Swap!

Here’s one sign that the season is getting closer: Ski areas are starting to hold their ski and snowboard swaps.

If you’re selling stuff, you may get more money selling it on Craig’s List or on eBay. Ski swaps generally impose a per-charge item, and they also take a cut (20% in the case of one ski swap going on nearby). On the other hand, you could end up supporting a good cause (in this case, a local racing team). You also avoid the chore of having to handle e-mails or phone calls.

As for buying stuff at a swap, it’s buyer beware. Look for obvious problems such as deep gouges in the base of a snowboard. Boards tend to use their “bounce” after a while, especially if they’re ridden a lot, so a swap might have some boards that are as flat as a sheet of plastic. That’s not good.

If you can get a decent price, a swap might be a useful place to find a “rock board” (one you ride in the early or late season, when snow coverage may be sparse). You might also use a swap to look for a board to complement your riding style. If you are a freerider, for example, you’ll want a stiffer board. So to mix up your riding, you might get a freestyle board with a lot of flexibility, to practice basic snowboarding tricks.