Side Hustle
In 2021, I bought my first pair of used skis through Facebook Marketplace. I paid $35 for a pair of 2008 Head XENON Xi 5.0. Then I had to spend $55 to get it tuned up. To complete the set, I bought a pair of Lange Comp 80 Team junior ski boots for $40. I spent $130 on mine and multiplied that by 6 for our entire family. That was not even included the season lift tickets for all of us, which was about $3,000 for a season. Yes, skiing and snowboarding are expensive; therefore, I had to find a way to do it for free.
When I took my skis to the local ski shop to tune up, they made me sign a weaver because my skis were old and my bindings were no longer indemnified. I didn’t care as long as my skis popped off when I fell. With my first pair of skis, I went from the bunny hills to the double-black-diamond slopes in two seasons. Not only saving money, I also avoid the hassle of waiting in long lines for to rent skis.
The tuning costs were expensive; therefore, I decided to do them myself. With YouTube videos and a few pairs of old skis to practice, I have become proficient at ski and snowboard tuning. I tuned all of our equipment.
As we got serious about skiing and snowboarding, we decided to invest in new equipment—at a steep discount price, of course. Even then, they were still pricey. Skiing and snowboarding are still very expensive for newcomers. Buying used equipment is one of the cost-saving methods to try out skiing or snowboarding.
I had been hunting for used skis and snowboards. If they were still in good condition, I would acquire them, tune them up, wax them, and resell them. When people buy skis or snowboards from me, they can be reassured that the quality is still good and they are ready to ski or ride at the resorts. That is how I differentiate myself from other sellers.
While people are trying to get rid of their old equipment, I am trying to give it a second life. Most people don’t take care of their equipment. They either stored them in their garage or shed. Most of the time, the edges were rusted and the bases were scratched up. There were even some kind of bug nests and eggs around the bindings and in the boots.
I found it gratifying when I revived old gears. First, I sanitized everything with rubbing alcohol. Then I removed rusts the metal edges and sharpened them. Then I patched up the bases with p-text. Finally, I gave the bases a good wax. I also checked the bindings, tightened up the screws, and greased the grooves. I was able to sell a few pairs and I was happy about that. The efforts I put in were more than what I sold, but it just felt good reviving the old equipment.