How much will our winter sports gear cost us this year?

Earlier this week the kids and I delved into the basement storage closet to dig out the winter sports gear. I thought it was time to figure out what fits - and what doesn't - for this fast-approaching cold-weather season. And see if we couldn't clean out the closet while we were at it.

DOWNHILL BOOTS AND SKIS
We have 6 pairs of downhill ski boots, in various sizes, accumulated over the year from yard sales, thrift shops and friends. I was relieved to find that the space required to store all the boots was worth it. Both kids have boots that fit their feet and ski bindings.

Score: 2 for 2 on both boots and downhill skis. A huge savings for us this year.

ICE SKATES
We moved on to the ice skate box that had 8 pairs of skates (from those same yard sales and friends) but luck wasn't on my side. We found skates to fit my 7-year-old but none for my 9-year-old.

Score: 1 for 2 but a friend thinks she has the size we need.

HELMETS
As I was sifting through skates that were too small for both my kids and making plans to give them away, my 9-year-old tried on her downhill ski helmet and reported that it didn't fit. It should have occurred to me that this might happen but I didn't even think about scanning yard sales this summer for new helmets. Bummer.

Score: 1 for 2. Definitely need to spend the money for a new helmet, probably about $40 on sale.

CROSS-COUNTRY SKIS
Our final winter sports gear fitting included measuring the kids' feet and height for cross-country skis. The kids participate in the Healthy Hometowns program run through Pineland Farms. It's a non-profit organization that offers cross country ski rentals to Maine kids 5-18 years old for $45 for the entire winter. This is the second year the kids are participating in a Healthy Hometowns group (kids participate in a weekly ski group in order to use the rental program). We had a great time last year and I love the fact at least one of our winter sports doesn't require year-round storage (although my husband and I have, and store, our own cross country gear).

Score: $90 for skis, boots and poles for the season for both kids.

SLEDS
These would be the items that fall out of the closet every time it's opened. The skis and boards hang on racks in the closet but we have yet to find a way to hang the various, odd-shaped sleds.

Score: "No! You can't get rid of any sleds mommy!" Mom is out-voted - sleds will continue to fall out of closet for another year.

For our active family, this year's winter gear costs are pretty low compared to what we have had to pay in past years. Tracking down used gear over the summer and making storage space for it was definitely well worth the effort.

Now we just have to save our pennies for the lift tickets....