If you’ve been skiing and riding for a while, it doesn’t take long to realize the ski industry isn’t the greenest. Our products are impossible to recycle, with mismatched plastics and toxic epoxy gluing different materials together. They’re petroleum-heavy and require lots of resources to move skis worldwide. Our mountains use large amounts of energy and resources to support cafeterias, snowmaking, and lift access. And above all, we consume massive amounts of goods.
Now, as gear nerds, we get it. We love owning different skis and boards for different conditions and uses. And we love hopping on the latest gear trends. But at the same time, we knew there had to be a way to love the gear, while combating waste.
What we’re doing
Long-time Powder7 customers probably know the story of how we source our huge selection of demo skis. We pick up our inventory from resort rental fleets, rental shops, and cat or heli-skiing operations. As a place for these operations to unload their used skis, we save them time and energy by avoiding the need to sell individual skis or store them in lots of space.
Instead of just getting skis and boards from the industry, we realized we could be a resource for our customers, too. Not just for folks shopping for new equipment, but snow lovers who are looking to offload some gear. That’s why we started our trade-in program.
If you have a pair of skis or a snowboard from the last five years, you can punch in your ski details for an instant trade-in quote. And new for this year, we’re offering cash offers. On our trade-in page, you can choose either a store credit or straight cash, delivered to you via PayPal. If you opt for credit, that trade-in value can be applied to any new order, whether you’re upgrading to a new pair of skis, boots, bindings, or are shopping for a new kit.
It helps clean out your gear garage and get you on gear that you’re excited about. Far too often, we find ourselves chatting with customers who haven’t loved the gear they’ve been on but haven’t had the time to sell them or shop for new equipment. We try to make that a one-stop shop.
What about gear that is broken?
The sad truth is that everything must come to an end. For skis, eventually, they’ll hit their end of life. That could be from a core with too much water damage, or from edges that are blown out from too many rocks.
There’s no great way to recycle skis or snowboards. With all the epoxy, plastics, and wood, the recycling infrastructure isn’t there yet. Instead, try to repurpose them. We donate skis to a local artist in town, who turns old skis into beautiful jewelry. Check out Apres Ski Jewelry, we love what she does. Can you imagine a better holiday gift?
We also work with locals who want to pick up large amounts of old skis for fencing, furniture, and other repurposes. If you’re a Colorado local, and have some ideas for ski repurposing, reach out. We’re always psyched to partner with new folks to find a home for this equipment.
Why we do it
For us, the trade-in program is two-fold. It’s a service that helps skiers and riders upgrade to gear they love and declutter their lives, while also giving these skis new life to other skiers around the country. If you haven’t heard, we’re big believers in used gear. We want to make it easier for everyone to find and purchase used ski equipment.
Skis have so much life left in them (we see you, old-school skiers still riding their straight skis from the 80s). By being an outlet for the ski industry to offload their used equipment to, we’re able to source a variety of demo skis and snowboards that appeal to a lot of riders. Our inventory is full of gear in all different shapes, sizes, and uses. We try to offer used shoppers a wide selection they wouldn’t find by browsing online marketplaces or shopping at a consignment store.
Whether you’re shopping used to save money or cut down on your environmental impact, you shouldn’t have to compromise on the gear. You should be able to find the best gear for your style and skill level, without spending hours perusing or months waiting for the perfect ski to come up.
Why skiers love it
With our trade-in program, we’ve helped over 200 skiers and riders last month offload their old equipment. That’s 200 skis and boards rehomed to other skiers looking for gear that’s new to them. All without the online marketplace haggling and offers to meet up at some parking lot. An instant, fair quote, with instant return on a new purchase. There’s no need to keep riding on skis that don’t bring you joy.
For those precious snow days that we can get away from the grind, you should have gear that makes you excited to get out there. We only get so many snow days, so we’ve got to make the most of them.
