A flurry of ski and snowboard rental deals

The Kelly family shredded some snowy slopes this past Christmas vacation. A great day was had by all, except for one complaint: too much time wasted renting ski and snowboard equipment on the mountain. Plans are percolating for another ski trip, but this time rentals are going to happen before the day in the snow. “I don’t want to waste any time waiting for my board,” smiled hubby Patrick.

Eve to the rescue with a round of calls to San Diego winter-sports outlets.

Sports Authority (619-295-1682) offers adult rentals for $20 a day, which includes skis, boots, poles; junior ski rentals are $15 a day. For the adult snowboarder, rentals are $25, with the junior boarders costing $20. Rental insurance is $3 a day. The rental allows for renting one day, skiing the following day, and returning rentals the next day.

Sport Chalet (619-718-7070) offers the Performance Ski Package, with product rentals for the intermediate to expert skier. For adults it is $33 for the day and $22 each additional day. The package includes skis, boots, and poles. “It really is like a three-day rental,” explained the salesman at Sport Chalet. “Rent the skis one day, go out and ski the second day and return them on the third day. You could rent them early on the morning of day one and get out on some local slopes for some of that day, ski the next day, and then return them the third day,” he added.

If you own ski boots, skis cost $28 for adults and $20 for each additional day.

The Shape Ski Package, for the beginner skier, which includes at least one of the Kelly family, runs $28 a day for adults, $20 each additional day. Juniors (up to 130 cm — about 4 feet, 3 inches) run $18 a day and $12 each additional day.

For just the ski rental, Sport Chalet rents adult skis for $22 a day and $16 for each additional day. Juniors cost $12 a day, plus $8 each additional day. Boots run $13 a day for adults and $9 each additional day. Junior boots cost $12 a day, $8 each additional day.

Sport Chalet also offers an “Adult Season” lease for $219.97 and a “Junior Season” lease deal for $149.97.

Hansen’s Boardroom in Encinitas (760-753-6596) offers a Performance Ski Package rental for $25 for one day, $45 for two days, and any additional day is $15. If skis are all you need for your day on the slopes, they charge $20 for one day, $35 for two days, and $10 each additional day. Boot rentals are $15 for one day, $25 for two days, and $5 for each additional day. For the snowboarders, they offer a Performance Snowboard package at $30 for one day, $55 for two days, and $15 for additional days. The snowboard rental with bindings runs $25 for one day, $45 for two days, and $10 for each additional day. A helmet rental is $10 for one day, $15 for two days, and $5 for additional days.

Avalanche Snow and Skate, in El Cajon, rents out snowboards for $30 a day (619-463-7106).

The Adventure Ski & Snowboard School in Encinitas caught my eye for some preconditioning for the family before they hit the slopes. Open October through March, the school offers a stationary carpeted slope and a revolving carpet to help practice skills off the snow. Lessons are for beginners up to advanced athletes, and the school offers a workout to improve muscle memory and skills before you hit the snowy mountain (760-942-2188).

A single lesson of private instruction for ski and snowboard runs $70. The three-lesson program costs $180, five lessons run $275, and a ten-lesson session costs $500.

This next ski trip we’ll have friends joining us for their first ski outing. They have no warm-weather snow gear for the mountains.

“Is there anywhere to rent coats and gloves and such?” asked Terry, as we sat planning our vacation. “That will be much cheaper than paying retail to outfit the whole family.”

Mountain Threads offers rentals for ski gear. A girl or boy package with a complete outfit rental of jacket, pants, goggles, and gloves runs $29 per day. For adults, the men’s and women’s Performance Package deals run $39 per day for the jacket, pants, goggles, and gloves. Renting a pair of gloves is $5 a day. The company will ship your gear to your vacation location (303-993-2474).