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Renting Ski and Snowboard Equipment
Almost any ski area will have a shop where you can rent skis, snowboards, boots, and poles. If you've ever bowled, you may be a little put off by the idea of renting equipment--especially the boot part. But it's something to think about if:
- You're traveling with growing kids. If your kids have grown in the last year, their boots might not fit. Tight boots are uncomfortable, and might affect your child's ability to carve smooth, controlled turns. And if circulation is impeded, his or her feet will get cold quickly. And it's not just boots you need to watch for: Skis and snowboards need to be the right size too. If your child has outgrown his or her equipment, consider renting as an alternative to shelling out hundreds of dollars for equipment that will just be outgrown in a year or so.
- You haven't upgraded your equipment in a while. This is more of an issue for skiers than snowboarders (unless you're riding a flat pine board with no tip or steel edges). Even if everything's the right size, you might want to rent skis if you own equipment that's more than five years old--whatever you rent will certainly be newer than that. This isn't just a matter of fashion; equipment gets safer and easier to use every year. With new equipment, you may find yourself making better turns and skiing or boarding with more control than you ever though possible. Keep an eye out for stores that rent demo equipment, as this is often better quality than the normal rental stock. If you're using skis so old you've got straps (instead of brakes) to prevent run-away skis, and you can't stand the thought of a $500 upgrade--think about renting. You'll be much safer, and probably have a lot more fun as well.
- You don't want to carry all that stuff on the airplane. Sure, if you've got top-of-the-line stuff, by all means, use it. But wouldn't it be nice to have some hands free? With airlines cracking down on the number of bags allowed each passenger, you might want to skip the skis or snowboard in order to make room for other stuff.
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Renting Ski and Snowboard Equipment
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