Skiers, boarders to mob Labor Day sales in ..

Bargains • Retailers say buy now, while the hills are barren and deals are plentiful.

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Never mind the bone-dry foothills, the dead patches on your front lawn and the temps in the 90s. Labor Day is fast approaching and that means one thing for skiers and boarders: deals.

If you're looking to buy some new winter sports gear, Utah retailers say prices between now and Sept. 2 are as low as they'll go.

"Labor Day kind of sets the stage for the winter season," said Sports Authority district manager Rich Kohler. "It's just the time to buy."

Sports Authority is the retailer behind the behemoth Sniagrab (billed as "bargains" spelled backwards), a massive parking lot event where customers can sift through last year's models of skis, boards, boots, apparel and assorted other winter equipment discounted from 40 to 90 percent off original prices. Now in its 59th year, Sniagrab has become an annual ritual for winter sports enthusiasts and Kohler said he expects tens of thousands of bargain-hunters to descend on the Sports Castle, 5550 S. 900 East, Murray, between Aug. 31 and Sept. 2.

"It's the single largest winter sports event in our company and the largest winter sports retail event in the world," he said. "It's the best prices of the year."

But Sniagrab is by no means the only sale in town nor is it the first.

Ski 'N See's Ski-A-Rama parking lot sale started Thursday and runs through Sept. 2 at its Sandy store, 9400 S. 772 East.

General manager Ryan Larsen said while the sale has been tied to the traditional Labor Day ski kick-off, the retail blowout really serves a more practical purpose: His stores need to make room for new merchandise. That means "phenomenal" discounts and selection of sizes and brands for consumers, he said.

"We could hold the sale in October and make more money, but this is a way to clean house," Larsen said. "This sale is all about the chaos in a circus tent. People like to be scavengers."

Pre-Labor Day sales aren't just for those looking to buy. Season rentals offer an economical way to test out a new brand or type of ski or board, or to outfit a growing child. Starting Sept. 1, AJ Motion Sports is offering season rental specials with 30 percent off if you book online.

jnpearce@sltrib.com

Twitter: @jnpearce —

The Iceman Cometh — eventually

Many retailers offer ski, snowboard, apparel and rental specials before Sept. 2.

Salt Lake City area

AJ Motion Sports

www.ajmotionsports.com

Online booking starts Sept. 1

Save 30 percent on season rentals

Christy Sports — Powder Daze

Snowbird location only — Third Level, Snowbird

801-742-2871

Sale continues throughout Oktoberfest

Up to 70 percent off ski and board gear and apparel

The Lifthouse

3698 E. Ft. Union Blvd.

801-943-1104

Aug. 30 - Sept. 2

Up to 70 percent off of last year's gear

Ski 'N See — Ski-A-Rama

9400 S. 772 East, Sandy

801-571-2031

Aug. 22 - Sept. 2

More than 50 percent off

Sports Authority — Sniagrab

5550 S. 900 East

801-263-3633

Aug. 31 - Sept. 2

40 to 90 percent off last year's ski and snowboard equipment and apparel

Sports Den

1350 S. Foothill Drive

801-582-5611

Aug. 29 - Sept. 2

50 - 75 percent off last year's apparel, skis and more

Park City

Jan's Mountain Outfitters

1600 Park Ave.

435-649-4949

Aug. 30 - Sept. 2

30 to 50 percent off 2012 gear and apparel

Ogden

Alpine Sports

1165 Patterson St.

801-393-0066

Aug. 29 - Sept. 2

40 to 50 percent off clearance; up to 25 percent off new merchandise

Diamond Peak Mountain Sports

2429 N. Hwy. 158, Eden

801-745-0101

Clearance sale on now

20 to 80 percent off gear and apparel

Skiers, boarders to mob Labor Day sales in Utah