Locked in a big city? Maximize your slope time by dialing in your gear and fitness before you even get on the plane.
New York City
鈥擥ear Up鈥
, in Brooklyn, sells and rents new gear like V枚lkl鈥檚 Kendo skis.
, in Queens, has been around since 1958 and rents high-end skis and boots for just $45 per day.
, on the Upper East Side, custom-fits ski boots and has locations at most major ski resorts in case you鈥檙e in need of a tweak.
, off Manhattan鈥檚 Union Square, sells skis from Atomic听 and Salomon, boards from Burton, helmets from R.E.D., and goggles from Oakley. 听
鈥擥et Fit鈥
sends trainers to your home to lead you through workouts that are specially tailored to have you ready for ski and snowboard season. From $100.
鈥擥et Friends鈥
The Ski and Snowboard Club of New York organizes three- and four-day ski trips to underrated northeast resorts like Stowe, chartering buses that leave from Manhattan鈥檚 Upper West Side. From $350;
Chicago
鈥擥ear Up鈥
has been around for 48 years, carries top-of-the-line gear, and specializes in custom boot fitting.
, in Glenview and Libertyville, hosts weekend trips to local hills and can outfit you from head to toe. 听
offers high-end ski tunes and $45-per-day demos on the latest skis, snowboards, and boots from LTD, Fischer, and Head.
, in Skokie, caters exclusively to snowboarders and听 has great deals on boards from Burton and Gnu. 听
鈥擥et Fit鈥
, with nine locations in Chicago, offers a four-week ski-conditioning program. $120.
鈥擥et Friends鈥
organizes trips to ski areas throughout the country, including New Mexico, Lake Tahoe, and several resorts in Colorado.
Los Angeles
鈥擥ear Up鈥
, in Westchester, has been selling and renting skis and boards and hand-sharpening skis for 21 years.
, in Santa Monica, sells clothing from Bogner and Helly Hansen, boots from Head and Tecnica, and skis from Blizzard and Stockli.
, on Ventura Boulevard, has custom boot fitting, ski tuning, and a wall full of new gear from top brands. It looks like it belongs slopeside.
, in Santa Monica, carries 15 brands of skis, including Armada and V枚lkl, and has a full-service tuning shop.
鈥擥et Fit鈥
, in Santa Monica, uses science-backed data to fine-tune their workouts.
鈥擥et Friends鈥
buses groups to Mammoth Mountain several times a year.
San Francisco
鈥擥ear Up鈥
has five locations in the Bay Area and not only sells equipment, but also holds workshops to show you how to use it.
sells skis and boards for every condition鈥攆rom fat powder skis to frontside carvers.
, with seven locations in the Bay area, allows you to buy skis and snowboards, use them three times, then return them if you鈥檙e not happy with the purchase.
, a small shop in Berkeley, is for skiers only and carries the best technical gear on the market, including Dale Boots and Black Diamond.
鈥擥et Fit鈥
, a Bay area ski community, offers a five-week preseason ski and snowboard conditioning boot camp that meets twice a week and focuses on injury prevention through agility, plyometrics, and flexibility training. From $150;
鈥擥et Friends鈥
, founded in 1949, hosts trips to its privately owned 5,500-square-foot cabin -located next to Donner Ski Ranch and across the road from Sugar Bowl.
Dallas
鈥擥ear Up鈥
, in Richardson, sells ski and snowboard gear, offers custom boot fitting, and tunes skis.
, in Inwood-Village, has been selling ski gear,听 like Armada skis and North Face jackets, since 1978.
, just off the North Central Expressway, carries skis from most major manufacturers, from powder boards to carving planks. 听
鈥擥et Fit鈥
offers private training to help tailor the program toward a more ski-specific set of goals.
鈥擥et Friends鈥
gather groups of 300 to 600 people for trips around the world to places like Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, and Taos, New Mexico.