Note: These are a few tips Denver-based David Bakke, who is a writer for MoneyCrashers.com, where he explores various methods to save money on all of life's expenses. Some of these tips ring true to me as I've saved a ton of money buying equipment on CraigsList and securing lift tickets through Liftopia. - JOEL

What's more popular, surfing the web or skiing the slopes? You might be surprised. According to the Outdoor Industry Association, Americans now spend almost as much money on winter sports as they do accessing the Internet. The one downside to the rising popularity of winter and snow sports is that the prices of gear are unfortunately rising too. It's more important than ever to save as much as you can when stocking up on your equipment, so whether you've never skied before or you're a black diamond expert, check out the following tips to help save money on your snow sport experience.

1. Don't Buy New Equipment

Buying new equipment means paying full-freight for gear at the height of its popularity. Instead, check out eBay or Amazon for deals, making sure to perform thorough research before you pull the trigger. If you happen to live near a popular snow sports area, try Craigslist for local deals. Alternatively, if your activity of choice requires traveling long distances with lots of gear, consider renting your equipment when you arrive to avoid paying excess baggage fees.

2. Reduce Travel Expenses

There are plenty of ways to save on travel expenses when jaunting off to that wintry haven. For the best airline ticket deals, make your reservations early in the week since that's when the sales usually occur. Consider setting out on a Tuesday or Wednesday, when demand for flights isn't as high. And, if you're driving to your destination, see if you can carpool by posting an ad on Craigslist or listing your trip on a website like eRideShare. You never know when you might get lucky.

3. Save on Lift Tickets

You can usually score the best deals on lift tickets by checking the resort's website where you might be able to purchase them in tandem with your lodging. You're also likely to find bargains on third-party websites such as Lifttopia. And regardless of where you buy your tickets, you can save a ton of cash by doing your skiing in the middle of the week and either early or late in the day.

4. Find Lodging with Kitchen Amenities

Save significant money on your trip by finding lodging with kitchen amenities included. Eating out three times a day for a week-long trip can get very expensive, very quickly. Book yourself a room with a minimum of a microwave and fridge, pick up some eats from a local grocery store, and cook-in a few times throughout your stay.

5. Stop Keeping up With the Joneses

Despite the image that's projected in movies and magazines, there's simply no need to dress in the most fashionable sporting gear on the market when you're exercising – especially when you're skiing and snowboarding. Whether you participate in snow sports several times a year or you're a total rookie, this is a waste of money plain and simple. Save cash by buying middle-of-the-road, quality apparel, and skip the unneeded extras.

Final Thoughts

When you realize the savings you've wrangled, be sure to put them where they can do the most good. If you've got credit card balances, pay them off. If you don't have an emergency fund, establish one in case you hit with a rainy day. If you're covered in those areas, try bulking up your retirement account or starting a 529 savings plan for your child's college education. Conserving money and cutting corners on your leisure activities is essential to a healthy financial existence, just be sure the savings go to a good cause. What ways can you think of to save on snow sports?