How Long Do Skis and Snowboards Last?
When you buy a snowboard or set of skis, you’re buying gear that will determine how you ride, how well you do it, and even how safe you are.
For that reason, we’re answering how long a snowboard or set of skis last. After all, the more money you have for your trip to Mammoth Mountain, the more time and activities you’re able to enjoy while here! Check out our guide to how long a snowboard or pair of skis last to plan out your winter sports investment!
There’s No Set Expiration Date on Skis and Snowboards
Although you’ll see plenty of estimates with a certain number of days on the snow that you can get out of skis and snowboards, as long as your gear works you can still ride it.
Factors like what conditions the gear is used in and how it is stored in the offseason make it nearly impossible to give an accurate number of days that you can expect to get out of skis and snowboards. As a result, it’s much more important that you’re able to feel how well the board is performing so you know when the performance has been compromised by age.
For example, an older pair of skis may not give you the same stiffness that you’re used to. Older gear may also be missing newer technology like camber and rocker designs that you want to ride with. Of course, old gear may also be damaged to the point that it’s only a matter of time before the damage spreads and the ski or board fails completely.
All of these factors contribute to the actual expiration date of a pair of skis or snowboard.
Riding Style Affects Lifespan
All it takes is one serious accident for skis and snowboards to be damaged beyond repair, but more commonly it’s years of riding that wear down gear until it needs to be replaced. As a result, the way you ride your gear most often has an effect on its lifespan.
For example, if you spend an entire season in the terrain park then your gear is going to show it. Between the constant contact with rails and boxes and the flexing and hard impacts of jumping and landing, park gear wears down faster when compared to gear that is only used on groomed runs.
How often you ride also affects the lifespan of your gear. Even if you only ride groomed runs, the friction caused by snow and ice will wear down your gear, so the more you ride it, the quicker it will wear down.
Used Gear’s Past Life Matters
One of the benefits of buying a new ski or snowboard is that you get to write the history of the gear. Take care of it, and it will take care of you.
If you buy used gear though, your experience is partially determined by how the previous owner used it and how much they used it. With most used gear it’s clear how it was used based on its condition. However, if you’re speaking with the owner then it’s not a bad idea to ask how they used the gear and how often they did. You shouldn’t be worried by scratches and cuts as long as they aren’t deep, but if a set of skis were ridden hard for years then you will likely get limited results out of them.