your gear

Do you have some gently used ski, snowboard, or outdoor gear that’s just laying around your garage? Why not turn that old gear into some cold hard cash by selling it on Gear Trade!

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How it works

Request a label

Gear Trade will send you a free shipping label to send your gear to them. They can even send you a box if you need it.

Ship it to Gear Trade

Go ahead and fill that box with anything you want to unload. Fill extra nooks and crannies with (clean) outdoor clothing or gear.

Get Paid!

When Gear Trade receives your gear, they’ll assess its value. You have 48 hours to change the price or make adjustments to your listing. When it sells, your earnings will go into your Geartrade account. You can cash out at any time to your Venmo, PayPal, or use your earnings to shop the site with your store credit.

The number one site to resell your outdoor gear!

~Snow Life

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If it’s got to do with the outdoors, Gear Trade can sell it! Resell ski, snowboard, hiking and camping, biking and even climbing gear. What are you waiting for? Sell with Gear Trade now!

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Sells used outdoor gear

Gear Trade will help you sell your old ski, snowboard and other outdoor gear.

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You can buy gently used and like new outdoor gear on Gear Trade as well!

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Create an account with Gear Trade today and start making or saving money!

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Bad Winter Blues

Posted 1 year ago by Skier-Z

How to stay positive during a crappy ski season

As I write this article, I am currently sitting in a small Southern European ski town, looking out the window and watching it rain. It’s about 48 degrees (+9C) outside, and I’ve been questioning my life decisions for the better part of the last month. The ski resort that I chose to spend my season at is in the throes of its worst Winter in over 15 years, or so the locals tell me, and every day I check my Facebook page & the news feeds I am reminded that my former home in South Lake Tahoe is shaping up to have one it’s best snowfall seasons ever in history!

So how, as an avid skier, am I able to stay positive, when I have clearly put all of my eggs into the wrong basket this Winter? The answer is not so easy or straightforward to explain, but my many seasons in Tahoe, especially the bad ones, have conditioned me for this. The broad strokes of my explanation, which you can read further in the next few paragraphs, has to do with self distraction, perseverance, and the willingness to believe that your powder days will come. However hard it is to be patient for them.

The Bad Winter Blues

While we always enter the new ski season with high expectations, sometimes Mother Nature has other plans. Every skier and snowboarder would love for it to snow on the regular from November to March, but sadly that’s not always the case. Many mountainous snow zones around the World are prone to “Feast or Famine” seasons where they either get walloped with snow, or the storms are few and far between. But even on those sparse seasons, there’s always some good ski days to look forward to. The key is to take advantage of them when they come. Sometimes you just need to be patient and wait it out. “Miracle March” does happen, April powder days are a thing! And guess what, while most folks are long since over it and are ready to put the crappy season behind them, you can go reap your just rewards without the bloated lift lines and crowded slopes. Late season powder days are for the hearty few that maintained a good attitude and never lost faith.

So what can we skiers do to bide the time until the storms come? How do we fill our days without luscious powder to ski? Well here’s a few ideas to keep your mind right until the conditions improve:

Ski Anyway

We can all agree that skiing/riding on the man made snow is not nearly as enjoyable and not having a fresh powder day mixed in every once in a while can be deflating. However, you can make the most of this not so good snow period by doing other things on the slopes that you may have been putting off, such as working on your form, practicing moguls or breaking in those new ski boots you bought. I mean if it’s going to suck a little bit, it might as well suck a lot, and at least you’re being constructive until the skiing gets good again.

Find an alternative activity

The mountains are a place for adventure, and while most of us prefer our primary mountain adventure to be skiing or snowboarding, if the snow is low, then there are usually other fun Springtime adventure things to enjoy! Grab your mountain bike and find some open trails. Wanted to try four wheeling, or a zip line? Now’s the time! Even if it’s something as simple as going to the mountains and hanging out in the local ski bar to soak up some of the ambiance, it’s all a morale booster and can help take your mind off of the crappy snow conditions.

WOrk on yourself

If the skiing really sucks that bad, and you just can’t bring yourself to hit the slopes as often as you would have liked, if at all, then that means you probably have a lot of unplanned free time on your hands. Free time is precious for adults, and the older you get, the more fleeting it seems to become. So why not spend some of your extra free time that you’d normally being skiing or snowboarding, and use it to better yourself. Take some online classes, work on your business, try a foreign language, or even hit the gym a little bit. Any of these are sure to make you feel better about your time spent, and distract you from those powder laps that you’re not getting.

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The mountains are a pretty rad place, no matter how deep the snow is… here’s a few more ways to indulge yourself:

Surf the Low tide

Even on a “low tide” season, there are always a few trails to enjoy. Poor snow seasons are a true test of your metal. If you can ski in crap, then it’ll be all the more rewarding when the snow returns and the slopes are great again.

Embrace Ski town culture

Even if the slopes aren’t great, at least you can pull up a bar stool and bitch about it with the locals and soak up a little of the infectious ski town vibes. A great part of ski culture is the après scene, and what better way to change your mood than to take some shots with your buddies and celebrate that you are in the mountains!

Be a tourist

Even if you live in a ski town, and don’t normally do the tourist stuff because that’s not cool for locals, maybe now’s your chance. Ski towns have tons to offer both on and off the slopes, and if the conditions aren’t great for skiing, then get to hoofing it and explore what other neat stuff your ski town has to explore!

Try a new adventure

If the skiing’s not great, and there’s a lack of snow, then that means Fall and Spring outdoor activities are usually still on the table! So grab your bike or golf clubs… Go 4 wheeling, take a hike! There’s always more adventure to the mountains than just the ski slopes.

I’ll finish this article off with one of my favorite quotes: “Don’t get so hung up on where you would rather be, that you forget to make the most of where you are.” ~Unknown.

Thanks for reading: How to stay positive during a bad ski season

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Skiing alone

Posted 1 year ago by Skier-Z

Skiing alone

-Advantages to skiing or riding by yourself.

I get it, humans are social creatures by nature and most of us prefer to do things in groups, especially with our friends. But sometimes those friends and loved ones don’t have the same free time that we do or their interest level in something is not as strong as ours.

So what do we do? Acquiesce? Sit at home and be bummed out because no body wants to go ski/ride that day or do something fun? Screw that! You want to do it, go do it! I guarantee you’ll still have a good time as long as you keep a positive mindset and are willing to step outside of your comfort zone a little.

I’ve always subscribed to the way of thinking that if no one is available to hang out and do fun stuff, then that’s their loss. I’m not going to miss out on doing cool shit just because others don’t have the time, interest or the guts to do it. I’d rather fly solo on an experience than sit around on the couch because I couldn’t talk anyone else into going.

Some of the coolest adventures and best ski days I’ve ever had were on solo excursions. If you are skeptical and need a little more convincing, keep scrolling and check my top 10 advantages to skiing/riding by yourself!

~Z.Phelan

Singles Line

#1: Singles Lines are usually shorter

The bane of every skier’s existence, especially if you frequent mega-resorts, is long lift lines. If you’re skiing in a group, you often don’t have a choice but to just pile up in the que and wait it out like everyone else. If you’re rolling solo however, just slide into the singles line which is often much shorter and grab that outside seat back to the top for another lap.

Ski trail sign

#2: Choose your own runs

No need to plan your route to the next chairlift, or stop at a trail intersection and talk about which way to go. Just let instinct and curiosity guide your way and glide down whatever trail feels right.

Chairlift rider

#3: A chair to yourself

Say it’s some random Tuesday at your local ski area, and all your friends are either stuck working or otherwise preoccupied… Crowds are down and the slopes are empty. You’re lucky enough to grab a chair all to yourself and are rewarded with a peaceful and relaxing ride to the top. No need to come up with small talk, plenty of elbow room, just lean back and enjoy the views. You’d be surprised at the cool thoughts that come to your mind on a solo chair ride.

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#4: Meet new friends

Getting a chair to yourself is a nice bonus on solo days, but sometimes when you’re skiing alone, another solo skier or boarder will jump on a chair with you. What better ice breaker of a conversation topic with a stranger than the shared interest that you are both doing at that very moment, skiing (riding). Many solo skiers/riders are open to a little chit-chat and they may even be a local that can show you some cool new runs or a zone you’ve never tried before or vice versa. Making a new “friend for a day” is a good way to broaden your horizons and have some interesting banter, and who knows, maybe you’ll meet someone that wants to hang again in the future.

#5: Go at your own pace

You want to lollygag and take it easy, go for it! You wanna rip and ski lights out? Have at it. No need to pull over on the side of the trail and wait for those slower friends or your significant other that you’d normally be obligated to keep tabs on. Just go, it’s that simple, don’t think, just go.

Rambo run

#6: Try shit that your friends wouldn’t

No need to cater to the weakest member of your ski group. That sketchy double black diamond you’ve been eyeing all season… go ahead and try it. Think you can ski it but maybe not look good doing it? Well if you’re rolling solo there’s no one else around to cast judgement on your style, it’s just you and the mountain, no peer pressure, ego trips or surplus testosterone.

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Snow Life car

#7: Show up when you want

Not a morning person? Me either. While I will get up early for an epic powder day, most other ski days, if I’m going solo, I’d rather show up “whenever.” Sometimes conditions don’t call for an all day’er, and if you’re friends aren’t coming with you, or meeting you there, then it doesn’t really matter when you roll up to the slopes. No stress.

#8: You’re free to listen to music

Now please don’t be “that guy” who skis around with a Bluetooth speaker hanging off of his gear or a boombox strapped to his backpack, no need for a DJ on the slopes. But helmet mounted speakers are pretty awesome, and listening to music while skiing is both energizing and inspiring! Skiing solo means there’s no one to chat with all the time so you’re free to just groove away in your own little world.

#9: SOak up your surroundings

Being on your own (unless you’ve met some new riding buddies already) means you’re not constantly caught up in conversation and you have a little more time to “stop and smell the roses.” The slopes are a great place for soaking up some stunning scenery and reconnecting with nature, and they can be good sources of other fun activities such as people watching. From skiers wiping out or doing cool tricks, folks in crazy outfits, etc… Antics are usually abound and without the distraction of a companion, you’re free to experience it all.

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#10: bragging rights

Had an awesome day on the slopes? Go ahead, talk a little smack. Call me petty, but there’s a certain level of satisfaction that comes with rubbing it to your friends that were too lazy or didn’t feel like shredding. Seems fitting to finish this article with the old adage that “even a bad day on the mountain is still better than a day on the couch.”