Outdoor retailers offering big sales after dismal winter
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Illustration: Tiffany Herring/Axios
The snowpack is mostly melted, but the aftermath of a dismal ski season continues.
State of play: Outdoor retailers saw a decline in gear sales with historically little snow, and many are overstocked with unsold merchandise from the 2025–26 winter.
Some retailers are desperate to reduce inventory, offering unusually deep price cuts to make room for the next season's gear.
- Others are being cautious about what 2026–27 gear they order.
What they're saying: "Overall, we managed to get by," said Charlie Wafel, a manager at Rocky Mountain Ski and Sport in Colorado Springs, but it was "definitely low."
The big picture: Colorado's worst recorded snowpack and unseasonably warm temperatures put a major dent in skier traffic last winter.
- Ski areas reported visits being down 24% after four years of record-setting levels, the Colorado Sun reports.
- The ripple effects hit retailers and other businesses in mountain towns.
What we're watching: Rather than linger on the past, ski shop owners are building hype with major discounts and talk about a new El Niño weather pattern that could deliver better snow for the upcoming season.
- "The big question is: Will people be stoked about all this talk about a super El Niño and start buying again this fall … or will it be like this winter?" said Matt McDonald at Powder7 ski shop in Golden.
If you go: Here are five spots to snag deals.
⛷️ Evo: A bargain like 2026 Völkl M7 Mantra skis for $557.90 (down from $929.99) is just one of the markdowns right now.
🏔️ Epic Mountain Gear: Discounted items include 2026 Mindbender men's skis for $453.97 (down from $699.95), plus goggles in a range of styles and colors across the Colorado company's seven Front Range stores.
🏂 Denver Ski Co.: Deals range from 31% to 69% off last season's skis, snowboards, boots and bindings.
❄️ Powder7: Price cuts at this family-owned and -operated shop in Golden include 2025 Line Pandora 106 skis for $360 (52% off) and women's Helly Hansen switch cargo insulated ski pants for $88 (60% off).
🎿 Meier Skis: The Denver-based handmade ski maker is running a "Beat the Clock" sale through July 31, with custom-built skis and boards starting at $699 for delivery this fall.