Get your cheap ski gear now

At this time of year you'll see those little flourescent A4 posters tied around lamp posts advertising 'Bourse au Ski' at villages and resorts all over the place. These kind of bring and buy sales for all things ski and snowboarding related are a great way to pick up bargains or to sell your old gear, whilst raising money for good causes (usually parent associations at schools).

The Chamonix Bourse aux Snowboards on the 15th November only, at the Cross Country Skiing Chalet (Foyer ski de Fond) opposite MBC. Sellers need to drop of their gear between 09:00 and 12:00, with the sale taking place between 13:00 and 17:00.

The following weekend of the 22nd November sees the Bourse aux Skis at the Jacques Balmat school in Pelerins (opposite Station Peinture DIY shop). Again, those wishing to sell gear should be there between 08:00 and 11:00, with the sale on between 14:00 and 17:00. All sellers will be charged 1 euro per article entered and 15% commission goes to the school association if it's sold. There is a maximum price of 400 euros per article.

There is also the Bourse aux Skis in Sallanches over the same weekend of the 22nd and 23rd November. To be held at the Bocard School, you can drop stuff off for sale between 08:00 and 12:00 with the sale running 14:00 to 18:00 on Sat and 09:00 to 17:00 on the Sunday.

Why not pop along to a Bourse - it's a very credit crunchable way to get kitted out for the slopes this winter with skis, boards, boots and clothing all up for grabs.