Scott, if this message has crossed the line into the realm of spam, I won't complain if you delete it.

OK. Sports Authority has a full-page ad on page A22 of the Wednesday, December 1, _Washington Post_. The ad claims that that some ski and board equipment will be on sale from 6 p.m until midnight tonight. For example, some bindings, skis, boots, and boards will be selling for $99.99. Other items are also available. Not only that, but there's a coupon good for $20 off on purchases of $100 or more, so if you buy a pair of shoelaces along with your skis, you can take even more money off. So fish those first sections from the Metro trash cans.

I do not work for Sports Authority or any manufacturer of snow-type equipment. I post only in the belief that the information may be helpful to listers. Maybe there's nothing special about the prices at all. I don't know.

Best wishes.

I'm going to go look in. Not interested in packages, want to see if they have XL Salomon Screamer helmets. The Potomac Mills shop is kind of dead for winter stuff.

Sports Authority is having another sale today, this one from 9 a.m. until midnight. If you spend $200 or more, you can use the coupon on page A26 of today's _Washington Post_ to get $30 off. Included are skis, boards, boots, helmets, gloves, and items throughout the store in general.

I went to the sale two weeks at the Potomac Yards store. The stock of skis was a fraction of its former size. I was surprised to see Burton boards at Sports Authority. To my amazement, those Burton boards were made in Poland. I guess the hockey sticks are Canadian, but even Sorels, the iconic Canadian snowboot, are made in China now.

Not all SAs are created equal; I expect we're seeing the rump end of what's available in CT, say.

Anyone have feedback on one SA over another in the DC area (specifically for Snowsports)? At one time, they were actively recruiting folks to work at their shops, even as late as the DC Ski Expo.

Only 2 Galyan's in the area, but feedback on those may prove useful too.

They run great sales, especially in Florida. I bought a Columbia jacket three weeks ago for $50 less than the label price. I was told it was the normal price for a jacket in Florida. Go figure!

Only buy from SA if you know what you're purchasing.

I had a lesson last year (beginner, never ever skied before) and the salesperson suggested she buy skis 170 in length, 180 for her son, and 160 for her partner. In other words, don't take the salesperson word for anything.

Did you get the junk mail the other day announcing the launch of a sale at Galyans because they were being bought out by a company named Dick's Sports? I thought the Galyans at Fair Lakes was a very attractive store, but never seemed busy enough to justify the huge building.

Yeah I was there last night. That acquisition was announced a while ago as far as I recall. Dicks is pretty big apparantly, I think they have a store in Sterling. Anyway I love Galyans in so far as they carry a huge range of products and in the board department their staff are pretty knowledgeable. If you are a member of their rewards program they offer great deals every quarter. Usually they will send out a coupon for $ depending on how much you spend. I got a coupon a couple of years back and got $75 off a new Burton Canyon (when the canyon was top of the line)

Dicks is a pretty big company. It's headquartered in Pittsburgh and has stores all over the place. I have never been to Gaylans but from what I hear they are both pretty similar. I think they both been fighting each other for the last few years for the upper hand and I guess dicks won out in the end. I always like shopping at dicks for sporting goods, they usual have pretty good prices and an excellent selection. Although when it comes to skiing equipment I still take my business to the ski store.